What Is Zinc And What Are Its Skincare Benefits?

The funny thing about zinc is that we all know it, or at least recognise the name. But believe it or not there are a lot of benefits to using zinc for skincare, be it in supplement form or in topical products. So, we thought it was time to explore this mineral and get to a better understanding of what zinc is and what are its skincare benefits.

What is zinc?

Zinc is a mineral that is essential to help the body function properly by healing wounds, boosting the immune system and can also help with the skin remaining healthy. This is due to the upper layers of the skin containing high levels of zinc but sadly the body is unable to store the mineral for a long period of time resulting in daily dose of it being the best idea as it will support the growth of new and healthy skin cells. 

Fast Facts about Zinc:

Who should use it? The main people who would benefit from introducing zinc into their skincare routine are those with problematic and blemish-prone skin.

How often should it be used? You are able to take zinc daily and its recommended to take 40mg max once a day.

Don’t use it with: Avoid using multivitamins as this can cause you to have too much zinc intake for the day.

As you can see zinc is a great addition into your diet to help keep the body healthy but there are many more skincare benefits, so let’s find out more!

What is zinc good for in skincare?

Main Benefits

• Helps to treat skin lesions and wounds
• Reduces the appearance of inflammation
• Helps repair after active breakouts on the skin
• Decreases the first signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles
• Acts as a physical SPF and can protect the skin from harmful UV rays

There you have some of the key benefits of zinc in skincare particularly in products formulated to help those that have problematic skin who suffer from frequent breakouts and spots. It is understood that a lack in zinc could be the underlining problem that could be behind an unexpected breakout flare-up. This is due to the mineral’s ability to limit the amount of oil secretion in the pores and by keeping the levels of excess oil to a minimum allows the skin to stay balanced with higher chance of remaining blemish-free.

It is not only blemish-prone skin types that can benefit from this ingredient in their skincare routines. Zinc has the ability to support the underlying structure of the skin by encouraging the production of collagen fibres and the elastin. With the production of these two factors you will find your skin looks and feels, firmer, tighter with an overall more youthful complexion with fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced.

The other benefit of zinc as previously mentioned, is how it is able to keep the skin safe from UV rays that can lead to sun damage and other signs of premature ageing. With the UV rays creating free radicals that are able to penetrate the skin and cause more damage and disturb the protective skin barrier. Zinc acts as a physical SPF meaning it can block out any sun rays, be it UVA or UVB and protect the barrier by combating free radicals or other factors such as pollution, bacteria and skin ageing debris.

Is zinc good for wrinkles?

Absolutely! As previously discussed  zinc has a number of skin benefits, many of which are connected to blemish-prone skin types but also preventing and combating any visible signs of ageing. Zinc can work in the lower layers of the skin and helps with the very structure of the face by boosting collagen production and maintaining the best levels of elastin. Both of which begin to decrease as we age and leading to lack of firmness that can accentuate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. By ensuring you keep the levels of zinc in the body at the correct level you are able to help the skin looking younger with no signs of ageing or loss of elasticity.

What type of zinc is best?

There are a number of different zinc that provide a variety of benefits whether it is taken through supplements or topically through applying zinc enriched skincare products.

• Zinc acetate
• Zinc sulfate
• Zinc picolinate
• Zinc monomethionine
• Zinc gluconate
• Zinc glycinate
• Zinc orotate
• Zinc citrate

All of the different zinc will help, however, in regards to which zinc is best for benefiting the skin would be Zinc picolinate which can be absorbed by the body in the best and quickest way. It is also considered the safest due to it being a common choice for expectant mothers who are suffering from zinc deficiencies. With it being able to penetrate the skin quickly it effectively leads to the skin reaping the rewards by adding zinc supplement or other products into your daily routine.

Can zinc cause skin problems?

You can experience some skin problems when using zinc, however this is thought to be quite rare. Here are some reactions you could experience: 

• Allergic reaction eg. Rash and hives
• Itching
• Redness
• Blistering or peeling skin
• Wheezing
• Tightest of chest or throat
• Trouble of breathing

If you find you have any of the following with or without a temperature you must consult your doctor immediately. We also advice you seek the help of a GP or dermatologist when considering introducing zinc into your routine. If you are wanting to try a zinc enriched cream, apply a small amount on the inside of your forearm and leave it for 24 hours, if there is no reaction you can apply it to your face.

There you have a closer insight to this powerful mineral, zinc and all of its skincare benefits, pretty impressive for blemish-prone skin and those concerned with the signs of ageing. We almost feel tempted to call our old science teacher to share our new found love for the periodic table!