Antiseptic / astringent
Potassium permanganate
Adult dose
Dose: Soak in 0.01% solution (1:10,000) once daily for 15 min
Route: Topical (soaks)
Frequency: OD
Clinical pearls
- Weeping/exudative eczema, fungal foot infection
- Always dilute fully — never concentrated; keep away from eyes/mouth
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Use of strong solutions on broken skin
Side effects
- Skin/nail staining
- Chemical burns if too concentrated
- Mucosal irritation
Reference: BNF; NICE CKS; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/potassium-permanganate/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Suspicious Pigmented Lesion — Melanoma Pathway · NICE NG14 2015 / BAD
- Cellulitis and Erysipelas · NICE NG141 2019 / CREST
- Psoriasis — Severity Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG153 2019 / BAD
- Atopic Eczema — Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG95 2023
- Urticaria and Angioedema · BSACI / EAACI Guidelines 2022
- Acne Vulgaris — Grading and Treatment · NICE NG198 2021 / BAD