Zinc & Cystic Acne

Acne is a skin condition that can affect teenagers and adults. The condition consists of pimples, deeper lumps and plugged pores that can occur on the face, back, neck, chest, shoulders and even the upper arms, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Acne can be caused by three major factors, including overproduction of oil, blocked hair follicles and growth of bacteria within the hair follicles. It is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., with nearly 85 percent of all people experiencing acne at some point in their lives.

Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is a severe form of acne that is characterized by pus-filled nodules having a diameter of 5 mm or greater, describes Acne.org. Cystic acne can be painful and can leave scar tissue on the area. Do not squeeze this type of acne because it drives the infection deeper, making it more painful and creating a situation which lasts much longer than if it had been left alone. If you have a cystic acne nodule, your dermatologist may be able to loosen the swelling and prevent scarring by administering a cortisone shot.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that is present in foods and can be taken as a supplement. It is found in many over-the-counter cold lozenges and remedies. The Office of Dietary Supplements from the National Institutes of Health states that zinc is involved in a number of different aspects of cellular metabolism, immune function, wound healing and DNA synthesis.

Treatment

MayoClinic.com physician Dr. L. Gibson recommends trying zinc supplements to help improve acne inflammation or as a lotion or cream on the local area. In a study released in 2007 in the "Journal of the Turkish Academy of Dermatology," researchers discovered that some individuals who suffer from persistent acne vulgaris also have lower-than-normal blood levels of zinc. They theorize that determining zinc levels and treatment with zinc supplementation may be an easy method of reducing the number of outbreaks and scarring that individuals with acne vulgaris and cystic acne suffer.

Warnings

Mild gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea and vomiting, are reported with supplemental administration of 50 to 150 mg per day of zinc, according to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The biggest consequence of taking zinc long-term is a resulting deficiency of copper, another essential mineral for health. To reduce this effect, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board set a level of 40 mg per day of zinc to prevent copper deficiency. Zinc will also interfere with the absorption of different types of antibiotics, and thus reduce their effectiveness.