Betadine 20g

Betadine 20g is an Indian povidone-iodine antiseptic ointment from Win-Medicare Pvt Ltd. Indian pharmacies sell the 20 g Betadine ointment tube as povidone-iodine 10% (PharmEasy, Truemeds, Apollo and Medkart listings; PharmEasy gives 10% w/w), and the carton in our product photo reads "Povidone-Iodine Ointment USP" and "Ointment 10%". A 10% w/w povidone-iodine ointment yields 1% available iodine (US Drug Facts; Irish Betadine 10% ointment label). It is a first aid antiseptic for minor cuts, scrapes and burns. We sell it in packs of 3, 6 and 12 tubes, from $5.73 a tube in the 12 pack before shipping.

Please read this before you order. First, this page is about the ointment. Many people who search for "Betadine" want the brown liquid (Betadine Solution), the surgical scrub, the throat gargle or the spray; those are different products and we do not sell them here. Second, povidone-iodine ointment is cheap and sold without a prescription in the US and Australia, and in the US a 28.4 g tube is listed from $9.39 on GoodRx (checked 27 October 2026). With our $25 shipping, buying it locally will almost always cost less and arrive sooner than our 7 to 14 business days. Third, it is for small, minor wounds for a short time: the US Drug Facts say do not use it "over large areas of the body" or "longer than 1 week unless directed by a doctor". In our view, most readers outside India should buy a povidone-iodine ointment at a local pharmacy, and anyone with a deep, large, infected or slow-healing wound needs a doctor or nurse, not a parcel.

A note on strength and tube size. Win-Medicare also makes a Betadine 5% w/w ointment, but Indian listings sell that one in 25 g, 125 g and 250 g tubes (Apollo, Tata 1mg), not 20 g. Our listing is named "Betadine 20g", while the carton in our product photo shows a 15 g tube of the 10% ointment. Until the strength and tube size of our current stock are confirmed on this page, read the carton when it arrives, and contact us before ordering if you need a specific strength or size.

Betadine 20g at a glance

Price per tube

Prices below are as of October 2026; the pack selector shows the current price.

Every pack is under the $149 free shipping threshold, so the flat $25 shipping is most of the cost of a small order. If each tube holds 20 g, the ointment costs $0.29 to $0.33 a gram before shipping and $0.39 to $0.75 a gram with shipping (our arithmetic); if your tubes are 15 g, as in our product photo, the cost per gram is a third higher. In India, the listed maximum retail price of the 20 g tube is Rs 132.30 (PharmEasy, Truemeds, Tata 1mg, Medkart).

No label gives a number of grams per day or a number of tubes per course: you apply a small amount to a small wound for up to a week. In our estimate one tube is enough for a few minor cuts or grazes, so even the 3 tube pack is more than most households need at once. The 12 pack only makes sense for something like a clinic or a large first aid kit.

Compared with buying povidone-iodine locally

Povidone-iodine ointment is not a rare or expensive medicine outside India, and we would rather tell you that plainly.

For a US reader, one GoodRx-priced tube costs less than our smallest order before shipping is even added. The case for ordering from us is narrow: you specifically want the Indian Betadine brand, or you are adding it to an order you are already placing.

What this product is, and what it is not

"Betadine" is a brand name used on many povidone-iodine products. They contain the same active ingredient at different strengths and are made for different uses, so the directions for one do not carry over to another.

How to use Betadine ointment

There is no full English prescribing label for the Indian tube that we could find, so the steps below come from the US Drug Facts for povidone-iodine 10% ointment and from the Australian and Irish labels for Betadine 10% ointment, which use a water-soluble macrogol base (the carton in our product photo says "water-soluble ointment"; the exact Indian ingredients are not confirmed). Where they differ, we say so.

