Molecular Iodine and Skin

The hypodermis acts as a sponge to hold molecular iodine and the impact of that on pathogens.

The two most commonly used iodine preparations are 10% PVP-I and Lugol’s Solution. When applied, they dry and form a thin layer on the skin surface. Both preparations contain multiple iodine species including negligible amounts of molecular iodine (I2); the species responsible for anti-microbial activity. The make up of these preparations keeps almost all of the I2 in them on the skin surface where it evaporates.

Molecular iodine does not need to be restricted to the surface of the skin. Efficacy does not benefit from any other iodine species in a formulation. On its own, the I2 species can penetrate skin layers and enters into (partitions into) the fatty tissue of the dermis/hypodermis. From within this fatty tissue, I2 is released over time as a gas.


The I2Pure manuscript “Molecular iodine is not responsible for cytotoxicity in iodophors” demonstrates that I2 will penetrate into the skin through all layers down to the dermis/hypodermis.

The lipid environment in this layer of skin acts like a sponge capable of stabilizing and holding high concentrations of I2.

It is from this living repository that the I2 changes to a gas which is released slowly through the skin (out-gassing) for hours after application.

    I2Pure compositions present a different approach to pathogen destruction:

  • 1.

    When applied to the skin, I2Pure’s I2-glycerin composition penetrates to the fatty layers within the dermis/hypodermis instead of being being deposited only on the skin surface.

  • 2.

    This results in a larger amount of I2 being present than would be from an aqueous iodine disinfectant applied on the surface of epidermal tissue (a higher I2/cm2 ratio).

  • 3.

    The lipid environment of the hypodermis stabilizes the I2 and becomes an I2 repository.

  • 4.

    The I2 slowly diffuses out of the lipid environment (out-gassing) in all directions, including out of the epidermal tissue over the course of hours.

  • 5.

    The I2 gas destroys all viruses, bacteria and fungi that come in contact with it, in on and above the skin.

Global Pathogen Map

I2Pure molecular iodine chemistry paves the way for a natural anti-microbial that is stored within the skin and released over time to kill pathogens in three dimensions (in, on and above skin). Pathogens have no known defense and no where to hide from the multi-dimensional disinfectant that is molecular iodine.