Does Zinc Help with Acne?

Zinc is a vital mineral that’s essential for all-round good health. It plays a crucial role in healthy skin cell production and a deficiency is proven to exacerbate certain conditions, such as eczema, dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss. 

But—and here’s the million-dollar question… Does Zinc help with acne?

The short answer is yes, it can do. The longer answer is a little more complex.

Zinc and the Acne Connection

• What is the role of zinc in the body?
• How does this correlate and does zinc help with acne?
• Should I take a zinc supplement?

What is the role of zinc in the body?

Your body needs zinc for a variety of functions. These include a healthy immune response, wound healing, and it even plays a role in the creation of DNA. Without zinc, the body can’t perform efficiently. This leads to issues, such as losing weight, poor appetite, loss of taste/smell, and—when relating to skin issues and acne—poor wound healing, hair loss, and other skin anomalies.

How does this correlate and does Zinc help with acne?

Zinc also has strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that a healthy level of zinc can effectively help with acne symptoms, reducing redness, and lowering the number and severity of outbreaks. Additionally, because the mineral plays an active role in wound healing, it can reduce the likelihood of scarring.

This is one of the reasons that dermatologists often integrate blood testing into acne treatment plans. Any zinc deficiency is usually treated with supplements and/or topical applications.

Should I take a zinc supplement?

Most of us get all the zinc from the food we eat. It’s found in products like:

• Chicken and turkey.
• Seafood.
• Red meat.

It’s also found in vegan foodstuffs, although these sources aren’t as well absorbed by the body:

• Nuts.
• Grains.
• Seeds.
• Beans.

The body can’t store zinc, meaning we need a daily dose for good health. If you suffer from acne and a zinc deficiency, then supplements are likely to be prescribed.

However, this should only be undertaken on the advice of a dermatologist. Yes, over-the-counter supplements are readily available, but these should be approached with caution. While small levels of excessive zinc aren’t immediately harmful—although they do make organs, such as the liver and kidneys, work unnecessarily hard to remove it—higher levels of zinc can make you significantly unwell and even cause organ damage.

Symptoms of zinc poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and irreversible damage to the stomach and kidneys.

Another reason not to self-diagnose is that effective zinc dosing for acne requires careful titration. OTC supplements and topical creams are only produced at lower potencies—typically up to 50mg. This is because of the potential for zinc poisoning. 

When medically prescribed and used to treat acne, the required level can be anything from 40mg-150mg, depending on your dermatologist’s recommendations. Zinc also comes in different formats, such as zinc sulfate, acetate, octoate, gluconate, and zinc salts. The right type is essential—some are topical applications and others are oral supplements.

As you can see, using zinc to help acne isn’t completely straightforward. That’s why it’s always recommended that you seek help from an experienced acne dermatologist before taking any steps to treat your symptoms.

Get the Best Acne Care at Bayou City Dermatology 

At Bayou City Dermatology, we know how life-affecting acne can be. From breakouts in your teens to deep scars that remain through adulthood, we have many cutting-edge treatments to help. As an expert dermatology clinic, our doctors are passionate about helping address what can be a huge strain on your mental health.

While complete relief from acne or scar removal is never guaranteed, our carefully tailored treatments generally provide significant improvement. And it’s never too late to start. If acne is blighting your life or you’re living with the trauma of scars we can help.

Start your journey to an acne-free or scar-free skin today by visiting https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/