7 replies to this topic

[assassin.]

Sure, zinc may soothe inflammation. But zinc also has its part in testosterone production. Wouldn't taking zinc be bad, since you would increase your body's testosterone levels and end up with oilier skin?

[strato]

Um, this is interesting. Did some research about increasing testosterone levels. The number one thing to do seems to be taking zinc supplements... Low levels of zinc can cause low testosterone levels. So, eating eating zinc supplements can restore your testosterone to normal levels, but I wonder if it can go beyond normal?

[Packerfan785]

Zinc also helps with preventing DHT, doesn't it?

I think DHT is the real problem, not testosterone. Testosterone has many benefits and is looked at too negatively here.

[databased]

Doesn't really matter how oily your skin is if you have enough anti-oxidants (e.g. zinc superoxide dismutase) to remove the superoxide anions P. acnes needs to create inflammation. Of course, what you're really lacking is probably not zinc, but superoxide dismutase, which is why zinc generally only provides marginal improvement.

[alternativista]

Zinc also helps with preventing DHT, doesn't it?

I think DHT is the real problem, not testosterone. Testosterone has many benefits and is looked at too negatively here.

Yes, zinc inhibits DHT conversion. In addition, it helps blood sugar metabolism, is anti-inflammatory, it's needed to produce collagen and half a dozen other things that impact acne.

[SnoopyisAj]

Zinc helps level your testosterone, and i didn't have any problems with zinc at all

[jksl]

Sure, zinc may soothe inflammation. But zinc also has its part in testosterone production. Wouldn't taking zinc be bad, since you would increase your body's testosterone levels and end up with oilier skin?

No. Zinc wouldn't be counterproductive. First of all, increasing your body's testosterone level isn't necessarily a bad thing for your skin. Testosterone is NOT your enemy. DHT is the problem (it is a metabolite of testosterone). The more hormonal imbalance or estrogen dominance you face, the more conversion there is to DHT from testosterone. Zinc counters this conversion.

[databased]

DHT is the problem (it is a metabolite of testosterone). The more hormonal imbalance or estrogen dominance you face, the more conversion there is to DHT from testosterone. Zinc counters this conversion.

Since the skin is its own supply of DHT, but uses a different isoenzyme than the prostate to produce it, it's not clear how relevant most DHT research (which is largely focused on the prostate, and the alternate isoenzyme) is to acne.