Most people think rust is just an aesthetic problem, a cosmetic blemish that takes away from the appearance of something. Rust, however, can lead to catastrophic failures when it’s not dealt with properly. Rust can make metal parts less durable, less effective, and even compromised even in small amounts. So, what does rust do to you?
Rust can cause damage to one’s health if you make use of any rust item. For example, if you have a wound and you touch it with a rusty material, the chances of tetanus are so high. The same with consuming steak from rusty grills. Too much rust substance in your body system can lead to a severe health issue.
There are many other ways rust can cause havoc, which you need to know. Therefore, you can read below for more information.
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Harmful Effect Of Rust On Your Body
If your skin comes in contact with a rusty object, you are at risk of discoloration. The reddish-brown substance will rub off on your skin and cause a big stain, and I know you don’t want this. Although there are different materials you can use to get rid of the stain, don’t get stained first.
However, you won’t get any diseases or health complications by having rust on your skin, so you don’t need to be scared.
How Do I Get The Rust Off My Skin?
Rust stains materials such as clothing, wood, human skin, and concrete. There are many ways you can remove rust from clothes and other animal materials but do not use those methods on your skin. Removing rust from other materials except your skin might involve the use of chemicals, and you will not want those chemicals to come in contact with your skin.
To remove rust from your skin, use the following steps.
- First of all, you will need salt and a bit of an acidic liquid such as vinegar or lemon juice.
- Add one or two tablespoons of salt to a small bowl.
- Add the vinegar or lemon juice slowly into the bowl and mix with the salt. Make sure it forms a paste solution and mixes well with the salt.
- Apply the paste gently on your skin for a couple of minutes. the salt act as an exfoliant to remove the stain cells of your skin, while the lemon juice containing the acid will lift off the rust stain
- After removing the stained area with day solution, the rest of the area with warm water remove any salt particles lingering and the skin. If you still notice discoloration on that part of your skin, repeat the process until all is gone.
Rust and Tetanus
Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria that is found in soil and moisture. The name of this bacteria is clostridium tetari, And it can enter the body through broken skin from punctures, cuts, and Burns. Rust attracts tetanus, so getting a rusted material to your skin area will put you at risk of contracting the tetanus bacteria. Stepping on rusty nails is one significant way of contracting the tetanus virus because it drives on deep wounds. So when a rusty nail pierces through your leg, you are at big risk of contracting the bacteria.
Although rust itself does not contain tetanus, metal objects lying around the environment can carry the tetanus bacteria in them, so you should be on the lookout for them and get rid of them as soon as possible.
Here Is What You Should Know About Tetanus
Tetanus is dangerous to human health, especially if one isn’t vaccinated against it yet. The infection can cause a stiff jaw amidst other complications. Things like muscle stiffness and spasms, difficulty swallowing, and increased heart rate, Headaches, Fever, Sweating, elevated blood pressure are developed signs of tetanus. Without proper treatment, tetanus can lead to brain injury, broken bones, and even pneumonia. The most effective way to protect oneself is to get a tetanus vaccine.
Tetanus happens when an open wound contacts the tetani bacteria. Asides from rusted nails and metals cutting your body, one can also contact tetanus through piercings from tattoos, surgical wounds, and open sores.
How Do I Care For A Wound From A Rusty Object?
If you contact a rusty object, let’s say a piercing from a rusty nail, you should take tetanus prevention shots as soon as possible. However, if you have taken the tetanus vaccine in the past, and your shot is up to date, here are a few steps to get yourself treated at home.
- Wash your hand with enough soap and running water before you begin to treat the wound.
- Use warm water to rinse the wound properly, remove every debris and dirt around the wound.
- Use mild soap to wash the wound to prevent infection.
- Elevate the wound and apply direct pressure on it if it persists in bleeding.
- For optimal healing, apply an ointment like vaseline or penicillin on the wound. This will aid the injury to heal correctly.
- If there’s a swelling on the wound, apply some ice blocks on the wound. If you feel some pain, you can take some pain relieving medicine.
Final Thoughts
Generally, rust is not a good sight to behold, both on the human skin, clothes or any material at all. Even though we can say that rust does not directly harm the human skin asides from discoloration, we cannot say the same for rusted metals. We have seen how disastrous it can be when a rusted material pierces through the body or an open wound comes in contact with rusted metal. Ensure there are no rusted metals around your habitation, especially if you have kids living with you.
