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What Is The Ideal Dosage Of Zinc For Acne Treatment?

Posted on Thu, 15 Oct 2015

Question: How much zinc can I take for acne?
I have persistent but not severage acne. I want to know an effective amount of zinc for clearing it up. Each of my zinc comes with 15mg and 0.75mg copper. Should I take 3 a day?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you can use it thrice.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to Health Care Magic.

Thanks for writing.

I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad. I have read your question completely, i understand your concern and will try to help you in best way possible.

For acne the recommended dose it 40-300 mg or zinc taking 15mg a day is actually under dosing you can even take 6 tablets/capsules if 15 mg a day try to find a prepapration without copper, there are preparations which have just zinc you can take 30mg three times a day making in 90mg daily.

Anwering you question: yes you can take it thrice a day.with or without food doesn't matter.

Duration of use recommended is 4-5 weeks to see difference. I would suggest you to discuss dosing with your doctor.

I hope this answered your question, a
if you have more please feel free to ask.

Regrads.

Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.

M.B.B.S(Licensed Family Physician)

Resident M.D.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (9 hours later)

Thanks for reply.
Is it safe to use the zinc with copper until I get zinc alone? Can I take 3 or 4 of them a day at 15mg zinc and 0.75 mg copper each?

How long before spots clear? How long before it works?

Should I stop use once skin is clear? Or should I notice for longer? Please advise.

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No it will be copper overdose

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for writing back,

No you should not take copper in such high doses upper limit of dose is 1mgram and you are already taking 0.75 so you can not take 4 tablets a day,

I would suggest you to get zinc alone first and then discuss raising the dose. You shouldn't oversdose combined copper.

There is no specific time for the spots to clear but zinc use of 4..5 weeks is recommended in start to see the results and then one can discuss with doctor about further continuation according to condition of skin at that very time.

Usually 1 week use is recommended after clearing of skin.

If you have more questions you are welcomed to ask.

Have a great sunday.

Regards.
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (1 hour later)

OK, thanks for reply.
I did take 4x of them yesturday so instead of that I have ordered this:

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-maximum-strength-zinc-tablets-25mg-0000

Is this a good one to take twice a day? Is it ok to also take a 15mg with 0.75mg copper on top of that to balance it out?

I had an acne spot and it's gone after all that zinc, I feel it helps. So, I want to continue.

Also, I drink heavily twice each week, I read it can make low on zinc, would it be true? So I do need to supplement.

Please advise.
Thanks

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
2x of 25mg is good enough after the spot has gone

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,

thanks for writing back,

Yes you can take 25mg 2x daily , if spot is already gone then you dont need a 15mg top up if you dont have copper deficiency.

Yes Alcohol may reduce reduction in absorption through gut, of certains vitamins and minerals, it depends apon kind of alcohol containing beverage and quantity, kindly specify that and also specify if there is any other gut issues you have or any other medical issue like diabets etc?

regards.

Dr.Muhammad Ahmad

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (9 minutes later)

Usually on two days per week I will consume 12 x 500ml beers at 4-5% strength. Total of 24 beers over two days.
I don't drink in the week.
No other problem but do have auto immune vitiligo since age 15, very slow spreading. I read it can be caused by low zinc etc?

Thanks,

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (25 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Alcohol does effect in this quantity

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
You comsume quite much of alchol..binge drinking does effect absorption of minerals through the gut it also effects a person's resilience.

I would suggest you to gradually reduce the quantity of drinking if you can... It would carry many benefits.. You don't drink on weekdays that would have been compensing your mineral absorption to some extent but still alcohol has negative effects there is no doubt in that.

As far as autoimmune vitiligo is concerned, in my opinion zinc deficinecy doesn't effect it much ..autoimmune is a different phenomenon.

In your current situation moderate doses of zinc would do for you. You don't have to take any extraordinary dose or measures.

Best regards.

Dr.Muhammad Ahmad

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (14 minutes later)

Hi, thanks for reply.
So taking 50mg of zinc per day will be best option for now? Also, to keep gut healthy is it good to consume glutamine? I read it helps heal it, is it true?
I also have been taking up to 10k iu vitamin a for acne.
Also, I do take a vitamin B complex as I had a high MCV on blood test a year ago which got lower after taking it, but I read high dose of B12 can create acne?

Thanks for advice.

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Alcohol reduction can help.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for writing back.

Yes 50mg is a moderate dost and so far the best option at the moment.

If you read about it, you will get to know alcohol is really a strong inhibitor of Vitamin B and folate absorption so people may get large MCV anaemia and also get peripheral neuropathies.
If you can reduce alcohol you wont have to take vitamin B in supplementation.

As far as glutamin is concerned its role is inclear.But it is simple leave alcohol and you wont have to care about healing the gut. When you can undo the wound why would you care about which bandage company is better...you wont need it anyways.

It will be hard to quit drinking altogether but you can take 6 month's gradual reduction option as well...

acne too has many reasons onlye B12 can not be suggested as the culprit ...

I believe quitting alcohol can work wonders for you.. although it will take time for you to see then difference but it will out your life at ease.

Stay blessed.

Dr.Ahmad.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (2 hours later)

Thanks, I will try zinc as I think it will solve my problem. Im also going 8 days without any alcohol (the most days since 3 years). It should be a nice gap.

I will see how well the zinc works after 2 weeks. Hopefully it will clear it up totally.

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Don't over stress your body give it a nice chance to adjust

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back,

I am not sure if your body will be able to keep up with this complete cesation of alcohol abruptly , I am always in favour of gradual healing methods body otself adjusts to gradual things, I would suggest you to gradually deal with it , like you can increase the gap between your alcohol intake days plus gradually you can lower down the quantity, even if it takes 3..4 months it's perfectly fine, it's healthy compared to sudden cesation of alcohol and not letting body to adjust enough.

I hope zinc helps you further. It is actually a patient to patient thing, and I hope in you it resolves you problems completely.

Stay blessed.

Regards.
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar