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Iodine is a preparation widely used in various fields of medicine. It has disinfecting and disinfecting properties. Iodine is used to wash wounds and abrasions. The active substance of the preparation is a spirit iodine solution. Iodine is available over the counter. How to use iodine? What are the indications and contraindications for its use? Is it safe and what precautions should you take when using it? How is iodine different from Lugol’s?
Iodine is a 3-10% spirit iodine solution used in dermatology and family medicine. Iodine is available over the counter and can be found in most home first aid kits. Before the war, iodine was recommended for the treatment of influenza, pneumonia, measles, scarlet fever, smallpox, typhoid and spotted fever, consumption and sore throat. It was also supposed to help with the child’s lack of appetite.
Currently, iodine is used as a disinfectant, bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal agent for minor skin lesions, scratches or abrasions.
Iodine – general characteristics
Iodine from Latin Iodi solutio spirituosa, Jodi’s Tinctura dilute iodine solution in ethanol at a concentration of about 90 ° (90% v / v) with the addition of potassium iodide as a stabilizing agent.
In the past, iodine diluted in water was recommended by doctors to gargle in order to get rid of tonsil plaque. In the pre-war period, iodine was used to treat influenza, pneumonia, measles, scarlet fever, smallpox, typhus and spotted fever, consumption and sore throat. It was also used in children who had a lack of appetite.
In addition, for years it has been used in beauty salons as an acne-fighting agent and as an anti-wrinkle preparation. The woman’s face was washed with iodine diluted in water, which made the skin appear rejuvenated and the complexion took on a prettier and even color.
With time, however, it turned out that this is only an optical illusion, because iodine has an effect similar to a self-tanner. In addition, the use of iodine for acne has also turned out to be obsolete as it can lead to hyperthyroidism when applied to large areas of the skin.
Nowadays, iodine is mainly used as a disinfectant in cases of minor cuts and abrasions of the epidermis, except for open wounds.
Iodine for her own sake antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, it is also used in the treatment of, inter alia, skin mycosis.
In addition, some people use iodine as a water disinfectant. However, it should be remembered that iodine is used externally and is not suitable for drinking, as it may cause an allergic reaction and irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
It is used in medical centers, but also at home. You can buy iodine over the counter in pharmacies. It occurs in the form of a liquid with a characteristic, dark yellow, brown color.
How to disinfect wounds and cuts? Check: Disinfection
Iodine – composition and action
Iodine, according to the Polish Pharmacopoeia, contains 3% iodine and 1% potassium iodide. Depending on the recipe, it may contain from 2 to 10% of iodine.
Iodine dissolved in ethanol has a limited shelf life. It reacts with purified water present in the solution (approx. 10%) to give hydrogen iodide and hypodium acid, which in turn oxidizes ethanol (approx. 96%) to aldehyde and acetic acid.
Hydrogen iodide is irritating, therefore, in order to increase the durability of the preparation, the addition of soluble iodide is used. Reaction of molecular iodine with an iodide anion produces a relatively stable triiodide anion.
The mode of action of iodine involves the denaturation of a protein that is a component of the microbial plasma, which prevents harmful microorganisms from surviving. Thanks to its antiseptic properties, it is used to disinfect wounds, abrasions and cuts to prevent contamination with bacteria, viruses or fungi.
The most commonly used solution is iodine with a concentration of 3-10%.
What is potassium iodide and what are its properties? Check: Potassium iodide
Iodine – method of application
Iodine is a preparation available at a pharmacy in the form of a liquid intended for external use. Always use this medicine in accordance with the information contained in this leaflet or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
Undiluted iodine should only be applied to intact skin and the surrounding area. However, when disinfecting wounds, abrasions or burns, dilute iodine or water solutions of iodine should be used.
If iodine comes into contact with damaged skin, it may cause severe irritation with burning and pain.
The use of iodine on large areas of damaged skin can lead to iodine poisoning, because when the skin is broken, iodine is absorbed into the body.
Iodine should be used to decontaminate the lesions by washing the abrasions and the surrounding area 2 to 3 times a day with a cotton swab soaked in the drug.
If symptoms do not improve within a few days, consult your doctor.
The preparation should not be used internally and should not be drunk as it may irritate the digestive system and cause an allergic reaction.
In addition, iodine should not be used on large areas of the skin, as the thyroid gland may become overactive. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how to use iodine.
How to treat wounds and cuts? Check: Wounds and cuts
The use of iodine – indications
Iodine is an element that is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Its deficiency in the body is dangerous for humans and can lead to fatigue, lack of energy, weight problems, difficulty concentrating, hair weakness and loss, palpitations, increased pulse, nervousness and feeling cold.
While excess iodine it may also have negative consequences, as there is a risk of nausea, diarrhea, digestive system disorders and hyperthyroidism.
Iodine overdose can lead to the emergence or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland, to the development of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Iodine, which is a spirit solution of iodine in potassium iodide, due to its bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal properties, is mainly indicated for use as antiseptic.
It is used mainly for the immediate disinfection of small, minor skin damage, abrasions and scratches on the skin and the surface of undamaged skin, e.g. before surgery or surgery.
