Abuse of gentian violet may cause skin cancer

Gentian violet is a common topical medicine at home. It is widely used to treat minor wounds, mucosal ulcers, eczema, small burns and scalds. Almost every family prepares gentian violet to prevent minor accidents. However, it should be noted that gentian violet can kill viruses but also bring poisons. Long-term abuse may cause skin cancer.

Gentian violet is a 1% to 2% solution made of gentian violet and water, also known as gentian violet solution, which is a commonly used disinfectant and preservative for skin and mucous membranes. Due to its strong bactericidal ability, it can play a good anti-inflammatory and astringent role, so it is often used clinically for abrasions, infections, ulcers, etc. on the skin and mucous membranes. In addition, gentian violet can also be taken orally to treat pinworm disease, and can be made into a pinworm cream with Stemona extract and squeezed into the anus to treat pinworm infection.

In recent years, foreign scholars have conducted in-depth and detailed research on gentian violet and found that it is extremely carcinogenic. For example, long-term abuse can lead to skin cancer, oral cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. It is a potential carcinogen. For example, British pharmacologists once applied gentian violet to the skin of experimental mice to allow them to absorb gentian violet systematically. After a period of time, the experimenters found that all these mice had cancer. For this reason, the British Ministry of Health also issued a special notice to narrow the scope of use of gentian violet to only local undamaged skin, and it is strictly forbidden to take it orally, and it is strictly forbidden to apply it to the mucous membranes of the mouth, anus, urinary tract, or damaged skin wounds to prevent inducing oral cancer and colorectal cancer.

Therefore, gentian violet should not be abused, especially for some delicate skin and mucous membranes, such as the mouth, urethra, etc.