The effectiveness of zinc against spots.

Acne is an inflammatory disease caused by an overproduction of sebum, the colonisation of a bacterium (P. acnes) and hyperkeratinisation. It typically affects teenagers going through puberty but does not spare adults either.

Several factors can also promote the onset of acne: lack of sleep, hormonal changes, stress, inadequate hydration, poor diet, tobacco and alcohol consumption, etc.

Various types of spots can then begin to appear.

• The closed comedones (or whiteheads).

  Closed comedones or microcysts are the most frequent manifestations of retentional acne. They result from a change in the quality of sebum (dysseborrhea), as well as an excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands (hyperseborrhea). Thus, the sebum will block the pores, forming a micro-lesion with a white appearance.

  Note : there also exist open comedones, but they are not considered as spots. The open comedones or blackheads result from the same process as microcysts. When these blocked pores are open, oxidation occurs upon contact with air and the impurities trapped inside the pore darken, thus forming a blackhead.

• The papules and pustules.

  Papules and pustules are potential manifestations ofinflammatory acne. The papules are inflammatory red spots without pus, less than 5 mm in size. They can be round or oval in shape and are often painful. These can disappear or evolve into a pustule. Unlike papules, the pustules are characterised by the presence of pus. These are red spots with a white head containing pus.

• The nodules and cysts.

  Nodules and cysts are observed in severe forms of inflammatory acne, as well as inconglobate acne also known as nodulocystic acne. They result from a deep skin inflammation. The nodules are painful solid tissue lumps larger than 5 mm. The cysts are painful deep subcutaneous lesions. Unlike nodules, cysts are filled with a fluid.

Zinc is a beneficial ingredient for controlling acne flare-ups. When applied topically, it is effective in eliminating both closed and open comedones, papules, and pustules. Nodules and cysts represent a more advanced stage of acne and require a consultation with a dermatologist who will prescribe suitable medication, likely based on retinoids and/or benzoyl peroxide.

Zinc is an essential trace element for the body. It is found in meat as well as in certain plants after fermentation. A zinc deficiency would exacerbate inflammatory phenomena. It is included in skincare products in various forms such as zinc oxide, zinc gluconate, or zinc PCA.

When applied topically, zinc performs three main actions on the skin.

• It reduces the production of sebum.

  The zinc reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands due to its anti-androgenic activity. Therefore, it helps to regulate sebum production and thus prevents imperfections.

• It serves to combat bacteria.

  Propionibacterium acnes, which is the bacterium primarily responsible for this skin condition.

• It possesses healing properties.

  The effect of zinc on spots is typically observed after several months of use. It can be combined with niacinamide to regulate sebum production and fade pigmentation marks caused by acne. Zinc can also be paired with salicylic acid to combat spots and blemishes.

Note :Zinc intake through diet or dietary supplements is also relevant for regulating the excess sebum characteristic of oily skin. Therefore, if you have oily skin, consume zinc-rich foods such as oysters (the food highest in zinc), eggs, whole grains, legumes, and oilseeds. Furthermore, a 2012 study reported that oral zinc was effective for inflammatory and bacterial forms of acne. A previous study found that oral zinc was also effective for people with mild acne. However, in both cases, oral supplementation comes with side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. Topical application results in fewer side effects, but it is not considered as effective as oral supplementation. But this does not mean it is completely ineffective, quite the contrary.