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8 December 2005
Iodine The Culprit In Acne From Milk Products? 
Most dermatologists believe that something in milk and dairy products is linked to teenage acne but just what it is remains a mystery. The latest issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology carries an article exploring the possibility that hormones and "bioactive molecules" in dairy products could be to blame, but one dermatologist writing in the same journal points the finger in a different direction. Dermatologist Harvey Arbesman, from the University at Buffalo, believes the culprit could be iodine. Arbesman's reasoning is based on previous research that showed iodine intake can exacerbate acne and that iodine is found in relatively high levels in dairy products from Western nations. "Farmers give their cows iodine-fortified feed to prevent infection," he explained, "and they use sanitizing iodine solutions on their cows' udders and milking equipment. Consequently, there is lot of iodine in dairy products." It may be that the combination of the iodine and hormones is fuelling the acne, said Arbesman. "It's important to bring the iodine connection to the fore to encourage the dairy industry to address the issue." He added that future studies on the relationship of milk products and acne should consider the role iodine content may play. Source: University at Buffalo
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