How to use potassium permanganate soaks

Potassium permanganate solution is a ‘desert island drug’ for the dermatologist; it is cheap, for the right condition it relieves symptoms rapidly and nothing else works quite like it. It is invaluable for drying up weepy exudative conditions, such as acute eczema, pompholyx, leg ulcers and pemphigoid. Infected eczema that oozes and sticks to clothing is demoralising and a couple of days of permanganate soaks, as part of a therapeutic approach, can greatly improve quality of life. This article aims to guide healthcare professionals and patients alike in the application of permanganate soaks.