Zinc is an inorganic compound, or mineral, which is necessary for a healthy immune system, pancreas, liver and skin.
Among many other important uses for the body, it is anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, helps the creation of healthy proteins, cell membranes and enzymes. It plays an important role in the function of the immune system, healing wounds and helping protect against harmful UV rays. It helps restore the beneficial gut flora which is another component often out of balance with eczema sufferers.
A study performed showed that improvement and even total elimination of eczema occurred in a control group of patients who introduced daily zinc supplements to their diet. Due to zincs antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can also be a helpful treatment of acne.
Zinc is a common deficiency which studies found affects at least one third of the world’s population. This can be due to a diet of zinc-poor foods or deficiencies in vitamins A and D as these vitamins regulate how much zinc is found in the blood plasma. Other reasons for zinc deficiencies can be poor absorption due to Leaky Gut Syndrome or chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, skin and liver diseases.
Some of the indicators of a zinc deficiency are delayed wound healing, mental fogginess, hair loss, growth and development issues, abdominal pain and diarrhea, eye conditions, skin conditions such as eczema, a change in taste sensations as well as a loss in appetite. For anyone experiencing such symptoms, seeking medical advice and requesting to be tested is always advised.
Although a lack of zinc in the system has been linked to the severity of eczema, the name for the specific eczema caused soley by zinc deficiency is called Acrodermatitis Enteropathica, and only requires correction of the zinc deficiency for healing.
If someone has a zinc deficiency, always try to increase your diet with zinc-rich foods such as:
Seafood, Wheat Germ, Spinach, Pumpkin Seeds, Cashews, Dark Chocolate (Coca) and Mushrooms.
The easiest form of zinc for the body to absorb and digest is zinc gluconate. There are many brands of zinc available on the market today,however the two most popular and best rated products we have come across are Now Foods Zinc Gluconate Tablets