Iodine is also used to disinfect water, e.g. during exotic journeys, during which we are exposed to unfavorable bacterial flora.
To decontaminate the water, dissolve 3 drops of iodine in a liter of water. To neutralize the unpleasant aftertaste, you can add a little lemon juice or a few drops of vitamin C to the treated water and wait 30 minutes before consuming it. Sometimes iodine is also indicated in the treatment of mycosis of the skin.
How to properly heal wounds? Read on: Put it on the wound
Contraindications to the use of iodine
Despite the existence of an indication for the use of iodine, it may not always be used in every patient. The main contraindication to the use of this drug is hypersensitivity to iodine.
Iodine should also not be used by:
- women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- children under 3 years of age (newborns and infants);
- people intolerant to gluten (Duhring’s disease);
- people with diseases of the thyroid gland;
- people with dermatitis herpes;
- people suffering from tuberculosis;
- people with circulatory failure.
In addition, the use of iodine is contraindicated on large areas of the skin, open wounds and burns. It should also be remembered that iodine must not be swallowed.
If you have any doubts about the possibility of using iodine in a patient, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
What are chronic wounds in the elderly and how to combat them? Check: Chronic wounds of the elderly – where do they come from? Types of chronic wounds [WE EXPLAIN]
Iodine – possible side effects
Iodine, like all medicines, can cause side effects that do not have to occur in every person using this medicine. After authorization of the medicinal product, it is important to report any suspected adverse reactions so that the benefit / risk balance of the medicinal product can be monitored.
Iodine is a drug that has been used for many years as an effective agent for disinfecting the skin and mucous membranes, with a strong bactericidal, fungicidal and antiviral effect.
In general, iodine is not expected to cause serious side effects. However, its use may cause allergic reactions on the skin (local rash or reddening of the skin).
In addition, too frequent use of iodine on large surfaces may lead to swelling of the skin and acne-like eruptions.
Additionally, its improper use may lead to side effects. An example is the application of iodine to a large area of the skin, which can cause the thyroid gland to become overactive.
In addition, inhaling iodine can irritate the respiratory tract and drinking iodine can result in abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
Although the drug iodine may cause minor side effects, it should be remembered that the expected benefits of using this drug are usually greater than the harm resulting from the occurrence of side effects.
If you experience any of the above or other side effects, please inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
The occurrence of side effects after the use of iodine can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring Adverse Effects of Medicinal Products of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw.
What should you know about wound healing? Read: Facts and myths about wound healing
Iodine – precautions and first aid measures
Iodine, which is a widely available medicine and available in every home pharmacy, requires precautions both in terms of storage and use.
Iodine should be kept out of the reach and sight of young children. The preparation should be protected from light and moisture and it is best to store it at room temperature.
When using iodine, special care should be taken. Avoid getting iodine into the eyes, respiratory tract, digestive system or applying the preparation on a large area of the skin or an open wound.
If iodine comes into contact with the eye, immediately rinse it with plenty of water with the eyelid held wide open for at least 15 minutes (avoiding strong water jets to avoid the risk of mechanical damage to the cornea). If the disturbing symptoms persist or worsen, consult an ophthalmologist.
If iodine is ingested and has entered the gastrointestinal tract, seek immediate medical attention and do not induce vomiting.
In the event of the occurrence of disturbing respiratory symptoms caused by excessive inhalation of iodine, consult a physician immediately. If it is suspected that fumes are still present in the room, the rescuer should use a mask or self-contained breathing apparatus.
If poisoning with iodine vapor occurs, as a result of which the person is not breathing or is breathing irregularly, qualified personnel should remove the injured person to fresh air and administer artificial respiration or give oxygen.
Iodine, although it is intended mainly for use on the skin, requires immediate medical assistance in prolonged contact with its surface or getting into an open wound. In the above cases, wash the iodine from the skin with plenty of water as soon as possible for a minimum of 10 minutes and consult a doctor if disturbing symptoms persist.
What should you know about proper drug storage? Check: Medications that are stored wrongly are poisonous
Iodine and Lugol’s solution
Potassium iodide solutions in various proportions are used in situations that require decontamination, e.g. skin or tonsils.
Iodine and Lugol’s solution are often considered to be the same substance under two different names. Others mistakenly believe that both preparations have similar indications for use.
However, the truth is that there is a fundamental difference between them – iodine is a 3% spirit solution of iodine in potassium iodide, and Lugol’s solution is an aqueous solution of iodine.
Due to its composition, Lugol’s solution has a different effect, and the concentration of the active substance is also different from iodine. Lugol’s solution consists of iodine (10 mg), potassium iodide solution (20 mg) and distilled water.
In medicine, it is used to disinfect the skin, acting more gently than iodine, in the treatment of thyroid diseases and in a diluted form for gargling.
Unlike iodine, it can be used orally, but only in specific cases.
What is worth knowing about Lugol’s fluid and the consequences of its use? Check: Lugol’s fluid can be dangerous! Here are the side effects [LIST]