Trace Element Zinc and Skin Disorders

Zinc supplementation caused significant hair shedding for the user, who had been successfully managing hair loss with finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and microneedling. The user discontinued zinc after noticing no libido increase and believes the hair loss was due to zinc's interaction with other minerals or hormonal changes.

The conversation discusses using zinc sulphate and azelaic acid to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase activity, which could potentially treat androgen-related skin conditions like hair loss. Combining these with vitamin B6 could enhance the effect, potentially offering an alternative to finasteride.

A 27-year-old male experiencing increased hair loss despite using 0.5mg dutasteride daily, minoxidil nightly, and optimizing vitamin D, is considering zinc supplementation and seeking a dermatology referral. Concerns about potential shedding, thyroid levels, and zinc dosage are discussed, with advice to monitor and avoid over-supplementation.

A 36-year-old man with androgenetic alopecia suspects copper and zinc deficiencies may be accelerating hair loss and is supplementing copper to address this. He is also monitoring blood sugar levels due to previous prediabetes concerns and plans to test for insulin resistance.

Taking zinc and copper may offset copper depletion and potentially aid hair health when used with finasteride. The user is considering whether to use these supplements alongside finasteride or wait until switching to dutasteride.

Finasteride may cause acne for some users, possibly due to increased testosterone or estrogen levels. Zinc, gluconic acid, and B5 cream are suggested treatments for managing this acne.