All thyroid medications and prescription are human-made and contain iodine as the main ingredient and are acne-triggering. These medications include Synthroid, Levothyroxine, Armour and many more. Natural supplements for balancing thyroid typically use kelp as the active ingredient which is also very high in iodine. These preparations are used to stimulate the thyroid gland in patients with low thyroid function.

It is critical to find out if a client is taking a Thyroid medication or supplement. It is rather common to see, and as an Acne Specialist, it is important to screen for this as a possible trigger. Unfortunately, most people cannot come off of this medicine. The best we can do is identify the other triggers, get them on our bi-weekly changing skincare regimen and manage expectations. Most likely this client will not get “clear.” Instead, there will be a significant reduction in the acne of 60-80%, depending on the individual.