Effects of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne

Abstract

The effects of oral zinc sulfate (corresponding to 135 mg of zinc daily) alone and in combination with vitamin A (300,000 international units) daily on acne lesions have been compared with those of vitamin A alone and of a placebo. The number of comedones, papules, pustules, and infiltrates were counted at each visit. After four weeks, there was a significant decrease in the number of papules, pustules, and infiltrates in the zinc-treated groups. The effect of zinc plus vitamin A was not better than zinc alone. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean acne score had decreased from 100% to 15%. The mechanism for the effect of zinc therapy in acne, to our knowledge, is not presently known.¿

Diet and acne vulgaris

“…The analysis was conducted on 173 acne patients and on the control group. Acne patients had lower levels of both tested substances, while in patients with severe acne the levels were even lower [22]. The results of this study may confirm the significant role of vitamin A and zinc in the aetiopathogenesis of acne.…”

Skin Lesions in Acquired Zinc Deficiency due to Parenteral Nutrition

“…The acne-like eruptions in our patients, histologically interpreted as folli culitis, are of great interest in connection with the low serum zinc found in severe acne and the beneficial effect of oral zinc sulphate in acne [9,10]. Zinc plays an important but not completely understood role in metabolism [17], Zinc deficiency is associated with impaired wound healing [4], an increased suceptibility to infection and possibly to a reduction of the immunological competence [6].…”

The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature

“…Fourteen studies compared a zinc‐containing product to other available treatments for acne vulgaris (Bojar, Eady, Jones, Cunliffe, & Holland, ; Chu, Huber, & Plott, ; Cunliffe, Burke, Dodman, & Gould, ; Cunliffe et al, ; Dreno et al, ; Feucht, Allen, Chalker, & Smith, ; Habbema, Koopmans, Menke, Doornweerd, & De Boulle, ; Langner, Sheehan‐Dare, & Layton, ; Michaëlsson, ; Michaëlsson, Juhlin, & Ljunghall, ; Michaëlsson, Juhlin, & Vahlquist, ; Papageorgiou & Chu, ; Schachner, Pestana, & Kittles, ; Sharquie, Noaimi, & Al‐Salih, ) (Table ), out of which only four were controlled (Feucht et al, ; Michaëlsson, ; Michaëlsson, Juhlin, & Vahlquist, ; Papageorgiou & Chu, ). Ten studies compared a zinc‐containing compound to an antibiotic.…”

“…However, they found no significant difference between the two groups. Two studies by Michaëlsson et al (Michaëlsson, ; Michaëlsson, Juhlin, & Vahlquist, ) compared oral vitamin A with oral zinc. Both studies showed that zinc alone and zinc plus vitamin A significantly outdid vitamin A monotherapy and placebo.…”