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The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature
Author(s) -
Cervantes Jessica,
Eber Ariel E.,
Perper Marina,
Nascimento Vanessa M.,
Nouri Keyvan,
Keri Jonette E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/dth.12576
Subject(s) - acne , medicine , dermatology , erythema , adverse effect , acne treatment , systemic antibiotics , antibiotics , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Abstract Acne vulgaris is a chronic disease of the pilosebaceous units presenting as inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions in individuals of all ages. The current standard of treatment includes topical formulations in the forms of washes, gels, lotions, and creams such as antibiotics, antibacterial agents, retinoids, and comedolytics. Additionally, systemic treatments are available for more severe or resistant forms of acne. Nevertheless, these treatments have shown to induce a wide array of adverse effects, including dryness, peeling, erythema, and even fetal defects and embolic events. Zinc is a promising alternative to other acne treatments owing to its low cost, efficacy, and lack of systemic side effects. In this literature review, we evaluate the effectiveness and side‐effect profiles of various formulations of zinc used to treat acne.