A Home Remedy For Acne - Zinc
There are many ways in which the mineral zinc can be effective as a home remedy for acne. Zinc facilitates the production and regulation of a great many hormones in the body and one of those is testosterone.
It is this hormone that causes acne. An excess of testosterone creates an environment in which the oil glands in the skin go into overdrive and produce an excess of sebum which blocks the pores of the skin and creates the breakouts of acne pimples, spots and zits.
Another way in which zinc can be helpful as a home remedy for acne is that zinc is involved in the protein synthesis and collagen formation in the body, both of which promote healthy skin and normalizing production of the natural oils in the skin.
How to Get Zinc Into Your Diet
Zinc is a natural mineral found in many foods. Good sources of zinc include beef, eggs, whole grains and many sea foods such as crabs and oysters. One problem is that there are many people who choose not to eat many of these kinds of foods. Vegetarians for example would have some difficulty obtaining enough zinc from diet alone.
Therefore a zinc supplement might be necessary. There are several types of zinc supplements. Three common ones are zinc oxide, zinc gluconate and zinc oxide, however these three are not absorbed into the bloodstream very efficiently.
More easily absorbed are zinc monomethionate or zinc picolinate. Aim for a dosage of 30 to 100mg a day. Start off with the lower dosage and slowly work your way up. Some people find that zinc supplements can irritate the digestive tract so take it slowly and spread your dosage out throughout the day.
Tips For Using Zinc As a Home Remedy For Acne
1) When taking zinc supplements make sure that you don’t take them alongside foods that inhibit the absorption of zinc.
2) Increase your zinc intake when you are involved in heavy exercise.
3) Never take more than 100mg per day. Excess amounts of zinc can be toxic.
4) If you are eating foods from plant based foods note that the zinc is found in the soil where the plants grow and so if the plants have been grown in poor quality soil the zinc levels will subsequently be low. Therefore be sure to purchase high quality produce such as organic.
Zinc can be an effective home remedy for acne but please use it with caution!