BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common term used to describe abnormal enlargement of the prostate gland, an organ in men that produces seminal fluid during ejaculation. This disorder can lead to the onset of a variety of symptoms involving changes in urination patterns. However, it will not lead to skin rashes or a zinc deficiency.
BPH Basics
The prostate gland sits in the space beneath the bladder and encircles the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder through the penis. It naturally doubles its size during puberty, then grows again in a man’s mid-20s. It is this second period of growth that can eventually lead to BPH in later years. No one knows precisely why BPH occurs, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Potential causes include a relative increase in estrogen levels in aging men and accumulations of a testosterone-related hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. BPH occurs with increasing frequency after middle age, and more than 50 percent of men over age 60 have the disorder.
BPH Symptoms
The symptoms associated with BPH stem from an enlarged prostate’s obstruction of urine flow through the urethra. Depending on the individual, these symptoms can include incomplete bladder emptying, a weak urine flow, incontinence, pain during urination, bloody urine, straining during urination, urine dribbling, frequent nighttime urination, an inability to urinate, slow or delayed onset of a steady urine flow and a sudden, strong need to urinate. Less than half of men with BPH develop any symptoms of the disorder, the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s PubMed Health reports.
Zinc Deficiency Causes
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements lists potential causes of a zinc deficiency that include consumption of a strictly vegetarian diet, pregnancy, lactation, alcoholism, exclusive breastfeeding in an older infant, sickle cell anemia and the presence of digestive disorders such as short bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. You are also at risk for a deficiency if you have any one of a variety of other chronic health problems, including diabetes, malabsorption syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease or cancer.
Skin Rash Causes
The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus lists potential causes of a skin rash in adults that include contact with poison ivy, poison sumac or poison oak or contact with the chemicals in detergents, soaps, cosmetics, rubber, elastic or latex. Additional potential causes include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, shingles, impetigo, eczema, insect stings or bites, use of certain medications and the presence of medical conditions such as Kawasaki disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Consult your doctor for more information on the potential causes of zinc deficiency and skin rash, as well as more information on the potential symptoms of BPH.
