Is white de colourised iodine the same as lugols iodine tincture?

[Abzieg]

I have been suffering from hairloss and have read on a lot of places that white or de colourised iodine is good for hairloss to apply topically. I have lugols orange iodine tincture, can anyone tell me if this is the same apart from the fact it is orange? I would very much appreciate your input. X

[helvella Administrator]

Probably my ignorance, but the word "tincture" usually means something dissolved in alcohol (ethanol). "Tincture of iodine" is simply iodine dissolved in alcohol. That is the form often used directly on skin as a disinfectant.

It is not possible to make iodine anything but the browny/orangey colour it is - though iodine in some forms such as vapour is violet.

Anything that is colourless or white can only be a compound of iodine (e.g. potassium iodide).

Before even considering the use of any iodine-containing substance, you need to know exactly what you are dealing with. Inappropriate forms and strengths of iodine can cause very unpleasant effects on the mouth, gut, skin, etc. "lugols orange iodine tincture" is far too vague a description.

[Abzieg in reply to helvella]

Apologies for being so vague - the lugols iodine I have says 85% distilled water, potassium iodide 10% and iodine 5% and I have another bottle of white de colourised iodine. I am

Wondering if they both do the same thing, and what the difference is?

[Hidden]

Inactive ingredients .... ammonium hydroxide, iodine, potassium iodide, and purified water.

For those chemistry buffs ... NH3 + H2O is in equilibrium with NH4+ + OH−.

For the rest of us ... No, it is not exactly the same Abzieg. There are plenty of google re searched sites detailing "Decolorized Iodine" helping hairless when applied topically but surely you don't want to apply orange iodine all over your head anyway ? ? ... it stains ! ..

Flower

[Abzieg in reply to Hidden]

But it still contains iodine and potassium iodide? The only difference being ammonium

Hydroxide? If it's he iodine that helps with the hairloss then not having ammonium hydroxide surely would make no difference? I'm

Not sure? Also I dilute with water and spray on so it doesn't stain and I have dark hair. I'm not sure now I have heard about the de colourised option. ?

[Hidden in reply to Abzieg]

If you are not worried about the staining.. .. then I would think it fine.

I am not a chemist but ....

Ammonia and Ammonium are compounds that contain Nitrogen and Hydrogen. Ammonia contains one Nitrogen and three Hydrogen whereas Ammonium contains one Nitrogen and Four Hydrogen.

Ammonia is a weak base, un-ionized, smells, becomes aqueous ammonia when it is dissolved in waters and gas when exposed to air.

Ammonium is ionised and when a concentrated ammonium salt solution is treated with a strong base, it produces ammonia...

.. And if ammonia is mixed in water, a portion of it changes to ammonium. ! !

It is also seen that Ammonia is toxic or harmful to aquatic organisms. On the other hand, Ammonium is not harmful to aquatic organisms....

Whatever... I would consider the absence of ammonium to be a blessing ! !// ..

I hope it helps,

Flower

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these.suggestions. ....