Iodine FAQ’s:

I’ve heard that the Iodine skin test works just as well as the Iodine Spot and Load Urine test for determining whether I’m deficient in Iodine. Is that true?

No, the skin test will not accurately assess your body’s tissue stores of Iodine. The skin test will only reflect your local absorption of liquid iodine at that site. And since 88 % of the Iodine applied to the skin will evaporate you are only absorbing 12 percent of the applied iodine.

Additionally, this Iodine evaporation increases with increased ambient temperatures and decreased atmospheric pressure, so depending on whether you are in Colorado or California you may have a substantial difference in skin patch results.

It is also of note that the yellow color of iodine will disappear when reduced to iodide by the skin since iodide is white. So it is thought that this is not so much a reflection of Iodine deficiency (when the yellow color leaves) but the expected conversion to the iodide (white) form.

In conclusion, the skin test is not an effective means for evaluating iodine deficiency. Guy Abrahams MD concisely summarizes it thusly: “…the iodine patch test is not a reliable method to assess whole body insufficiency for iodine. Many factors play a role in the disappearance of the yellow color of iodine from the surface of the skin…the iodine/iodide loading test is much more accurate”.

The Bioavailability of Iodine Applied to the Skin, Guy E Abraham MD, The Original Internist June 2008

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