If you get red, sore spots that keep coming back, you have probably read that zinc can help. Dermatologists have tested zinc tablets against placebo since the 1970s.[6][7][8] Your skin depends on zinc, and people with acne tend to have less of it in their blood.[1][2][3] In a double-blind trial, 30 mg of zinc a day calmed inflamed spots more than a placebo did.[4] ClearDerm with Probiotics contains that same amount: 30 mg.[17] Here is what the research shows.
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From Anirva, the maker of ClearDerm with Probiotics. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- Zinc has been studied for acne for decades. Placebo-controlled trials go back to 1977, and a 2020 review pooled 25 studies.[6][7][8][2]
- People with acne tend to have lower blood zinc. This was seen across studies, and in one study zinc was lowest in people with more serious breakouts.[2][3]
- At 30 mg a day, zinc did better than placebo. In a 2-month double-blind trial, the inflamed-spot score fell by 45% with zinc and by 19% with placebo.[4]
- The benefit is mainly on red, inflamed spots. Zinc did less for blackheads and whiteheads.[11]
- ClearDerm provides 30 mg of zinc a day. That is 273% of the Daily Value, and the amount used in two French trials.[17][4][5]
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient and form | Zinc, as zinc ascorbate |
| Amount in ClearDerm | 30 mg a day, in 2 capsules (273% of the Daily Value) |
| Amounts used in acne trials | 30 mg to 135 mg of zinc a day |
| Kinds of evidence | Placebo trials by mouth, a meta-analysis, reviews, blood studies, and one lab study of zinc ascorbate |
| Human trials described here | 5 trials of zinc by mouth, 4 of them against placebo |
| Adult upper limit, US | 40 mg a day from food and supplements together |
| Adult upper limit, Europe | 25 mg a day |
| Last reviewed | [DATE] |
What is zinc, and why does skin need it?
Zinc is an essential mineral, and you need some every day. Hundreds of enzymes need it. It also supports the immune system, wound healing, and new proteins and cells.[1]
Skin renews itself all the time, so it has a steady need for these jobs. In acne, an immune reaction inside blocked pores turns them into red, swollen spots.[1]
Is low zinc linked to acne?
Yes, in many studies. A 2020 meta-analysis found that people with acne had significantly lower blood zinc than people without acne.[2]
A 2014 study in Turkey compared 94 people with acne (average age 28) with 56 healthy volunteers of similar age. Zinc was lower in the acne group. It was lowest in the people with more serious breakouts.[3]
Low blood zinc does not prove that zinc caused the breakouts, but it is one reason zinc is studied for acne.[2][3]
How may zinc help with breakouts?
Researchers describe three ways zinc acts on the skin:[11]
- It may calm inflammation. Lab studies show zinc can act on the white blood cells that gather in an inflamed spot.[11]
- It may act against bacteria. Reviews describe antibacterial effects of zinc, including on the acne bacterium.[11]
- It may reduce oil. A 2013 review of the evidence concluded that zinc may lower sebum, the oil made in the skin.[12]
The research is still growing on exactly how these effects work in people.
Do zinc tablets help acne? What the trials show
30 mg a day did better than placebo (1989)
This trial is closest to ClearDerm. Dermatologists in France gave 66 people with inflamed acne either zinc gluconate or a placebo. The zinc group took 30 mg of zinc a day for 2 months. Average age was 22.[4]
The inflamed-spot score fell from 49 to 27 with zinc, a drop of 45%. With placebo, it fell from 58 to 47, a drop of 19%. After 2 months, the zinc group's score was significantly lower. Doctors rated 38% on zinc as markedly improved, against 9% on placebo.[4]
Three placebo trials at higher amounts (1977 to 1980)
In a 1977 trial, 135 mg of zinc a day cut papules, pustules and deeper spots more than placebo after 4 weeks. After 12 weeks on zinc, the average acne score was 15% of where it started.[6]
A Swedish trial gave 91 people, aged 13 to 37, 90 mg of zinc or a placebo. Patients saw a difference from week 4, doctors by week 12.[7]
In India, 56 people took about 135 mg of zinc a day or a placebo. The placebo group stopped at 6 weeks, because no one had improved. After 12 weeks on zinc, 17 of 29 people (58%, as the authors report) had improved.[8]
A large trial compared zinc with an antibiotic (2001)
A French trial gave 332 people 30 mg of zinc or the antibiotic minocycline for 3 months, aiming for two thirds fewer inflamed spots. That was reached by 31.2% of the zinc group and 63.4% of the minocycline group.[5]
What the reviews conclude
A 2020 review of 25 studies, including blood studies and zinc by mouth or on the skin, found that zinc reduced inflamed papules. Side effects were no more common than in the comparison groups.[2] Another 2020 review found a benefit in 10 of 14 acne studies.[11] A 2023 review in JAMA Dermatology, which graded trials by quality, did not list zinc among the supplements with fair- or good-quality evidence of benefit.[10]
Study summary
| Study | Zinc a day | People and length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreno 1989 | 30 mg, vs placebo | 66 people, average age 22; 2 months | Inflamed-spot score −45% vs −19% |
| Dreno 2001 | 30 mg, vs minocycline | 332 people; 3 months | Goal reached by 31.2% vs 63.4% |
| Michaëlsson 1977 | 135 mg, vs placebo | 4 weeks vs placebo; 12 weeks on zinc | Fewer inflamed spots; score 15% of the start |
| Hillström 1977 | 90 mg, vs placebo | 91 people aged 13–37; 12 weeks | Better than placebo |
| Verma 1980 | About 135 mg, vs placebo | 56 people; 6 weeks placebo, 12 weeks zinc | 17 of 29 improved; none on placebo |
How much zinc is in ClearDerm compared with the studies?
