How to use iodine cotton swab

Iodine cotton swabs are a common household disinfection product. When our skin has bruises or other minor wounds, using iodine cotton swabs can effectively prevent the growth of bacteria in the wound. So, how to use iodine cotton swabs? It’s actually very simple. All you need to do is wipe the wound with an iodine cotton swab. There may be slight stinging in the affected area, which is normal.

Iodine tincture is a halogen disinfectant and antiseptic drug. It is an ethanol solution of iodine and potassium iodide, also known as tincture of iodine.

Because it has the ability to oxidize and destroy the active genes of the pathogen's protoplasmic proteins, and combine with the amino groups of the proteins to denature and precipitate them, it has a powerful bactericidal effect. It also has a killing effect on fungi, viruses and amoebas. Even the most difficult to kill bacterial spores, iodine tincture can play a disinfecting role. Common tetanus spores, for example, can be eliminated by applying iodine. Therefore, iodine is often used to disinfect traumatic wounds.

The bactericidal power of iodine tincture is directly proportional to the concentration of the solution and its irritation and corrosiveness to human tissues. Among them, 0.5% to 1% iodine tincture can be applied to the skin and mucous membranes, 2% iodine tincture is used for general skin disinfection and infection, such as small boils, etc.; 3.5% to 5% iodine tincture is used for skin disinfection before surgery or injection. Therefore, readers are advised to pay attention to the concentration of iodine when buying medicine in a pharmacy. In addition, applying iodine can also treat redness and swelling of the skin by reducing swelling, but be careful to only apply it to the red and swollen areas, and not to expand the range; for minor injuries, sprains, and bruises where the skin has not been broken, it can not only promote blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis, but also prevent bacterial infection.

Since iodine is highly irritating to the skin, mucous membranes and other tissues, if used in too high a concentration it can cause blistering, peeling and dermatitis. Therefore, when using iodine to disinfect the skin, wait until it is slightly dry before using 70% alcohol to deiodine. Because of its high irritation, iodine tincture can cause intense burning pain if applied to wounds. Therefore, iodine tincture cannot be used to disinfect damaged skin, eyes, mouth, perineum and other mucous membranes.