Effectiveness of Zinc Supplementation With Topical Retinoids in Acne Vulgaris Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Acne vulgaris (AV) is the eighth most prevalent disease worldwide. Acne is a self-limiting condition, it may cause significant psychological and social problems, depression, disfigurement, and scarring that can persist for a lifetime. Multiple factors contribute to acne pathogenesis including increased sebum production, aberrant keratinization of the pilosebaceous duct, bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes, hormonal influences, the skin microbiome, and chronic inflammation. Relapse rates in patients with acne after treatment with standard of care vary between 10% and 60%. Recent trials attempted to assess the effect of zinc in reducing the severity of symptoms of acne vulgaris patients. This study evaluates whether there is any role of zinc in reducing acne symptoms between those who did and did not receive zinc in an 8 weeks period. This includes 122 acne vulgaris patients who were recruited from Dermatology and Venereology OPD of BSMMU. Participants took either 20 mg elemental zinc daily in the form of zinc sulphate tablet or 20 mg placebo tablet daily for 8 weeks. Initially, baseline serum zinc level was measured and repeated again after 8 weeks of intervention. A baseline acne symptoms survey was done by GAGS score and also repeated at 8 weeks.