Severe acne can be difficult to treat. Currently the most commonly prescribed treatments are high dose Vitamin A and antibiotics. Antibiotics have been used both topically and orally as a treatment method for over 20 years. Due to the prevalence of antibiotic use several strains of bacteria known to contribute to the severity of acne have become resistant. Propionibacterium acnes have shown high resistance to antibiotics such as erythromycin and amoxicillin. In cases of acne with high colonization of Propionibacterium that are resistant to antibiotics, a cure or decrease in symptoms can be very difficult to achieve.
Zinc salts have shown efficacy in the treatment of several conditions including acne. They are known to act as an anti-inflammatory to the tissue as well as possess limited antimicrobial activity. Zinc has even been shown in vitro to be effective against Propionibacterium.
A study published in the European Journal of Dermatology in May investigated the effects of zinc gluconate both in patients with active acne and in the lab against more than 40 common strains of bacteria associated with acne. Patients were randomized to receive either 30 mg of zinc gluconate or placebo for 2 months. Bacterial samples from facial lesions were taken on Day 0, 30 and 60 for comparison.
The patients who were given zinc gluconate had fewer numbers of inflammatory lesions after 30 and 60 days compared to placebo. Signs and symptoms of active acne were decreased in the treatment group compared to placebo. Concurrent lab studies also showed that the addition of zinc gluconate to the treatment protocol decreased resistance of Propionibacterium to erythromycin compared to control.
The investigators concluded that the addition of zinc gluconate improves treatment in patients with severe forms of acne. In addition to the improvement of facial lesions in active disease, zinc decreased resistance of Propionibacterium to erythromycin. This makes zinc salts a valuable addition to any antibiotic treatment protocol for acne.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on January 23, 2006 08:55 AM
