Zinc for Acne

Many people ask, when there are so many natural ways to treat this skin problem, why to use zinc for acne. This is because zinc targets the root cause of acne. It is a known fact that androgenic hormones like testosterone regulate the amount of sebum (oil) released into the skin by the sebaceous glands. Zinc is mainly responsible for keeping the production of hormones in equilibrium. Hormonal imbalance resulting from zinc deficiency can lead to surplus production of sebum. As a result, oily matter clogs the skin pores that are located on the superficial skin. Bacteria that are already present on skin increase in number, and thrive in the blocked pores. Too much bacterial presence causes skin infection, eventually causing acne. Zinc tries to restore normal hormonal balance, thereby helping to clear acne. No wonder zinc is considered to be one of the best acne treatments.

Treatment

Foods High in Zinc
Looking for foods that heal acne? Including zinc rich foods in the diet will serve the purpose. This is one of the easiest options that allows to reap benefits of zinc. Daily intake of foods high in zinc is a natural remedy to combat acne successfully. Following are foods, considered to be a rich source of zinc:

• Oysters
• Fortified Cereals
• Dried Watermelon seeds
• Vegetables like potatoes and beans
• Lamb
• Roasted beef

Zinc Supplement
Besides taking foods high in zinc, do not forget to add zinc supplements to your diet. This is because, it is observed that in today's times, crops are cultivated with extensive use of fertilizers. This can eventually deplete the content of zinc in foods. So, to be on the safer side, and to ensure adequate intake of zinc, one has to take it in supplemental form. Today, zinc supplements are sold under various brands, but it is found that all do not work to relieve acne. So, which is the supplement that can deliver the best results? OptiZinc is one of the best supplements that can work wonders to get rid of acne. When using OptiZinc, avoid taking birth control pills as they contain a high amount of copper, which can reduce your ability to absorb zinc. In other words, too much copper can bring down blood zinc levels. Thus, this supplemental form of zinc for acne won't be effective to restore natural appearance of the skin if birth control pills are being used. The daily required dosage of OptiZinc may vary from 50 mg to 200 mg, (consult a doctor before starting any supplemental dosage) depending on the severity of the skin problem.

Topical Cream
Skin imperfections like acne can be successfully treated with zinc creams. For acne free skin, one can certainly rely on these topical ointments. These topical acne skin care products have proved to be effective to clear acne fast. A point to note that zinc oxide creams are prescription ointments and therefore cannot be purchased without a doctor's recommendation.

Treatment for Scars

Skin healing with zinc has several advantages. It not only repairs the damaged skin at a faster rate but also ensure that scars do not appear, after the skin condition heals. It is best to prevent these unwanted marks than to use acne scar removal products. Zinc promotes growth of new skin cells and boosts production of collagen (a type of protein in the inner layers of the skin that keep the skin elastic and smooth) which benefits to prevent acne scars from occurring. So, besides curing acne, zinc does not allow scars to form. Thus, using zinc for these skin problems is one of the best methods to keep acne scars at bay.

In addition to the above mentioned zinc for acne treatment, one can also opt for natural acne remedies like application of aloe vera juice or a paste of cucumber on the affected area. Drinking plenty of water (7-8 glasses) everyday is equally important to get rid of acne as sufficient water intake flushes of the toxins responsible for causing this skin problem