Be careful when using iodine solution as a disinfectant.

As a popular and effective antiseptic solution, iodine tincture is essential in disinfecting wounds. However, it can also cause more dangerous side effects than other antiseptics.

Too clean burns the skin

Iodine solution helps keep the skin clean and disinfect wounds, but it should not be applied more often or with a higher concentration. Pure iodine or concentrated iodine alcohol does not kill bacteria, but on the contrary, can cause burns and make skin infections worse.

The bad thing is that when you have a skin ulcer caused by iodine, it is very difficult for the wound to heal because the iodine crystals are destroying the wound from the inside out.

On the other hand, because of its high antiseptic properties, iodine, although it does not cause burns, can darken the disinfected skin area. Therefore, you need to be careful when using it on areas that need aesthetic treatment such as the face, neck, arms, etc.

Advice: Absolutely do not use concentrated iodine or pure iodine, only use solutions under 10%. For children, if you intend to use iodine solution for disinfection, you should dilute it 2-3 times.

Excessive use causes poisoning.

When using iodine topically over a large area, be careful, the absorbed concentration may exceed the allowable threshold. The reason is that when applied over a large area, too much iodine is absorbed, the body will have difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth, swelling of the glottis making it difficult to speak, swelling of the lungs, swelling of the airways, and even death.

Advice: If using iodine solution externally on a large area equal to 1/3 of the body surface area, it is necessary to use iodine solution diluted as for children. If the body is too sensitive, you should use iodine alcohol on the severely damaged skin, and for the lightly damaged skin areas, you should use saline instead.

Used on face, eye and mouth irritation

When using iodine on the face, you need to be careful not to let it get into your eyes or mouth. When it gets into the eyes, it can cause burning, damage the cornea, and even blindness. If it accidentally gets into your eyes, you should blink continuously or bend your eyes close to a bowl of clean water and blink to let the tears flow to wash away the iodine.

Similarly, when using iodine on the face, you may get it in your mouth, causing numbness and burning of the tongue and gums. In this case, you should spit out the solution and rinse your mouth (first hold it in your mouth and then spit it out to avoid spreading the iodine in your mouth, then rinse).

Tip: For wounds near the eyes and mouth, you should avoid using iodine solution to disinfect, instead use salt water. If you do, cover your eyes carefully with a clean towel or clean gauze or close your eyes.

When applying iodine solution on your face, avoid talking and laughing to prevent it from getting into your mouth. Never use iodine to treat wounds or pimples in the mouth.

According to Family Health