What is Povidone Iodine and How Does It Work?

Almost all doctors and patients use povidone iodine in cases of injuries, cuts and whenever there is a risk of infection. Whether it’s a small cut at home or it is in a pre-surgical setting in a hospital, this universal solution is used for cleaning and avoiding any type of complications. It is known for its wide use of antiseptic action and helps in killing bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is a must in the first aid kit and a medical clinic.

In this blog, we will learn about Povidone iodine and its working that makes it one of the most used substances for the treatment of wounds and prevention of infections.

Understanding Povidone Iodine

It is basically a combination of iodine, an antimicrobial and povidone, which helps in release of iodine in a controlled manner. Slow release of iodine helps in proper disinfection of the site of application while acting against a huge number of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.

Patients with infectious skin conditions are advised to use products that include povidone iodine for wound management, cleaning skin before surgery, cuts, burns and other minor infections.

Its wide use cases and minimal side-effects make it a popular and most used antiseptic.

How it works when applied to wound

Whenever there’s a cut or wound on skin, bacteria immediately try to attack the exposed skin. That’s where povidone-iodine steps in as your first line of defense. Imagine it like an army of iodine molecules wrapped in a protective covering and charged in a ready to go position to fight the bacteria.

When it is applied on the wound, the iodine is released over a period of time, slowly like a continuous release of soldiers to battle who are on standby. These iodine “soldiers” penetrate and break the outer membranes of disease-causing bacteria and other microbes, killing them before they infect an individual.

The povidone part of the formulation serves as a protective carrier so that your healthy tissues are not affected or destroyed and antiseptic will work on a wound without harming the surrounding skin.

This way, povidone-iodine is a disinfectant and a defender at the same time and makes sure that wounds are healed properly without providing any chance for the infection causing organisms to multiply.

Its 3 Most Common Use Cases:

  • Wounded Skin Disinfection: This is used to clean minor openings in the flesh or skin, such as cuts, grazes, or even burning sites, to prevent infection.
  • Surgical Preparation: Commonly used in hospitals to disinfect a body part before performing an operation.
  • Sanitization of Hands: It is used in healthcare facilities for the disinfection of hands.

Some Interesting facts about Povidone Iodine

  • It is used for more than 80% of surgeries performed in the world.
  • Each year, almost 30 million bottles of this solution are used in hospitals all over the world for preoperative preparations.
  • This is used in more than 25 types of medical and cosmetic products, such as hand sanitizers, mouth rinses, etc.
  • It is effective in reducing contamination of wounds by more than 99.9% in a few minutes of application.
  • Also widely used in animal health practices where more than 2 million doses are given in a year for treatment of animal wounds and infection.

Conclusion

Now, you properly understand how important this antiseptic is, and if you are looking for Povidone Iodine exporters, Glowria Lifecare is a leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical externals, including liquids and powders, in India. We believe in providing the best and highest quality products.

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