Nasal antiseptics can kill SARS-Cov-2 in laboratory settings in as little as 15 seconds. Although they have not been tested in people yet, many experts believe they may be helpful in combating COVID-19.

Statistics show that we touch our faces an average of 23 times an hour and our noses one-third of those times. These nasal antiseptics, especially the ones that contain iodine, are a promising protection against the coronavirus, since the World Health Organization states that transmission most likely occurs when the virus enters the mouth, nose, or eyes.

According to Verywell Health, Dr. Samantha Frank of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine says that iodine-based nasal antiseptics have been used to treat other conditions, such as inflammation of the sinuses and nasal cavity, for years.

“They are not new or unique to COVID-19, but fortunately inactivate SARS-CoV-2 as well,” she said. The effective antiseptic nasal solution used in a recent laboratory study that was published in the journal Infectious Diseases and Therapy, is called povidone-iodine or PVP-1. According to Verywell Health, PVP-1 also kills MRSA, SARS-CoV, influenza H1Na, and the rotavirus.

Dr. Samuel Barone, a founding board member of Halodine LLC, a company that manufactures a PVP-1 spray, says their product has been used for decades to help protect hospitalized patients and healthcare workers as well as consumers. In a lab-based clinical trial, it was found to kill 99.99% of SARS-CoV-2 in 15 seconds, and the company is currently recruiting volunteers for human testing.

Other nasal antiseptics may also help protect against COVID-19. Some nasal sprays contain benzalkonium chloride that is used in many antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers. A new product that contains benzalkonium chloride called NanoBio will launch in CVS stores this month, according to Verywell Health. It is a clear film that is applied to the outer area of the nose that emits positively charged droplets for up to eight hours that kill pathogens on contact, according to the manufacturer.

Frank says that nasal antiseptics help prevent COVID-19 by preventing those who do not have symptoms from spreading the disease and preventing the virus from entering your nose. It may also reduce the severity of the disease if not as much virus gets into your lungs, she says.

Experts say that human trials are underway to determine how well PVP-1 and other nasal antiseptics work to prevent COVID-19, and warn that people with thyroid disorders or cancers, iodine allergies, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use the formulation.