Iodine Deficiency, Skin Integrity, and the Role of IodinePure in Clinical Practice
Iodine deficiency is re-emerging as a public health issue in North America. While its role in thyroid function and neurodevelopment is well recognized, iodine’s contribution to skin barrier integrity and infection defense is less frequently discussed in clinical settings. For health care providers, this represents an important gap in patient education and care strategies—one that can be addressed with evidence-based solutions such as IodinePure.
The Declining Iodine Landscape
Recent population surveys indicate declining iodine intake across North America, particularly in women of childbearing age (1). Several factors contribute to this decline:
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Reduced use of iodized salt as patients shift to “natural” salts or lower sodium diets.
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Soil depletion and modern agricultural practices reducing iodine content in plant-based foods.
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Changes in livestock feed and dairy processing lowering iodine levels in milk and related products.
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Widespread consumption of processed foods, which typically use non-iodized salt.
This nutritional gap has implications beyond thyroid health.
Iodine and the Skin Barrier
The skin is the body’s first line of defense, and its barrier function is highly dependent on micronutrients. Iodine plays a direct role in supporting:
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Antimicrobial defense: Iodine acts as a broad-spectrum antiseptic, effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses (2).
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Barrier integrity: Deficiency can weaken the skin’s resistance to microbial invasion, increasing the risk of secondary infections in wounds or microtraumas.
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Immune modulation: Topical iodine application has been shown to stimulate a localized immune response, enhancing clearance of pathogens while supporting tissue recovery (3).
For patients with diabetes, athletes, or those prone to recurrent skin infections, maintaining iodine exposure is clinically relevant for both prevention and recovery.
Why IodinePure?
While traditional tinctures of iodine are effective antiseptics, their use is limited by irritation, staining, and patient adherence issues. IodinePure overcomes these barriers with a patented, water-based formulation that delivers elemental iodine in a gentle, well-tolerated solution.
Clinical Advantages of IodinePure:
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Broad-spectrum antimicrobial action: Effective against bacteria, fungi (including dermatophytes and Candida), and viruses, without resistance development (2,3).
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Skin barrier support: Daily use aids in preventing colonization of high-risk areas (feet, hands, nails), reducing recurrent infections.
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Patient-friendly: Non-staining, non-irritating, and easy to integrate into both clinic-based and at-home care.
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Adjunctive therapy: Complements existing wound care, podiatric, and dermatologic protocols.
Clinical Applications
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Diabetes foot care: Reduces microbial burden and supports skin resilience in a population at high risk for ulcers and infections.
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Onychomycosis and wart management: Offers safe, effective adjunctive therapy where traditional treatments may be poorly tolerated.
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Preventive care: Ideal for athletes, elderly patients, and those with recurrent skin barrier breakdown.
Take-Home Message
For health care providers, the decline of dietary iodine should be understood not only in the context of thyroid health but also in terms of skin integrity and infection prevention. IodinePure provides a clinically validated, patient-friendly tool to restore iodine’s protective role at the skin surface—closing a gap in care that modern nutrition has created.
Written By:
Dr. Evan Lewis
References:
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Leung AM, Pearce EN, Braverman LE. Iodine nutrition in North America: Trends and public health implications. Thyroid. 2011;21(5):519–528.
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Bigliardi PL, Alsagoff SAL, El-Kafrawi HY, Pyon J-K, Wa CTC, Villa MA. Povidone iodine in wound healing: A review of current concepts and practices. Int J Surg. 2017;44:260–268.
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Gottardi W. Iodine and disinfection: Theoretical study on the mode of action of iodine. Hyg Med. 1999;24:431–436.