| Source | Zinc a day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ClearDerm (2 capsules) | 30 mg | As zinc ascorbate; 273% of the Daily Value |
| Dreno trials (1989, 2001) | 30 mg | As zinc gluconate |
| Older trials (1977 to 1980) | 90 to 135 mg | As zinc sulphate |
| Daily need for adults | 8 to 11 mg | Recommended amount |
| Adult upper limit, US | 40 mg | Food and supplements together |
| Adult upper limit, Europe | 25 mg | Food and supplements together |
ClearDerm matches the Dreno trials on dose.[4][5][17] In 1989, zinc gluconate was taken before breakfast. Zinc is absorbed more fully on an empty stomach, but meals can ease stomach upset.[14] The older trials used three to four and a half times more zinc.[6][7][8]
The amount sits between the two official limits: under the US limit of 40 mg and above the European limit of 25 mg.[1][15] Food adds more. With average US diets, men reach about 43 mg a day, above the US limit. Women reach about 39 mg, just under it.[1]
Does the form of zinc matter?
ClearDerm uses zinc ascorbate, zinc bound to vitamin C.[17] The acne trials used zinc gluconate or zinc sulphate.[4][5][6][7][8]
We found no human study of zinc ascorbate for acne or for absorption. In a lab study, zinc ascorbate showed antioxidant activity. It also acted against two bacteria taken from skin infections, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. It was not tested against the acne bacterium, and it was not tested in people.[13]
Studies comparing forms of zinc are small and mixed.[14] In the trials, 30 mg a day of zinc as zinc gluconate made a difference.[4]
Is zinc safe? Safety and interactions
The US upper limit for adults is 40 mg a day from food and supplements together. It is set by the effect of high zinc on copper.[1] The European limit is 25 mg a day.[15] ClearDerm has 30 mg.[17]
Doses of 50 mg or more, taken for weeks, can lower copper absorption.[1] A 2026 review links copper deficiency to about 100 to 300 mg a day over long periods.[9] In a review of 70 patients prescribed zinc, most were on doses that can cause it.[16]
The most common side effect is stomach upset.[1] In the 1989 trial at 30 mg, the zinc group had 11 reports of nausea or stomach pain. The placebo group had 3 reports of nausea.[4]
Zinc can interact with some medicines. The NIH names quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics (tetracyclines include doxycycline and minocycline), penicillamine and thiazide diuretics. Iron supplements of 25 mg or more can lower zinc absorption.[1]
Zinc is one part of ClearDerm
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule skin supplement with 22 ingredients: vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, an enzyme and six probiotic strains. They were chosen to promote clear skin, support a clear complexion and support the gut–skin connection. Zinc is one of them.[17]
ClearDerm has not been clinically tested as a finished product. When you take it, you are not relying on one ingredient alone.
ClearDerm is made in Phoenix, Arizona, in a cGMP-certified facility. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label.[17]
Zinc has decades of acne research behind it, and its upper limits are published.[4][6][7][8][1][15] A few points help you get the most from it: take ClearDerm with food, as the directions say — taking zinc with meals can ease the stomach upset it sometimes causes[17][1]; if you take a multivitamin or another zinc product, add up the zinc and compare it with the limits above[1][15]; and if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you take any medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start.[17]
22 ingredients, including 30 mg of zinc
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule supplement that pairs zinc with other vitamins, minerals and probiotic strains chosen to support clear skin. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label.
