Have Acne Problems? Milk May Be Culprit: Researcher Suspects Iodine In Milk Linked To Acne Problems

NBC4
Dec. 10, 2005

Milk does a body good -- but it might not be so great for a teenager's complexion, according to new research.

Dermatologists seem to agree that something in milk and dairy products may be linked to teenage acne, but they haven't been able to pin down the reason why.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in February 2005, researchers have pointed to hormones and bioactive molecules in milk. But Dr. Harvey Arbesman, a dermatologist at the University at Buffalo, suspects iodine is the culprit.

Arbesman outlined his theory in a letter published in the December issue of the journal.

"It has been well-established since the 1960s that iodine intake can exacerbate acne," said Arbesman. "Nevertheless, various studies have shown there is still a significant level of iodine in milk in several countries, including the U.S., Britain, Denmark, Norway and Italy."

He said farmers give their cows iodine-fortified feed to prevent infection, and they use sanitizing iodine solutions on their cows' udders and milking equipment.

"I've advised my acne patients for years to decrease their dairy intake," he said.

In another letter in the December issue of the journal, Dr. Susan Bershad, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, questioned the data that linked milk to acne problems. She said important factors such as heredity were not controlled in the research.

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