The role of iodine

Because we do not pay attention to some details in our lives, we or our family members may suffer minor physical injuries due to certain small things. At this time, we need the help of some essential household medicines. For example, when you accidentally catch a cold, you will need to use antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs. When a part of the body is injured, you will need anti-inflammatory drugs. You can also try to use iodine to help yourself clean the wound.

Most people may think that iodine is generally used in hospitals and there is no need to have it at home. In fact, this idea is wrong. Just imagine that sometimes when you have to go to the hospital and wait in line because of a minor wound, it would be great if you had iodine at home. So, let’s introduce the effects of iodine tincture.

Iodine tincture is made by dissolving iodine and potassium iodide in an alcohol solution. Iodine is a solid and potassium iodide helps it dissolve in alcohol. The concentration of commercially available iodine tincture is 2%.

Iodine has a powerful effect in killing pathogens, and it can denature the proteins of pathogens. Iodine can kill bacteria, fungi, viruses, amoeba, etc., and can be used to treat many bacterial, fungal, viral and other skin diseases.

Bacterial skin infection Staphylococcus aureus can easily invade hair follicles, forming small pustules at the opening of the follicles with hair passing through the center, commonly known as folliculitis. It often occurs on the scalp, face, buttocks, and limbs. You can apply 2% iodine to the affected area 4 to 5 times a day. Each time you apply the iodine, leave the cotton swab on the affected area for 1 to 2 minutes to facilitate the penetration and absorption of the drug. Iodine can often be effective in treating folliculitis within 2 to 3 days. The effect will be better if used before folliculitis forms pustules. People need to be reminded that iodine tincture is somewhat irritating and can stimulate the skin's pigment cells to secrete pigments, leaving temporary pigmentation spots on the skin after use. Patients with facial acne (commonly known as acne) often develop secondary Staphylococcus aureus infection, which causes inflammation of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands, resulting in folliculitis or furunculosis. At this time, you can use 1% iodine tincture to apply it (preparation method of 1% iodine tincture: add 90% or 75% alcohol to 2% iodine tincture and dilute it to a concentration of 1:1. For example, add 10 ml of alcohol to 10 ml of 2% iodine tincture and stir evenly). Since the stratum corneum of the facial epidermis is relatively thin, drugs can be easily penetrated and absorbed, so 1% iodine tincture does not affect the antibacterial effect and is not likely to cause pigmentation.

After learning so much about iodine, I believe everyone should have a general understanding of the effects of iodine. Perhaps you didn’t know before that iodine has so many uses. Now, after reading this article, you can prepare some iodine at home in case of emergency. There are many bumps and bruises in life, and iodine can be very effective in this regard.