Potassium hydroxide, also known as KOH or caustic potash, is a colorless and solid inorganic compound that comes in pellet, stick and flake preparations. It is present in various consumer products and has applications in industry, cosmetics and medicine. Potassium hydroxide is chemically basic in nature, a property that makes it an effective ingredient in bleaching products, disinfectants, soaps and liquids for testing fungal infections in the skin. Potassium hydroxide has several sources.
Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners are products or preparations that you use to unblock clogged sewer pipes and drains. As Medline Plus explains, drain cleaners contain many hazardous chemicals that can be harmful if you ingest, swallow or inhale them. Drain cleaners are commonly made up of bleach, lye or sodium hydroxide and caustic potash or potassium hydroxide. Caustic potash functions to break down refuse in drains because it has corrosive and material-degrading properties. Coming into contact with drain cleaners can be harmful. In severe cases, drain cleaner poisoning can cause abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness.
Cuticle Removers
According to Medline Plus, cuticle removers are cream or liquid products that you use to remove excess tissue and loose skin around your fingernails and toenails. Cuticle removers contain active and poisonous ingredients such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Cuticle removers are generally safe to use but can cause poisoning if you swallow or ingest them. Observable symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, severe throat pain and abdominal pain. If cuticle removers come in contact with your eyes, you can experience eye pain and redness.
Skin Culture Preparations
Liquid potassium hydroxide preparations used for skin culture aid in the diagnosis of various fungal infections. The diagnostic procedure that incorporates these preparations is called a skin lesion KOH examination. A technician places scrapings collected from skin lesions into a liquid potassium hydroxide preparation and then examines them under a microscope. Potassium hydroxide has properties that destroy nonfungal cells and leave behind any fungus that is present. Doctors use KOH examinations to diagnose fungal infections such as jock itch, ring worm and athlete's foot. Another name for a skin lesion KOH exam is a fungal wet prep.
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