See ClearDermIf you are deciding
Here is the case in brief. People with acne tend to have less zinc.[2][3] In most placebo-controlled trials, zinc by mouth reduced inflamed spots, and a 2020 review of 25 studies agrees.[4][6][7][8][2] At 30 mg a day, the amount in ClearDerm, it did better than placebo within 2 months.[4][17] The amount is under the US limit and above the European limit.[1][15]
The short version
Skin depends on zinc, and people with acne tend to have less of it.[1][2][3] In most placebo trials, zinc by mouth reduced red, inflamed spots.[4][6][7][8] ClearDerm provides 30 mg a day, the amount used in two French trials.[17][4][5]
Frequently asked questions
Do zinc tablets help acne?
What does zinc do for skin?
How much zinc should I take for acne?
How long does zinc take to work for acne?
Is low zinc linked to acne?
Yes. A meta-analysis found lower blood zinc in people with acne than in people without it.[2]
Can zinc upset your stomach?
Can too much zinc cause problems?
How much zinc is in ClearDerm?
Two capsules provide 30 mg of zinc as zinc ascorbate, 273% of the Daily Value.[17]
References
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated January 6, 2026. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/ (accessed October 9, 2026).
- Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF. Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e14252. doi:10.1111/dth.14252. PMID: 32860489.
- Ozuguz P, Dogruk Kacar S, Ekiz O, Takci Z, Balta I, Kalkan G. Evaluation of serum vitamins A and E and zinc levels according to the severity of acne vulgaris. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2014;33(2):99-102. doi:10.3109/15569527.2013.808656. PMID: 23826827.
- Dreno B, Amblard P, Agache P, Sirot S, Litoux P. Low doses of zinc gluconate for inflammatory acne. Acta Derm Venereol. 1989;69(6):541-543. doi:10.2340/0001555569541543. PMID: 2575335.
- Dreno B, Moyse D, Alirezai M, Amblard P, Auffret N, Beylot C, et al. Multicenter randomized comparative double-blind controlled clinical trial of the safety and efficacy of zinc gluconate versus minocycline hydrochloride in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. Dermatology. 2001;203(2):135-140. doi:10.1159/000051728. PMID: 11586012.
- Michaëlsson G, Juhlin L, Vahlquist A. Effects of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne. Arch Dermatol. 1977;113(1):31-36. doi:10.1001/archderm.1977.01640010033003. PMID: 137693.
- Hillström L, Pettersson L, Hellbe L, Kjellin A, Leczinsky CG, Nordwall C. Comparison of oral treatment with zinc sulphate and placebo in acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol. 1977;97(6):681-684. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb14277.x. PMID: 146511.
- Verma KC, Saini AS, Dhamija SK. Oral zinc sulphate therapy in acne vulgaris: a double-blind trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 1980;60(4):337-340. doi:10.2340/0001555560337340. PMID: 6163281.
- Spiniello S, Termini D, Tavoletti G, Avallone G, Alberti-Violetti S, Marzano AV, Nazzaro G. Oral zinc supplementation in acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurativa: an updated comprehensive review. Nutrients. 2026;18(17):2865. doi:10.3390/nu18172865. PMID: 42739037.
- Shields A, Ly S, Wafae B, Chang YF, Manjaly P, Archila M, et al. Safety and effectiveness of oral nutraceuticals for treating acne: a systematic review. JAMA Dermatol. 2023;159(12):1373-1382. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.3949. PMID: 37878272.
- Dhaliwal S, Nguyen M, Vaughn AR, Notay M, Chambers CJ, Sivamani RK. Effects of zinc supplementation on inflammatory skin diseases: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):21-39. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00484-0. PMID: 31745908.
- Brandt S. The clinical effects of zinc as a topical or oral agent on the clinical response and pathophysiologic mechanisms of acne: a systematic review of the literature. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013;12(5):542-545. PMID: 23652948.
- Iinuma K, Tsuboi I. Zinc ascorbate has superoxide dismutase-like activity and in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2012;5:135-140. doi:10.2147/CCID.S36214. PMID: 23055762.
- Devarshi PP, Mao Q, Grant RW, Mitmesser SH. Comparative absorption and bioavailability of various chemical forms of zinc in humans: a narrative review. Nutrients. 2024;16(24):4269. doi:10.3390/nu16244269. PMID: 39770891.
- European Food Safety Authority. Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels as derived by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Version 11, August 2025. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-05/ul-summary-report.pdf (accessed October 9, 2026).
- Duncan A, Yacoubian C, Watson N, Morrison I. The risk of copper deficiency in patients prescribed zinc supplements. J Clin Pathol. 2015;68(9):723-725. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2014-202837. PMID: 26085547.
- Anirva. ClearDerm with Probiotics Supplement Facts label and product page. https://anirva.com/pages/clear-derm-with-probiotics (accessed October 9, 2026).
