What Are The Benefits Of Zinc Oxide For Skin?
Zinc Oxide
Zinc has been used to treat burns and wounds for more than 2,000 years. Although the benefits of zinc oxide have grown in recent years, records suggest that zinc was first utilised in a natural healing skin salve called pushpanjan. Around 500 B.C., it was first mentioned in ancient Indian medicinal texts.
Zinc oxide is now a common element in diaper rash creams, calamine lotions, mineral sunscreens (including some of the best sunscreens), vitamin supplements, and acne treatments available in drug stores or prescribed by doctors.
What Does Zinc Oxide Mean?
Zinc oxide, as you might expect, is formed from zinc, a naturally occurring metallic element that is currently used in a variety of electronic, chemical, and domestic products. Zinc, like other elemental metals like iron and electrolytes like magnesium, can carry an electric charge that provides it with unique properties within the body.
Zinc oxide is not found in nature. It's made when zinc is heated chemically and mixed with oxygen molecules.
The two elements are vaporised, condensed, and crystallised into a thin, white powder that rests on top of the skin as a protective coating.
Recent advancements in zinc oxide particle size have resulted in a significant increase in the use of zinc oxide cream and sunscreen. Researchers developed nano-sized zinc oxide particles in 2008, ushering in a new era in sunscreen and skin care.
A new zinc oxide compound may now be applied to the skin without creating a thick, white film, allowing natural sunscreen products to reach a much wider audience. However, whether these nanoparticles are genuinely safe is still up for debate.
Some of the uses and benefits of zinc oxide are as follows:
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Assisting in the reduction of skin inflammation caused by rashes, allergies, or irritation (including diaper rash)
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Preventing sunburns by providing broad-spectrum sun protection (including on photosensitive skin)
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Providing skin cancer/neoplasia protection (basal cell carcinoma)
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Improved wound healing and bacterial infection prevention
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assisting with the healing of burns and damaged tissue
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Acne treatment assistance
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Maintaining moisture in dry skin
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Dandruff reduction
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Wart removal
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Inflammatory dermatoses are reduced (including rosacea)
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Treatment of pigmentary diseases (melasma)
The prevention of skin ageing
Improved collagen production and formation of new connective tissue
Because zinc oxide is insoluble in water, it must be mixed with another substance to be effective. It's widely found in cosmetics (particularly skin foundations), mineral sunscreens, salves or balms, and moisturisers.
Zinc oxide is found in certain lotions and creams, which allows greasy things to penetrate the skin. Zinc forms a barrier around them, preventing moisture from escaping.
During the 1940s, zinc oxide was initially used in commercial beauty and skin care products. However, records suggest that Greek physicians and botanists were already mixing zinc with oxygen to make zinc oxide powder in the first century.
The ancient Indian medical classic "The Charaka Samhita" was one of the first to discuss the use of zinc oxide for skin healing. Pushpanjan zinc salve was used to cure eyes and open skin sores, according to doctors.
Benefits
- Prevents sunburn and damage to the skin
Over the last three decades, much skin care research has focused on zinc oxide's natural sun-protective properties. Zinc oxide has been discovered to provide protection against "wide spectrum ultraviolet rays" (UVA/UVB), which is not usually the case with chemical sunscreens that block only one type of UV light.
Beyond sunscreen, zinc oxide is now included in a wide range of skin care products. Mineral makeup, concealers, moisturisers, BB creams, and anti-aging products all contain it as an ingredient in beauty lotions or foundations.
Zinc oxide sunscreens had a terrible record in the past for leaving visible white streaks on the skin, indicating that the zinc hadn't been entirely absorbed. However, skin care technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and you can now get microfine zinc oxide formulations that don't leave streaks or a chalky texture.
These tiny particles are regarded as safe once again, while other scientists believe that further research is needed to ensure that they are safe for long-term human use.
Are you curious about the effectiveness of zinc oxide sunscreens?
Some of the greatest zinc oxide sunscreens on the market now offer similar effects as chemical sunscreens, but they use numerous ingredients to provide broad-spectrum protection.
The amount of zinc oxide in a product's recipe determines how well it protects against burns. Zinc oxide percentages vary greatly, and the ultimate percentage defines the product's "SPF" level.
Zinc oxide concentrations in sunscreens are typically between 25% and 30%.
In cosmetics, such as foundation, BB creams, and facial moisturisers, the percentage (and thus coverage) is typically lower, ranging from 10% to 19%.
The shorter the window of protection, the less zinc oxide is utilised. As a result, SPF 15 lasts less than SPF 30, which contains more zinc.
Take Away
Zinc oxide is a powdered material made up of zinc and oxygen that is used in a variety of lotions, ointments, sunscreens, and rash treatments.
Natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties have been discovered in zinc oxide. Healing epidermal wounds, burns, rashes, skin oiliness, infections, and acne are among the other advantages.
Zinc oxide, unlike many chemical sunscreens, protects against both UVA and UVB light rays and is frequently used as a natural, non-toxic sunscreen to prevent sunburn, photo-ageing, and inflammation.