1. First aid comes first. For a burn, the NHS says: "Hold the burn or scald under cool running water for 20 minutes", then lay cling film over it, and "do not put any creams, oils or butter on burns or scalds". For a cut, the NHS says to wash your hands, clean the wound "by rinsing it with bottled or tap water, or by using sterile wipes", and cover it with a sterile dressing or plaster. Our advice: an ointment is for afterwards, on a small, minor wound, not in place of cooling a burn.
2. Clean the affected area. This is the first US direction. The Australian leaflet explains why: povidone-iodine "may react with blood or pus and lead to ineffectiveness of the preparation".
3. Apply a small amount. US Drug Facts: "apply a small amount of this product on the area 1 to 3 times daily". Australian leaflet: "two to three times daily". Irish label: "once or twice daily for a maximum of 14 days". Pick the schedule on your pack or the one a doctor gives you, and do not use more than you need.
4. A dressing is optional. The US Drug Facts say it "may be covered with a sterile bandage", and the Australian leaflet says "The affected area may be bandaged."
5. Keep it out of the eyes and off large areas of the body (US Drug Facts). The Australian leaflet also says "Avoid inhalation" and "Do not heat prior to application."
6. Stop after a week unless a doctor has told you to carry on (US Drug Facts), and stop and ask a doctor if the condition persists or gets worse.
7. Take off white gold jewellery. The Irish label says Betadine ointment "can permanently discolour white gold jewellery". Povidone-iodine is brown and can mark fabrics (our advice: let it dry before it touches clothing).

Side effects

The labels give no percentages from trials, so we cannot tell you how often each effect happens.

• Australian leaflet, less serious: red or inflamed skin, peeling skin, dry skin, skin discolouration.
• Australian leaflet, serious: allergy (difficulty breathing or swallowing; rash; swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue; itching, redness or small blisters, rarely); with prolonged exposure to wet product, redness and inflammation of the skin, severe skin reactions (rarely) or skin burns; kidney failure, increased acid in the blood (shortness of breath, confusion and lethargy), electrolyte imbalance and abnormal blood osmolarity "have been reported".
• Thyroid: the Australian leaflet says thyroid disorders "can occasionally occur from using very large amounts of such products over a long period of time", with symptoms such as weight loss, increased appetite and sweating, or lack of energy and weight gain, a racing pulse or a feeling of unrest. The Irish label says excess iodine can produce goitre and hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, "occasionally" seen with extensive or prolonged use, and lists metabolic acidosis and acute renal failure among other reported effects.
• Irish label: local irritation, skin burns and sensitivity reactions "have been reported rarely"; anaphylactic reactions "have been reported uncommonly with products containing povidone-iodine or povidone".

Why size and time matter: the Irish label says iodine is absorbed through burns and broken skin, and to a lesser extent through intact skin, and "may lead to toxic levels of iodine in the blood, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency". PharmEasy gives the same reason for care on burnt or cracked skin. This is why the US and Australian labels limit both the area and the length of use, and the Irish label limits use to a maximum of 14 days.

When to get urgent help

• Allergy: difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue. The Australian leaflet says to call your doctor straight away or go straight to the emergency department. With throat swelling or trouble breathing, call emergency services: 911 in the US and Canada, 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia (our advice).
• Kidney, blood or thyroid signs listed above, such as difficulty urinating, thirst and a dry mouth, and pain in one side of the back, or shortness of breath with confusion and lethargy: the Australian leaflet says call your doctor straight away or go to the emergency department.
• A serious burn: the NHS says call 999 or go to A&E for a burn or scald that "is very large or deep", "is on your face, genitals or bottom", or "has been caused by an acid or chemical, or by electricity". "Do not drive to A&E."
• A serious cut: the NHS says call 999 or go to A&E if "you have a cut and cannot stop the bleeding" or if the blood "comes out in spurts and is bright red and hard to control". The US Drug Facts say ask a doctor before use for deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns.
• A wound that may be infected: the NHS says ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if "a cut is swollen, red and getting more painful or pus is coming out of it", if a wound has soil, pus or body fluids in it, if you were bitten by a person or a wild or stray animal, or if you feel generally unwell or have a high temperature. Infection needs a doctor, not more ointment.
• Swallowed ointment: US Drug Facts: "If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) right away." In Australia the leaflet gives the Poisons Information Centre, 13 11 26. The Irish label says swallowing large amounts causes high blood iodine and gut corrosive effects, including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
• Ointment in the eye: rinse with plenty of water and get medical advice (our advice; the US Drug Facts and the Australian leaflet say keep it out of the eyes).

