Trace Element Zinc and Skin Disorders

Zinc, a trace element involved in over 300 enzyme-related metabolic processes, plays a crucial role in skin health and disorders. Zinc deficiency, affecting approximately 2 billion people globally, is associated with multiple skin diseases and hair disorders like alopecia. Zinc supplementation has shown promising results in treating skin disorders like acne, viral warts, cutaneous ulcers, and inflammatory diseases like Hidradenitis suppurativa, Acne vulgaris, Rosacea, Eczematous dermatitis, Seborrhoeic dermatitis. It has also shown benefits in wound healing, particularly in diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers. However, the effectiveness of zinc in treating some conditions like psoriasis, vitiligo, and rosacea is still unclear and requires further study. In the context of hair loss, lower serum zinc levels were found in patients, and some studies showed benefits from zinc supplementation. The document suggests that future research should focus on the pathophysiological processes caused by zinc deficiency and the application of zinc in treating skin disorders.