Zinc For Acne

Here is the research finding of 7 years on the zinc and acne connection. Can the zinc acne treatment really give the results you want? Find out here.

It has been reported that zinc has the ability to reduce the symptoms of acne. The zinc mineral has some properties which seem to be extremely useful in acne treatments. However this is not the universal view as there are many who believe that this is not the case. They do not believe that there is any connection between zinc and acne.



However, recent research data do not seem to agree with this point of view. This research points to the fact that zinc has the ability to fight bacteria much like an antibiotic (such as tetracycline), and it can also strengthen the immune system. But the best news is, zinc does not have any of the negative effects of antibiotics.



So there are clearly 2 schools of thoughts on the zinc acne connection. I have tried to find out which group is correct and to do this, I have experimented, researched and gone through trial and errors for 7 long years. And the good news is, today I know the truth about the zinc acne connection.



The report you find here is the culmination of my years of work. Here I have discussed what zinc is, the connection between the two, why and how the zinc acne treatment can really work, and how you should be using zinc so that you can get the most effective results? So is the zinc acne treatment the final answer for someone who is suffering from acne – I will discuss the answer to this question also here.



Some facts on zinc for acne



Zinc is present in a whole lot of things. This essential trace mineral can be found in insulin and in the tissues. You will also find zinc in egg yolks, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, soybeans, legumes, whole grains, fish, soy lecithin and in the herbs such as eyebright, milk thistle, chamomile, dandelion, cayenne, mullein, burdock root, alfalfa and nettle.



There are many ways zinc can help us stay healthy. Here are some of them – providing the enzymes that help in digestion and the energy to keep the body going, strengthening the natural immunity, helping prevent blindness, regulating levels of vitamin E in the blood, supporting more than 300 enzymatic reactions, in fighting bacteria, it speeds up the process of healing, helps the body absorb Vitamin A and B, and zinc is also important for growth hormone, testosterone, and estrogen.



Yes, the advantages of zinc are many, but how is it related to acne? Can it benefit those people suffering from acne, and if yes, how?



What is the connection between acne and zinc?



Zinc can regulate the production of oil by the glands which go up when there is a hormonal imbalance – this is one major reason of acne, the other being the build up of toxic materials in the body. This is done when the right quantity, quality and ratio of essential fatty acids is taken. When you are able to regulate the hormone levels, the symptoms of acne are controlled.



The other useful properties that aid the zinc acne treatment include its ability to make the body absorb vitamin A, in the promotion of wound healing, the fighting of bacteria and also in strengthening the immune system. Are anti oxidant properties are particularly worth a mention here. All these useful properties can aid a person fight the secondary causes of acne and help in the prevention and reduction of the acne growths.



When it comes to the best results, it’s the ability of the zinc to regulate the levels of the hormones – the results are so good here because this is a major cause of acne. But do remember to take zinc of the right quality and combination with essential fatty acids, and when the zinc is better absorbed by the body, the results are that much better. Add some vital nutrients to it, and the combination of the zinc and the nutrients will give you great results in balancing the hormones.



But the zinc’s impact may be lost if you are taking it in some conditions and also with a few food items, supplements and chemical substances. So this needs to be remembered and these items avoided to achieve the results you want.



Now let us take a look at all the inhibiting factors that can make the zinc ineffective.



Factors that make the zinc acne treatment less effective



Some food items, conditions and supplements can interfere with the treatment and bring down its effectiveness. This happens because they do not let the body absorb the zinc correctly and hence, the zinc acne treatment cannot deliver the results that ought to.



Among the inhibitors, Phytic acid deserves a special mention because it has been seen to reduce the absorption of zinc by about 15%. You will come across Phytic acid in the whole grains and thus, to make the zinc more effective, it is best to reduce the intake of grains to just about 1 to 2 servings daily. Limiting grains makes sense also because they can lead to the formation of acid and mucus within the body. And having restricted its intake, you will see that the effectiveness of the zinc acne treatment will improve quite a bit.



One more thing that makes the zinc less effective is soy protein. Soy can bind to minerals and lessen the absorption of zinc and so its consumption also needs to be restricted.



Minerals like copper and inorganic iron are also bad news because they also end up interfering with zinc for acne bio-availability. However this solution can be easily solved by limiting copper to just 2-3 mg a day and by not taking inorganic iron supplements. The only exception is when you have copper toxicity.



Too much of sweating from physical labor is also another inhibiting factor as this enhances the need of the body to have more zinc. Thus, for best acne zinc treatment results, you need to take more zinc, particularly if you are exercising rigorously.



Follow these rules and you are sure to make your zinc acne treatment a grand success:



1. Essential fatty acids, coconut oil and cod liver oil are the 3 nutrients that need to be taken with the zinc to have a control over the balance of the hormones. Get supplements that have these nutrients because the food that you eat may not have them always.



2. Avoid a few zinc inhibitors such as too much of copper and inorganic iron. Remember, your zinc will not be properly absorbed by the body when you are not following this. Also, when you are in the habit of exercising, you need to have more zinc.



3. Limit the level of zinc to 100 mg because too much of it may lead to toxicity. Foods are the best source for getting zinc.



4. The soil from which your food arrived contained zinc (since it is a mineral) and this is one reason why you have it in the food. So when the soil itself is poor, how can the food be good? If the vegetable has been organically grown then this problem can be overcome.



5. Supplementation often becomes a necessity because in many cases the food that you eat cannot supply all the zinc for acne treatment that you need. Of the 2 types of zinc supplements, Zinc Monomethionine (Opti-Zinc) is the better option because it can be better absorbed by the body and it is also more effective in the removal of the acne. Zinc gluconate is not as effective and so it is best avoided.



6. Kinesiology (muscle testing) and blood testing is required to check whether you have copper toxicity or not because it can stop the absorption of zinc. Caucasian people with copper toxicity will have brown nipples.



Finally, the permanent cure with the zinc acne treatment – how to make this a reality



However you need to know that the zinc by itself is not enough to cure acne. This is because acne is caused by quite a few primary and secondary causes and zinc deficiency is not one of them.



But the symptoms of acne can be vastly reduced and the hormonal imbalance rectified with your zinc acne treatment if you are taking zinc of the right quality, quantity, nutrients and are not letting the zinc inhibitors cause too much damage.



The best acne cure that gives you permanent result is the holistic remedy. Holistic cures take care of all the root causes of acne (both primary and secondary) such as the accumulation of toxins in the body and the hormonal imbalance effectively and permanently. So for best results, always go for a combination of the zinc acne treatment and the holistic approach.



Mike Walden is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Acne No More - Open The Door To an Acne Free Life". Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.




For further information visit: Zinc Acne Treatment.

By Mike Walden