Hi everyone,
I have suffered from acne since my teens, I am now 42.
The only time I haven't had acne is when I have been on the pill, which seemed to sort my skin out so I know my acne was hormonal.
When I came off the pill about 6 months ago my acne returned worse than it had been in my teens even ! I had spots all under my jawline, my neck, over my cheeks, and my forehead.
Wrinkles and spots.....well, it's just not fair is it ?!
I experimented with flaxseed oil, which made it worse. I tried B vitamins which made no difference. In the end I tried high doses of zinc.....and it works !!!!
Apparently the highest daily safe dosage of zinc is 100mg.
So, I take 3 tablets a day, each containing 30mg of chelated zinc ( and it's important that it is chelated as it is easier on the stomach and absorbs better ). I take it morning, noon and night with food, as zinc can upset the stomach if not taken with food. I am quite weak stomached and have never had a problem.
I noticed a difference within a few days, my outbreaks were greatly reduced. Within a week I was only getting the odd new one here and there. Previously I had battled with several new ones a day, and what with all the scars I was starting to look like a peperoni pizza !!
I am 4 weeks in now and I still get the odd spot but hey, it's like a miracle to me !! I would say I have seen a 95% improvement.
I just wanted to share this with anyone suffering with acne because I was at my wits end and was considering going back on the pill again just to sort my skin out, but now I don't need to !!
I had previously tried lower doses of zinc - 30mg per day did nothing, 60 mg per day had no effect either. 90mg per day worked for me.
Apparently zinc depletes copper so it is important to have a copper supplement- I just take a multivitamin every day as well.
I hope this is helpful 
Hi Debsie
That's wonderful news! It is what we were taught, and it's good to hear that it works! I would hesitate to recommend that amount of zinc on here, but yes, some people are either seriously short of it or have problems absorbing zinc. After a few months you will be able to reduce the amount. It is important to take copper with it at the rate of 1mg copper to every 10 mg of zinc - some supplements already have the two in the right proportions.
You may also get improvement in all sorts of other areas too - blood sugar control, PMT, immune function, digestion, and so on. Zinc is vital for the function of over 200 enzyme reactions in the body. Shortage is quite common in UK.
Keep us posted! All the best
I used to take a zinc supplement as an immune system boost, but had to stop because I could taste metal in my mouth hours after I'd taken the supplement, and it was putting me off my food! Anyway I'm glad you found something that worked for you - well done!
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for letting me know about the correct dosage ratio for copper and zinc, it's been a bit hit and miss so far but now I can correct that!
I will certainly try reducing the amount of zinc as I go along, and will let you know
Hi Chris,
Was it chelated zinc you were taking or the standard type?
That's interesting about zinc. I'm 32 and also suffer with acne that just never seems to go. It's mostly on my chin, jawline, shoulders and back. I've been on dianette but don't want to stay on that long-term. I tried borage oil which many people on an acne website recommended but it had no effect on me.
I might give the zinc a try. Thanks for sharing
the have an excellent herbal, with tree bark cream, also with zinc,its good!
That's product i have yet to test for myself but i really do think it all depends on your skin type. I have quite dry skin so anything thats really hard on the skin just ruins mine. I've been using a product called 'blemishless kit' for the past couple of months and i find that that one works the most for me