What YOU NEED To Know about Zinc supplements and Acne
Is zinc necessary within the context of acne?
I’ve been seeing more folks come to their first visit with me taking oral zinc supplements for their acne after seeing dermatologists recommend zinc on their social media posts.
For some, I’ve heard that they’re still waiting for zinc supplements to change their skin…
So, why is that?
Also, does everyone with acne need to take zinc?
Well, let’s talk science so that you can clearly speak to your doctor about your acne options and alternatives.
Read on to learn about zinc and acne!
DISCLAIMER: THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. The information in this blog post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. The information in this blog post does not replace the medical advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor or medical provider before starting anything new.
Zinc - What is it?
Zinc is a chemical element and trace mineral found in many foods.
According to a StatPearls article by Rabinovich and Smadi, zinc is “necessary for the immune system to function correctly” and is involved in “cell division, cell growth, wound healing, breakdown of carbohydrates, enhancing action insulin” and much more.
Common food sources of zinc, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), include: meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, whole grains, and more.
Why do social media folks say to take zinc?
Acne is not as simple as many think - Acne can be looked in 2 ways: Externally and Internally.
When looking at acne externally, we know that 4 elements are present: Oil production, excess keratin production, bacteria, and immune-mediated inflammation.
When looking at acne internally, the foundational, conventional understanding is that hormones may play a driving role. However, there are other underlying root issues that may be influencing those hormones or may be influencing what is going on at the skin level.
Okay, now let’s talk about zinc and connect it to acne - While the exact mechanism of action is poorly understood, a 2014 review suggests that zinc either suppress oil production or influence inflammatory response.
And, there are many routes of administration for zinc, with the most common being topical and oral.
What’s does science say about zinc & acne?
Now, when looking at the science surrounding zinc and acne, a 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis written by Yee, et al. reviewed 25 studies, 12 of which were randomized controlled trials while 13 were prospective observational studies, with the aim to investigate serum zinc levels in people with acne and to evaluate the clinical effect of topical or systemic zinc therapy in subjects with acne.
Yee, et al. concluded that “subjects with acne had significantly lower serum levels…” and 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.”
Sounds pretty promising, right? Well, there’s more that you need to know…
Zinc & acne - You need to know the details…
Out of the 25 studies used, Yee, et al. used 7 studies to evaluate the efficacy of oral zinc within the context of acne. And, the details are critical to know, y’all! Especially if you want to know which is better: Topical or oral…
After completing a subgroup analysis, Yee, et al. found significant differences in the number of acne pustules with topical zinc versus placebo in 2 studies while also discovering no significant difference with oral zinc versus placebo in 2 studies.
So, what this all means is that Yee, et al. found that topical zinc had a greater difference compared to oral zinc in the studies they look at… which may explain why some folks do not see a change with oral zinc.
zinc - Why we need to be careful
I’ve been seeing more dermatologists post about natural alternatives for acne on social media channels, with some sharing dosages.
But, before anyone starts anything, it’s always important to speak to their doctor first, and this is why…
Going back to Yee, et al.’s review, the studies using oral zinc either used zinc sulphate or zinc gluconate, with dosages ranging from 137 mg to 300 mg taken either 1x/day or 2-3x/day. Yeah, there’s a lot of variability.
The problem with these dosages is that they may be too high, and there could be issues surrounding high dosages of zinc taken for long periods of time…
According to Maxfield, et al., high dosing of zinc needs to be monitored, since “zinc intake competes with copper absorption, and over-treatment can lead to copper deficiency…”
And, according to Duncan, et al., copper deficiency from high zinc doses can manifest as unexplained anemia and/or neurological issues.
Is Zinc for everyone with acne?
So far, we spoke about a review article that concluded that folks with acne had lower zinc levels, but that topical zinc is more effective than oral zinc.
In addition, literature demonstrates that high dosages of zinc were used. However, high zinc dosages may cause other issues.
So, before someone starts anything new, people should always speak to their doctor because speaking to their doctor may reveal what targeted solutions are worthwhile for their personal health and wellness…
Now, if someone is curious about zinc for their skin, it would be worthwhile to see if low zinc is the root issue behind their acne, and someone’s provider may be able to get labs for this.
Other than zinc, there are many other root issues behind acne…
Some root issues behind acne You need to know
Vitamin D and Acne
While we spoke about the review article that mentioned that people with acne demonstrated lower zinc levels, it should also be noted that low vitamin D was also linked to acne as well. So, it might be worthwhile to get labs regarding vitamin D as well.
Hormones and Acne
Other than nutrient status being linked to acne, we also spoke about hormones earlier in this blog post…
Androgen hormones are suggested to drive some of the factors that play a role in acne at the skin level, specifically oil production.
And, there are lab tests to test for these hormones. And, there are several hormone-targeting solutions that can be prescribed by a provider, such as oral options and topical options!
More hormones behind acne
Other than androgens, insulin hormone imbalance from blood sugar issues may drive acne-triggering androgen imbalance.
And much like androgens, there are several lab tests that can be done to identify someone’s blood sugar status and insulin hormone level.
Researchers also suggest that stress hormones may directly influence oil production at the skin level to influence acne.
Gut health and acne
Acne may be more than just hormones when searching for the root issue…
Going past hormones, researchers also suggest that deeper issues surrounding the gut may be linked to acne! Researchers found that people with acne are more likely to experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (Learn more: Click here to learn more about IBS and its link to skin)
Gut bacteria and acne
Scientists also found that people with acne have distinctly different gut microbiome profiles compared to people without acne, with acne subjects demonstrating a reduction in gut bacteria diversity.
In addition, authors of a review article suggest that gut bacteria imbalance may drive an inflammatory response via mTOR to trigger a cascade of reactions that lead to androgen imbalance to possibly contribute to acne. (Learn more: Click here to learn about gut infections’ link to acne)
Acne is more complex than we think
If you’re like me, you see that the skin is a visual representation of overall health and wellness. And as you’ve learned from this blog post, acne is truly a sign from the body that some sort of inner imbalance may be taking place.
Because of the several inner factors linked to acne, people who take zinc may not see a change to their skin.
So, if someone truly wants to identify and treat the root issues behind their acne, working with a provider who will see their skin holistically and who will speak to them about testing options may be worthwhile and meaningful.
For those in the Los Angeles-area who are looking for holistic acne solutions, book your appointment with me at The Things We Do by clicking the button below:
For individuals outside of California, you can find the nearest licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) to you on the Institute for Natural Medicine’s directory of licensed providers by clicking here: Find an ND here
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