Who should not use Betadine ointment

Do not use it (the label each item comes from is named):

• if you are allergic to povidone-iodine, iodine, povidone or any other ingredient (US Drug Facts; Australian leaflet; Irish label 4.3)
• in the eyes, or over large areas of the body (US Drug Facts)
• for longer than 1 week unless directed by a doctor (US Drug Facts)
• on extensive burn areas (Australian leaflet)
• if you have or have ever had a thyroid problem, including nodular colloid goitre, endemic goitre or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (Australian leaflet; the Irish label makes a history of abnormal thyroid function or goitre a contraindication)
• for 4 weeks before treatment for thyroid cancer (Australian leaflet)
• during lithium therapy or mercury derivatives therapy (Australian leaflet). The Irish label says regular use "should be avoided" with lithium.
• in children under 2 years (Australian leaflet; Irish label 4.3; PharmEasy)
• if the tube seal is broken or after the expiry date (Australian leaflet)

Ask a doctor first:

• for deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns (US Drug Facts)
• if you have ever had a kidney problem (Australian leaflet); the Irish label says blood iodine should be monitored in people with impaired kidney function
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The Australian leaflet says it is "not recommended during pregnancy" and "not recommended during breastfeeding". The Irish label says iodine "freely crosses the placenta and is secreted in breast milk" and that povidone-iodine "should not be used regularly during pregnancy unless there is no alternative treatment available". PharmEasy says it is not recommended in pregnancy.
• before a thyroid test, or a stool or urine test for blood: the Australian and Irish labels say povidone-iodine can interfere with the results

Medicines and products that interact

• Lithium: "concurrent use should be avoided" (Australian leaflet); the Irish label says lithium with povidone-iodine has "additive hypothyroidic effects".
• Enzyme wound products: do not use them at the same time, as both can stop working; the same applies to disinfectants containing silver, hydrogen peroxide or taurolidine (Australian leaflet). That includes silver products such as Silverex Ionic on the same wound (our reading).
• Octenidine antiseptics: using povidone-iodine at the same time or straight after on the same or nearby skin "may lead to transient dark discolorations" (Australian leaflet).
• Mercury-containing wound products: together they can form a substance that damages the skin (Australian leaflet).
• Hydrogen peroxide: the US Betadine Gargle label also says "do not use with hydrogen peroxide".

What the evidence shows

We found no clinical trial of the Indian Betadine ointment itself. The wider evidence on iodine in wounds:

• Vermeulen 2010 (PMID 20619933): a systematic review of 27 randomised trials in chronic, acute and burn wounds, pressure sores and skin grafts. "Iodine did not lead to a reduction or prolongation of wound-healing time compared with other (antiseptic) wound dressings or agents", and adverse effects, including thyroid problems, "did not occur more frequently with iodine". The authors concluded that iodine "deserves to retain its place among the modern antiseptic agents".
• Cochrane, antiseptics for burns (Norman 2017, PMID 28700086): 56 trials. "There may be some reduction in mean time to healing for wounds treated with povidone iodine compared with chlorhexidine", and "There is probably no difference in infection rates between an iodine-based treatment compared with moist exposed burn ointment (moderate certainty evidence)." Most other comparisons were low or very low certainty.

Our reading: povidone-iodine is a reasonable first aid antiseptic, but the trials do not show that it heals minor wounds faster than simple cleaning and a dressing, and they are mostly in clinical settings, not home first aid.

Prescription and legal status

• India: sold without a prescription. PharmEasy marks the 10% 20 g tube "OTC", Medkart says it is "listed as not requiring a prescription", and Truemeds, Apollo and Tata 1mg list it in their OTC sections.
• US: povidone-iodine 5 to 10% is a first aid antiseptic active ingredient under OTC Monograph M003, so povidone-iodine ointment is sold over the counter without an individual FDA approval. This Indian tube is not registered with the FDA. The FDA says personal importation of drugs is illegal in most circumstances.
• UK: on the emc medicines database, povidone-iodine is listed only as eye drops; MHRA Products lists Betadine 5% cream, Betadine 2.5% cutaneous spray powder, Betadine throat spray and Videne solution, tincture and scrub, and no povidone-iodine ointment (checked 27 October 2026). This Indian tube is not registered with the MHRA.
• Australia: Betadine Antiseptic Ointment (povidone-iodine 100 mg/g) is registered (AUST R 29561), approval area non-prescription medicines, "Not scheduled". This Indian tube is not registered with the TGA.
• Canada: in our search of Health Canada's Drug Product Database we found no marketed povidone-iodine ointment, and the Betadine products listed there are cancelled. This Indian tube is not registered with Health Canada.

Check the rules where you live before you order.

