Are you tired of nasty pimples crowding up your face?
Do you feel like some days, your skin is going in the right direction, only to wake up the next day to what feels like a small town worth of zits that moved in overnight?
Don’t worry, you’ve got a scientist on your side and, if you’re wondering how to get rid of acne, I’ve got an all-natural solution that works for all types of acne.
Let’s get started!
What Causes Acne?
Acne sucks – there’s no doubt about it. And if you’re wondering how to get rid of acne, you’ve come to the right place.
Acne is a really common problem both in teenagers and adults, and it occurs across a wide range of demographics.
What most people don’t realize though, is that there’s a little miracle nutrient that’s both the cause and antidote to your acne woes. That little nutrient is zinc.
Zinc status actually has a strong relationship with acne, with several studies demonstrating the majority of acne patients to possess low levels of serum zinc when tested.
This may seem interesting to you but, as a scientist, I’m not as surprised. The daily recommendation for zinc ranges between 8-11mg depending on age and gender, however, an estimated three quarters of the population does not meet the daily required intake.
The connection between zinc and acne is so strong, that numerous studies have demonstrated supplementation of zinc to improve subjects’ skin condition and overall acne. Zinc is so effective for acne that some studies have even demonstrated zinc supplementation to be as effective as system tetracycline drugs.
When it comes to the natural health world, therapies have a tendency to be more gentle (and healthy!) compared to using pharmaceuticals. So, the ability for an all-natural nutrient to be as effective as a pharmaceutical drug is nothing short of AH-MA-ZING! Or should I say…ah-ma-zinc 😉
How Zinc Status Impacts Acne
Although the mechanism of how zinc is associated with acne is not yet fully understood, there are 3 common theories, all with scientific bases to support them. I’d like to share those with you here:
- The first theory is called the hormonal acne theory. This theory is especially applicable to teenagers or anyone experiencing hormonal issues. The theory is based on acne being caused by an excess of androgens in the body – particularly, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is specifically known to be involved in acne. Zinc itself is able to block the conversion of testosterone to DHT, therefore resulting in clearer skin and improved acne.
- The second theory is that zinc acts directly on bacterial strains in the body which are involved in acne. This theory is important, as it means that zinc supplementation is both improving the root cause and symptoms of acne.
- The third theory is that zinc is depleted during times of stress, as zinc is necessary for repair. This theory is significant if you are someone who experiences breakouts when you get stressed out at work or during exams, which can be a great indicator of zinc insufficiency or deficiency.
How to Improve Acne with Zinc
In order to use zinc to improve acne, I recommend using a zinc supplement, as you will need to use a high dosage in order to compensate for your zinc insufficiency or deficiency. Therapeutic values of zinc require a dosage of 25-32mg of zinc per day. As most people do not meet the daily requirement of 8-11mg, it is very difficult to get over 2-3 times that dosage simply from food.
When it comes to zinc supplementation, there’s various forms that you can supplement with. Studies have shown zinc sulphite to be particularly more effective for severe acne, with methionine-bound zinc to be more effective for mild to moderate acne. However, all forms of zinc will vary in efficacy.
I’ve used a particularly effective zinc supplement to relieve my clients of even the most aggressive, life-long acne. The supplement can be found here.
Using zinc supplementation is more cost-effective and powerful than the majority of other acne solutions on the market, and it doesn’t come with the long list of side effects that accompanies most acne medications.
If you really want to go au-natural, or give your acne an extra boost, you can always up your zinc through the magic of food.
By increasing zinc-rich foods such as pumpkin seeds, oysters, cashew nuts or – my personal favourite – cocoa powder, you can help to increase your zinc levels, clear your skin and improve your acne to be totally beautiful from the inside out!
Health begins in the gut.
Your friendly neighbourhood scientist,
Anita Tee
Anita Tee
My name is Anita Tee. I'm a nutritional scientist who specializes in histamine intolerance. I hold a Master of Science in Personalized Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Psychology.For the past ten years, I have used my experience in nutritional and medical health sciences to create a scientifically backed, natural approach to healthcare that relies 100% on evidence-based research.As I previously suffered from - and overcame - histamine intolerance, my focus is to increase recognition and expand the available resources and protocols available for resolving this particular disorder. To date, I have helped over 4,000 individuals fully resolve or better manage their histamine intolerance symptoms.
