When Minerals Get Under Your Skin

Mineral deficiencies relating to skin conditions can be common. While nutritional research tends to focus on single minerals and their effects on skin conditions, for most people it makes good sense to consider their overall mineral intake. Dietary sources of minerals include nuts, seeds, whole grains, seafood, sea vegetables and leafy green vegetables grown on well-cared for soil. Multi-mineral supplements are typically well-balanced in the amounts of minerals they provide and generally are better absorbed when taken with a bit of acidic fruit juice.

Perhaps the most frequently encountered mineral deficiency involves zinc. Zinc is found in nuts & seeds, whole grains, seafood and organ meats, and is associated with numerous critical functions in the body, including immunity, digestion, and normal, healthy skin and hair. Inadequate levels of zinc can alter the structure of collagen fibers, and both moderate and severe zinc deficiencies can be expressed as roughened skin or dermatitis.

A clue to zinc status relates to the sense of smell and taste. If one finds that these senses are diminished, there may be a deficiency of this important mineral. Also, white marks on the fingernails or toenails combined with a lack of firmness to the nails is a common pointer to zinc deficiency.

Restoring optimal levels of zinc appears to improve skin conditions in some cases of eczema or psoriasis. Selenium and copper can play important roles in these conditions as well. Eczema is associated with elevated levels of copper. Since copper and zinc compete in the body for absorption, if one is too high it can cause a deficiency of the other. Selenium levels may be deficient in eczema,too.

Acne is very often responsive to improvements in mineral intake as well. Although not the only factor in these cases, zinc can be an important part of the successful natural treatment for many cases of acne. Other nutritional factors that are important in acne include selenium levels, iodine levels, stress, vitamin A status, protein intake and the types/quantities of oils a person is eating.

Herpes infections may be related to minerals as well. Zinc can be helpful (along with the more commonly known L-lysine, an amino acid) and people with repeated bouts of herpes may have some degree of iron deficiency.

Hair loss or alopecia may be related to mineral nutrition. Intake and absorption of many minerals may be involved, but zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium and copper are more likely to be involved than others. Of course, there may be other reasons for hair loss including poor circulation, hormonal changes and the like, but mineral nutrition is a worthwhile consideration.

Dry skin is often related to a lack of essential fats/oils in the diet but also in conditions of low thyroid function which can strongly relate to supply of certain minerals. Both iodine and selenium are critical for normal thyroid function and, if the thyroid is sluggish, dry skin and hair loss are common symptoms. Generalized dermatitis (redness, swelling, irritation and burning or itching of the skin) can be due to high levels of manganese.

If there is difficulty with wounds or scrapes healing, zinc deficiency is worthwhile to consider, along with vitamin C intake. Chromium, magnesium, and zinc have all been shown to improve the body's ability to use or produce insulin, often relieving some of the symptoms and indirectly benefiting skin problems too.

A number of less common skin conditions which may be related to minerals include: dermatitis herpetiformis, a severe itching eruption appearing like hives and somewhat responsive to zinc. People with herpes zoster may similarly benefit from zinc, mostly due to enhanced immune activity.

The skin also serves as a crucial membrane for the release of toxins from the body. Skin irritations may directly result as these toxins are released, or as the toxins build up inside the body. For this reason, many of the toxic minerals (mercury, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, lead) are capable of causing generalized skin reactions. One clinical study found that patients with atopic eczema excreted significantly higher amounts of nickel than healthy individuals, possibly signifying increased intestinal absorption of this toxin.

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References:

1. Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA, Canary JJ. Supplemental-chromium effects on glucose, insulin, glucagon, and urinary chromium losses in subjects consuming controlled low-chromium diets. Am J Clin Nutr 1991 Nov;54(5):909-16.
2. Dreno B et al. Low doses of zinc gluconate for inflammatory acne. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 69(6):541-3,1989.
3. Elamin A, Tuvemo T. Magnesium and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract1990;10:203-9.
4. Fairris GM, Perkins PJ, Lloyd B, Hinks L, Clayton B. The effect on atopic dermatitis of supplementation with selenium and vitamin E. Acta Derm Venereol 1989;69(4):359-62.
5. Hindsen M, Christensen OB, Moller H. Nickel levels in serum and urine in five different groups of eczema patients following oral ingestion of nickel. Acta Derm Venereol 1994;74(3):176-178.
6. Juhlin L, et al. Blood glutathione-peroxidase levels in skin diseases: Effects of selenium and vitamin E treatment. Acta Dermatovener (Stockholm) 62:211-14;1982.
7. Michaelsson G, Edqvist L. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in acne vulgaris and the effect of selenium and vitamin E treatment. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 64(1): 9-14,1984.
8. Michaelsson G, Ljunghall K. Patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, acne, psoriasis and Darier's disease have low epiderma zinc concentrations. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 1990;70(4):304-8.
9. Pohit J et al. Zinc status of acne vulgaris patients J Appl Nutr 1985;37(1):18-25.
10. Prasad AS. Clinical, endocrinological and biochemical effects of zinc deficiency. Clin Endocrinol Metab 1985;14(3):567-589.
11. Serrano Ortega S, Aneiros Cachaza J, Tovar IV, Feijoo MF. Zinc deficiency dermatitis in parenteral nutrition: an electron-microscopic study. Dermatologica 1985;171(3):163-169.
12. Srivastava AK, Gupta BN, Bihari V, Gaur JS. Generalized hair loss and selenium exposure. Vet Hum Toxicol 1995 Oct;37(5):468-9.

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