Why is alcohol not recommended for skin preparation before applying electrodes?

Alcohol is not recommended for skin preparation before applying electrodes primarily because it dries out the skin and can impact the performance of the electrodes. When the skin is excessively dried, it can lead to less effective adhesion of the electrodes and hinder proper electrical conductivity. This is crucial for the accurate transmission of signals from the skin to the electrodes during monitoring or testing, ensuring that the data captured is reliable.

Maintaining an optimal moisture level is important for achieving good skin-electrode contact, which is essential for enhanced signal quality. The drying effect of alcohol can create barriers to effective signal transmission, which is why alternative skin preparation methods that retain moisture are preferred for optimal electrode function.