It is common knowledge among those treating skin diseases that iodides and bromides in some persons produce acneform eruptions, and in some instances, aggravate preexisting lesions of acne vulgaris. These observations are so commonplace that most dermatologists routinely advise acne patients to avoid iodides and bromides in all forms, such as iodized table salt, medications containing iodides and bromides, etc. There is no evidence to indicate that halogens other than iodides and bromides exert such an influence over acne. Epstein1 found no difference in the rate of improvement of patients suffering with acne between those who took prescribed fluoride tablets and those who did not.
Feinblatt and Ferguson2 showed that the concomitant administration of nicotinamide (niacinamide) as the hydrobromide salt, could not only prevent bromism but could promptly cause regression of bromism symptoms; and that nicotinamide prevented the development of side-effects while the serum