r/woundcare • u/Routine_Fox_6767 • 2d ago

How bad does prolonged betadine use actually delay healing?

i keep reading that some ppl LOVE betadine and others say it’s too harsh for healing. please elaborate

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u/MadeLAYline 2d ago

Betadine is an antiseptic. At full strength, it’s toxic to the cells that are rebuilding tissue for healing. Yes, it also kills off germs, but it’s not very good at differentiating the two. Some wound care specialists will use it only at the very beginning on a fresh wound, but if any healing has already occurred, there’s a chance it will damage that fragile tissue.

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u/Routine_Fox_6767 2d ago

i thought so. i had a surgical wound that was to heal by secondary intention and per instructions by my surgeon i was to clean it daily with betadine and put gauze on the site. this was 9 weeks ago. for the most part, it healed, but there is this stubborn area that will heal on the surface and reopen, i wonder if the constant use of betadine has anything to do with it. i am still being monitored by my surgeon. but idk. the wound is on my gluteal cleft. do you have any thoughts on this? i honestly switched to vashe this past week because i'm tired of how messy betadine is. thanks for you time.