Iodine is one of the most essential minerals that your body needs to function properly but is often ignored or forgotten about. Your body uses iodine to make the hormone thyroxine in your thyroid gland, which regulates bodily activities like metabolism. So, it’s really important to incorporate iodine in your daily diet for a healthy body and skin.

Read on to learn more about this mineral and its benefits of iodine on skin.

What does Iodine do for your Skin?

Iodine is an important element for your body and skin to encourage detoxification and prevent various chemicals from harming the thyroid. Iodine deficiency can lead to various skin concerns that may affect your body as well as your skin. Similarly, over-consumption of iodine can have an impact on your skin. Here are some of the symptoms of under or over-consumption of iodine:

1. Dry skin

Iodine deficiency can lead to dry or flaky skin. In fact, A studies have shown that about 77% of people with low thyroid hormones may experience dry skin, which is caused mainly because of low levels of iodine in their system.

2. Less sweating

Iodine helps your body sweat and even hydrate your skin cells to keep your skin hydrated and moist. It works to detoxify your body through sweating. Iodine deficiency in your body can lead to less sweating as thyroid hormones are in charge of regulating sweat, which discourages detoxification and results in dry or dehydrated skin.

3. Breakouts

Iodine helps in keeping the hormones in check which in turn reduces breakouts and acne marks on the skin. Therefore, lack of iodine in your body can lead to increased acne breakouts as well as dry and cracked skin.

5 Benefits of Iodine on Skin:

Consuming an adequate amount of iodine not only regulates thyroid hormones but also helps keep your skin healthy and fresh. Here are 5 reasons why iodine should be part of your beauty and health routine

1. Hydrates skin

If dry or dehydrated skin is one of your biggest skin concerns, it might be because of iodine deficiency in your body. A sufficient iodine intake through your meals helps to regulate moisture and sweat to keep your skin moist. However, make sure that your iodine intake is optimal as excessive iodine can have a reverse effect on your body and skin.

2. Body detoxification

A body with no harmful toxins is a healthy body which leads to healthy skin. Consuming an adequate amount of iodine removes halides like fluoride, bromide and chlorine from your body. These halides are very harmful and can cause various problems like cysts, fibroids and even breast diseases. Iodine helps to flush these toxins out of your system for a healthy and toxin-free body.

3. Heals Skin Quickly

As a natural disinfectant, iodine helps in faster healing of scars, cuts and bruises on the skin. It makes the skin less likely to be infected by speeding up the healing process of repairing wounds and vanishing blemishes.

4. Reduces breakouts

When we’re stressed and our hormone levels increase, it is common to develop acne breakouts on the skin. Iodine aids in regulating hormones and keeping them in check, making your skin free of acne scars and breakouts.

5. Rejuvenates Skin

An adequate amount of iodine stimulates healthy skin, strong nails and shiny hair. By rejuvenating the skin’s inner layers, iodine strengthens hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

How to use Iodine on Skin ?

Only a small amount of iodine is sufficient to keep your skin healthy and to ensure good thyroid hormone levels maintenance. The National Institutes of Health has made the following recommendations based on age for daily intake of iodine:

Children should consume about 110-130 micrograms of iodine daily, teens and adults need about 150 micrograms, while pregnant and nursing women need 220-290 micrograms per day. Any less or more amount of iodine consumption can have a toll on your skin and body.

For applying directly, a 5% iodine solution is ideal for this purpose. Iodine is easily applied and gets absorbed quickly into the skin. Apply iodine over or near your thyroid gland for the best results. Follow these steps for direct application:

1. Take a small amount of iodine and apply it on your skin.
2. Remember to check that iodine is sufficiently dry and doesn’t stain skin
3. Make sure to rotate the iodine properly when applying on the skin, or it can damage the skin if applied regularly on the same spot.
4. Don’t take shower right after applying iodine

Side Effects of Iodine on Skin

Applying iodine regularly on the same spot may stain or dry out your skin temporarily. However, consuming a moderate amount of iodine from iodized salt in your diet should not cause any problems. The body automatically flushes out extra iodine through the urine.

People with iodine sensitivities can have allergic reactions and show different types of symptoms. Here are some instances:

If applied topically, people with sensitive skin may show allergic reactions like skin redness, irritation and pain. This reaction gets resolved on its own within some time.

On the application of povidone-iodine, people with iodine sensitivity may show symptoms like chemical burns on the skin.

People with sensitive skin may develop swelling, redness, rashes, pain and infection through some kind of seafood that consists of high iodine content.
If application of iodine on skin causes severe pain, burning, redness or irritation, immediately consult your dermatologist.

Conclusion

Iodine is an essential nutrient that promotes healthy skin as well as the overall health of your body. Iodine aids in various bodily functions, revitalizes your skin and hair and controls metabolism by regulating thyroid hormone levels in your body. Iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, wherein the human body is unable to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. It can also cause an enlarged thyroid, called a goiter.

Make sure to check your iodine or thyroid hormone levels if you have dry, flaky skin or hair loss. It is advised to routinely check your thyroid hormone levels if you’ve been told you have an iodine shortage in your body.