Buying genuine Betadine

The MHRA warns: "Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have." It advises UK buyers: "Only use UK-registered pharmacies, including online pharmacies displaying the official green cross logo". That warning covers this Indian tube, which is not authorised in the UK. When your order arrives, check that the carton and tube say Betadine, povidone-iodine ointment and the strength (10%), name Win-Medicare, show a batch number and an expiry date, and that the tube seal is intact (the Australian leaflet says do not use it if the seal is broken). These checks cannot prove a tube is genuine, because counterfeiters copy packaging. If a tube causes unusual symptoms, stop using it, seek medical advice, and report it to your medicines regulator (the MHRA Yellow Card scheme in the UK, FDA MedWatch in the US, the TGA in Australia or Health Canada) as well as to us. Store it at room temperature, below 30 °C, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Delivery

We ship Betadine 20g to the US, UK, Australia and Canada in plain packaging with tracking. Standard delivery takes 7 to 14 business days to most countries, which is too slow for any new wound or burn: treat those with what you have locally first. Shipping costs a flat $25 on orders under $149 and is free from $149. See our shipping page and refund policy.

Other skin products we sell

Related guides

• Antibiotic resistance: when antibiotics don't work
• Is it safe to buy medicine online?
• How to verify a legitimate online pharmacy in the USA
• What is an international online pharmacy?

Sources

• Indian listings for Betadine 10% ointment 20 g (strength, maker, prescription status, storage, price, warnings): PharmEasy, Truemeds, Medkart, Apollo Pharmacy and Tata 1mg; Betadine 5% ointment: Apollo Pharmacy (25, 125 and 250 g) and Tata 1mg (25 g); checked 27 October 2026.
• First Aid Antiseptic Ointment (povidone-iodine USP 10% w/w), Rugby Laboratories, Drug Facts, DailyMed setid b2bcb69e-8ffb-23ee-e053-2995a90aee21, version 4, effective 27 June 2025.
• US Food and Drug Administration. Over-the-Counter Monograph M003: First Aid Antiseptic Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use (posted 2 May 2023), sections M003.10(q) and M003.50. FDA
• Betadine Solution (povidone-iodine 10%), Atlantis Consumer Healthcare, DailyMed setid 1b1e224c-8c00-46ea-9bdd-020a9b45321d, version 8, effective 21 January 2026; Betadine Gargle (povidone-iodine 0.5%), DailyMed setid 5f0a3377-1398-2603-c632-f0d214bb88ec, effective 21 January 2026; Betadine Surgical Scrub (povidone-iodine 7.5%), DailyMed setid 1ad39e11-ea1e-44a4-8224-93f8135436c2, version 11, effective 6 January 2025; Betadine Spray (povidone-iodine 5%), DailyMed setid 00002127-02bc-4c66-b0c3-ca29d8224afc, version 1, effective 2 January 2025.
• Betadine Antiseptic Topical Ointment Consumer Medicine Information, Australia, iNova Pharmaceuticals, prepared August 2024 (AUST R 29561); ARTG public summary 29561. MedsInfo
• Betadine 10% w/w Ointment, Summary of Product Characteristics, Health Products Regulatory Authority (Ireland), PA1688/021/006, revised July 2019.
• NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost), data.medicaid.gov, rows for Betadine 10% solution, povidone-iodine 10% solution and Betadine 5% spray, as of 21 October 2026.
• GoodRx, povidone iodine (Betadine) page, 28.4 g of 10% ointment, 1 tube, price as low as $9.39, checked 27 October 2026. GoodRx
• MHRA Products, substance search povidone-iodine; emc ingredient search povidone iodine; Health Canada Drug Product Database, povidone-iodine and Betadine searches; all checked 27 October 2026.
• Vermeulen H, Westerbos SJ, Ubbink DT. Benefit and harm of iodine in wound care: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect 2010. PMID 20619933.
• Norman G, et al. Antiseptics for burns. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017. PMID 28700086.
• NHS. Burns and scalds, page last reviewed 31 March 2026; Cuts and grazes, page last reviewed 2 April 2026. NHS
• MHRA. 20 million illegal erectile dysfunction pills seized as MHRA warns against risky online buys, 13 February 2026. GOV.UK.
• US Food and Drug Administration. Personal Importation. FDA

This page is for information and is not medical advice. A deep, large or infected wound, an animal bite or a serious burn needs a doctor or nurse; do not wait for a delivery.