You’ve likely heard about zinc being a vital nutrient and some of the amazing things it can do for the body, but did you know this superstar nutrient is beneficial for anyone struggling with acne?

Zinc is an antioxidant that helps boost our immune systems and can help fight off bacteria. In fact, it’s used for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body! Zinc is a wonderful nutrient to treat acne because it has anti-inflammatory properties which can help with skin redness, raised/painful acne spots, and wound healing. This is important because acne is an inflammatory response of the skin, so zinc can help combat those painful inflamed areas.

Zinc can be taken in many forms including supplemental, food, and topical. If you are considering adding zinc into your routine, make sure to talk to one of Papillon’s doctors and/or nutritionist to see what form of zinc will work best for you! There are many other awesome nutrients in addition to zinc to help with your acne and we are happy to help you find what is right for you. Learn more about our no-referral-needed acne clinic here.

Here are some foods to include in your diet that contain zinc:

-Pumpkin Seeds

-Sesame Seeds                                                  

-Hemp Seeds

-Cashews

-Oysters & other seafood

-Chickpeas

-Quinoa

-Avocado

-Beef

-Lamb

If you do eat meat, try to opt for grass-fed and with no added hormones or antibiotics! Acne can be due to hormonal issues so it’s important to stray away from products with added hormones!

An easy way to incorporate zinc into your food routine is through pumpkin seeds. They can be added onto salads or roasted to be eaten on their own. Here are two ways you can roast pumpkin seeds for a delicious snack!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds with the shell:

https://www.jessicagavin.com/how-to-roast-pumpkin-seeds/

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds without the shell: