as much as we would like it to be, painting is not a reliable indicator of the body's need for I... from the MAN, Guy Abraham, MD:


http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/updates/UNIOD-02/UNIOD_02.htm


"From the published data, the skin Iodine patch test is not a reliable method to assess whole body sufficiency for iodine. Many factors play a role in the disappearance of the yellow color of Iodine from the surface of the skin. For example, if Iodine is reduced to Iodide by the skin, the yellow color of iodine will disappear because Iodide is white. In order to regenerate iodine on the skin, one needs to apply an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, complicating the test further. The evaporation of iodine from the skin increases with increased ambient temperatures and decreased atmospheric pressure due to weather conditions and altitude. For example, the yellow color of iodine will disappear much faster in Denver, Colorado at 5,000 feet above sea level then Los Angeles, California at sea level, irrespective of the amount of bioavailable iodine."