Iodine-containing antiseptic preparations have been used in clinical practice for more than 150 years in a variety of scenarios: from treatment and prevention of wound infections to preoperative manipulation. Over this long period of time, many preparations of various compositions have been developed, but they are united by the same active substance - iodine. The review presents the historical stages of elaboration of iodine-containing substances. The first preparations based on iodine were simple in chemical composition and had high toxicity, so their use was severely limited. In the middle of the 20th century, several scientists independently managed to associate iodine with an organic macromolecule - a carrier, which made it possible to increase the safety of using iodine-containing preparations. Since then, the «renaissance» in the field of antiseptics began - scientists around the world began to more actively study the properties of iodine and preparations based on it, as well as develop new drugs. Currently available for use in clinical practice: iodophores - a complex of iodine and high molecular weight organic compounds and iodine-containing antiseptics based on enzyme systems, as well as their modifications.