Which is better, iodine or hydrogen peroxide?

Povidone-iodine and hydrogen peroxide are both common disinfectants with high medicinal properties in our lives, but povidone-iodine is relatively less irritating and is used more frequently, while hydrogen peroxide can not only disinfect, but also clean and deodorize. It also has a certain effect on the beauty industry. Applying hydrogen peroxide on the face can whiten and lighten spots, but it cannot be used directly as it can easily irritate the skin, especially for people with sensitive skin. So, besides these, what other characteristics do povidone-iodine and hydrogen peroxide have?

What are the differences between the effects of hydrogen peroxide, iodine and alcohol?

Each has its own advantages. Hydrogen peroxide mainly has antiseptic, deodorizing and cleaning effects. Its disinfection effect is not long-lasting and deep enough, but it has a strong cleansing effect and is particularly suitable for deep wounds and anaerobic bacterial infections. Iodine tincture can kill intestinal pathogens, pyogenic cocci, pathogenic yeasts and common bacteria that cause hospital infections. It has strong bactericidal ability. Mainly used for disinfection of hands, skin and mucous membranes.

Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. In medicine, 3% hydrogen peroxide is often used to disinfect wounds or otitis media. 3% hydrogen peroxide has the ability to disinfect and sterilize! Because peroxide is unstable, the following reaction easily occurs: H2O2→H2O+(O) When it comes into contact with wounds, pus or dirt on the skin, oral cavity and mucous membranes, it immediately decomposes to produce oxygen. Alcohol molecules have great penetrating power. They can pass through the membrane on the surface of bacteria, penetrate into the interior of the bacteria, and coagulate the proteins that constitute the basis of bacterial life (protein denaturation), killing the bacteria. Iodine tincture solution can gradually release iodine to exert an antibacterial effect. The mechanism of action is to denature bacterial proteins and cause death. It is effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, and is characterized by low irritation to tissues.

Both iodine tincture and povidone-iodine tincture are disinfectants, and the active ingredient is iodine. The difference is that iodine tincture uses ethanol (alcohol) as the solvent, while iodine tincture uses water as the solvent (of course iodine is insoluble in water and must be made through a special process). The two have the same function, and in a sense, iodine tincture is more widely used than iodine tincture. Since iodine tincture is made with water as the solvent, it is non-irritating to the skin, mucous membranes, and wounds, which is why it is superior to iodine tincture. It is now widely used as a disinfectant for muscles, intravenous injections, external use, and surgical skin.