We wanted to find out how effective a cleansing gel containing salicylic acid, zinc gluconate, and lipohydroxy acids is for treating truncal acne. Conducted over 84 days, our study included 51 individuals with mild to moderate acne, and we tracked various skin conditions like the number of acne lesions and the overall skin barrier health.
After regular use of the gel, we observed a significant reduction in total acne lesions—over half were improved by the end of the study. While non-inflammatory lesions saw a drop of 64% and inflammatory lesions were reduced by nearly 30%, the key point is that zinc gluconate was part of a trio of ingredients, making it challenging to pinpoint its specific contribution.
When we considered skin barrier function, a notable improvement was also measured—21.26% better at Day 84. Patients reported no significant side effects or intolerances, suggesting that the ingredients within the gel, including zinc, were well tolerated.
Overall, the evidence hints at zinc's potential benefits as part of a combination treatment against acne. But since it was used together with other active ingredients, we can't solely credit zinc for the results observed.