why cant you apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish the day of a colonoscopy? Whats the reason behind that?
In: Biology
Your own colonoscopy or someone else’s?
They are discouraged because they contain substances that can interfere with the imaging. Deodorant contains aluminum which can show up on the imaging.
Infection risk maybe? I don’t recall being told not to do that stuff. They tell you this before surgery due to infection risk
You can. Your doctor just has a universal form for medical procedures. They can interfere with other types of imaging.
It can interfere with the monitor leads and pulse-ox monitor and such.
Not all skin products cause problems, but it’s easier to say “none” than to try and make a list of what is and isn’t okay.
Because they generally put people under for a colonoscopy, so they need a heart monitor, IV, oximeter, etc to make sure you don’t die. And if you have nail polish on, the oximeter doesn’t work. If you have lotion on, the leads won’t stick to your skin.
You should generally avoid all skin or nail products when you are anticipating *any* medical procedure.
Perfumes, lotions, and other hygiene products, many of which contain oils, alcohols, metals, or other flammable substances should not be applied before any medical procedure.
Nail polish should also be avoided, as it can make oxygen monitoring inaccurate/difficult (pulse-ox sensors often become ineffective/less accurate if trying to read through nail polishes).
Should chest pads or cautery (basically uses electricity to seal wounds and/or stop bleeds) be needed, wearing hygiene products, which possibly contain flammable substances, could cause widespread burns, so as a rule, they’re to be avoided.
That medical people do this all day, and don’t need to have to deal with those scents, would be part of it.
I’ve never been told that before a colonoscopy, unless I missed it in the detailed “pre-procedure prep”, aka “blow everything out of your ass”, instructions.
In doing so you introduce bacteria onto your skin that could cause infection and perfume might cause an allergic reaction in the doctor or support nurses.
I’ve had multiple procedures. I’ve certainly worn deoderant, nail polish, and had lotion on. No issues whatsoever.
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