Do Nutrient Deficiencies REALLY Cause Acne?
A lot of people take supplements to address acne on their own. I get it - acne is frustrating, a lot of people feel unheard by their providers, and a lot of people want to take natural options. But, from what I’ve seen in-office as a licensed naturopathic doctor, when people take supplements without the supervision of a provider they are either:
Taking too low of a dose, and don’t see any changes
Taking too high of a dose where it could negatively affect health
Taking a supplement that could worsen pre-existing conditions
Taking a supplement that could interact with the medications that they are taking
So, always work with medical provider who is trained in supplements, and understands the science behind the nuances of different vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs found in supplements. That’s because supplements are medicine too.
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am trained in holistic and integrative medicine. So, this means I want to holistically understand what your symptoms are and what are the unique underlying factors and root causes of your symptoms. And, I aim to treat these symptoms and underlying factors with integrative options, which means that I am trained in both natural and conventional options.
In this blog post, we are going to speak about whether nutrient deficiencies actually cause acne from a science-based point-of-view. Feel free to share this with your wellness community, skincare community, or any friends and family frustrated with acne!
DISCLAIMER: This post does NOT constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.
When looking at the science, there are 2 nutrients that have been linked to acne
Zinc
A 2020 systematic review concluded that “acne patients have decreased serum zinc levels” when compared to people without acne. This 2020 article also indicated that “Patients who were treated with zinc had a significant improvement in mean inflammatory papule count compared to those who were not treated with zinc,” meaning that zinc may be helpful!
While zinc is a mineral commonly known for its effects on immune function and immune resiliency, science doesn’t know how zinc works for acne just yet. However, a 2021 study compared the effects of zinc and an oral antibiotic in people with acne. In this study, 100 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne were randomly assigned to take either zinc sulfate alone or an oral antibiotics alone, and researchers saw that both zinc sulfate and the antibiotic reduced severity of acne. And, authors of this 2021 study concluded that “zinc [sulfate] is a valid alternative therapeutic approach in the treatment of mild to moderate papulopustular acne.”
Vitamin D
A 2016 study with 80 particpants showed that vitamin D deficiency is more likely to be seen in people with acne compared to healthy individuals. In this same study, they had people with acne and vitamin D deficiency supplement with vitamin D, and researchers found an “improvement in inflammatory lesions was noted after supplementation with vitamin D in 39 acne patients with [vitamin D] deficiency.”
While science doesn’t know how vitamin D impacts acne, a 2021 study suggests that vitamin D may reduce inflammation in the body in those with acne.
does this mean all people with acne need to supplement?
No, it doesn’t.
While it’s great to know what science says, it takes a skilled provider to understand how to apply that science in real life situations. Science tells us there are many causes and triggers of acne, and it’s all about understanding what someone’s unique underlying factors are and confirming them with labs and work-up.
From what I’ve seen in-office and after helping many people achieve healthier and clearer skin, it’s all about listening to their story and asking the right questions. And, asking the right questions and collecting the most information from a medical intake tells me what labs to order to confirm any suspected underlying factors playing a role in someone’s acne process.
In regards to zinc and vitamin D, I would always want to do labs with my patients before supplementing. Both can be checked with blood work: Zinc can be assessed by checking alkaline phosphatase in the routine comprehensive metabolic panel and/or by checking zinc levels in serum; and Vitamin D is a lab done on its own.
So, in so many words - TEST, DON’T GUESS
What can you do if you want to treat acne naturally?
The answer is simple: Work with a licensed naturopathic provider. As mentioned earlier, licensed naturopathic providers are experts in holistic and integrative medicine. And, as integrative medicine experts, we are trained in both natural and conventional options. So, you will be able to capture a vast array of treatment options to help you achieve your skin goals when you work with a licensed naturoapthic doctor.
If you want to see me, I see patients in-person and virtually. The only caveat is that since I am only licensed in the state of California, I can only see patients who are physically in the state of California (especially for telehealth patients). If you are outside the state a California, a great resource to find a licensed naturoapthic doctor in your state is the Institute for Natural Medicine’s directory: https://naturemed.org/find-an-nd/.
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