Is Povidone-iodine the same as tincture of iodine?

Povidone-iodine is not tincture of iodine. Although both are iodine-containing disinfectants, they have significant differences. 1. In terms of composition, povidone-iodine is an amorphous complex of elemental iodine and polyvinylpyrrolidone, whereas tincture of iodine is a mixture of iodine and ethanol. 2. Regarding irritation, povidone-iodine is less irritating and can be used for disinfection of wounds, skin, and mucous membranes. In contrast, tincture of iodine is more irritating and is suitable only for disinfection of intact skin surfaces, not for application on wounds, as it may cause severe pain and pigmentation. 3. Concerning the need for deiodination after application, tincture of iodine requires deiodination with alcohol after skin disinfection to remove residual iodine, whereas povidone-iodine does not require this step. There are clear differences between povidone-iodine and tincture of iodine in composition, irritation, and usage, so they should not be considered the same.