Do not use topical iodine on deep, puncture wounds, animal bites, or serious burns. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Do not cover the wound to which you have applied topical iodine with a tight dressing or bandage since this may increase the chance of side effects.
Based on the available evidence from clinical trials, iodine is an effective antiseptic agent that shows neither the purported harmful effects nor a delay of the wound-healing process, particularly in chronic and burn wounds.
The antiseptic effect of iodine is not inferior to that of other (antiseptic) agents and does not impair wound healing. Hence, iodine deserves to retain its place among the modern antiseptic agents.
Iodine (as well as antiseptics in general) in wound treatment is believed to cause allergic reactions, to be less effective due to poor penetration, or to negatively influence tissue regeneration due to a toxic effect on the host cells.
Povidone‐iodine has been FDA approved for short‐term treatment of superficial and acute wounds.
Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm. Try to be quick when changing dressings. Exposing a wound to the open air can drop its temperature and may slow healing for a few hours. Don't use antiseptic creams, washes or sprays on a chronic wound.
Iodine is an antiseptic that kills bacteria and pathogens (Lawrence, 1998).
Applying iodine on your skin directly may stain it temporarily. Regular application on the same spot may also dry out your skin in the region. There is also a slight chance of getting too much iodine through direct application. However, your body will stop absorbing the iodine when it has enough.
Excessive iodine consumption can lead to similar symptoms as iodine deficiency, including thyroid dysfunction and goiter. Too much iodine may lead to thyroiditis and thyroid papillary cancer. At very high levels, iodine poisoning can cause: burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach.
Do not use for more than ten days.
Apply solution to the entire area of a clean, dry, eschared wound and 2.5 cm of the peri -wound skin. Allow to dry. If using a bottle, bottle must be client-single use. Labeled with the client's name and the date the bottle.
Iodine has been recognized as an effective broad-spectrum bactericide, and is also effective against yeasts, molds, fungi, viruses, and protozoans. Drawbacks to its use in the form of aqueous solutions include irritation at the site of application, toxicity, and the staining of surrounding tissues.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the surface moist and help prevent scarring. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people.
Normal Saline:
Saline is the preferred cleanser for most wounds because it is physiologic and will ALWAYS be safe. It will not clean well in dirty, necrotic wounds.
How long do you need to take iodine to start experiencing it's benefits? You may notice improvements in energy within one month of supplementing with iodine.
High iodine intakes can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer. Getting a very large dose of iodine (several grams, for example) can cause burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach; fever; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; weak pulse; and coma.
Iodine administered as iodide is quickly absorbed and stored in the thyroid, and then gradually excreted to urine. For a normal thyroid status, 30–40% of iodide administered is absorbed in the thyroid 24 h after the administration.
Healthy granulation tissue is pink in colour and is an indicator of healing. Unhealthy granulation is dark red in colour, often bleeds on contact, and may indicate the presence of wound infection. Such wounds should be cultured and treated in the light of microbiological results.
A wound is considered chronic if it has not healed significantly in four weeks or completely in eight weeks. If you're suffering from a wound or sore that isn't showing any signs of healing, talk to your doctor. If left untreated, chronic wounds can cause dangerous complications.