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There
has been a lot of talk about using Zinc Oxide as a hair loss
remedy, much of this originating from Waseda, a hair loss
sufferer in Japan who has had a lot of success with it. In
order to determine whether it's a viable option or not we
looked to see if there was any science behind Zinc Oxide.
So
what is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc
Oxide is a form of Zinc, an important trace mineral second
only to iron in its concentration in the body. Zinc is found
in various foods, including lean red meats, seafood, peas,
and beans. High-protein foods contain high amounts of zinc,
beef, pork, and lamb contain more zinc than fish. Zinc is
also found in whole grains; however, large amounts of whole-grains
have been found to decrease the amount of zinc that is absorbed.
Why
do we need it?
The body needs zinc for normal growth and health. It is required
for the enzyme activities necessary for cell division, cell
growth, and wound healing. A lack of zinc may lead to poor
night vision and wound-healing, a decrease in sense of taste
and smell, a reduced ability to fight infections, and poor
development of reproductive organs and interestingly enough
hair loss (not MPB). Most people do get sufficient zinc from
their diet, but some health conditions can cause a lack of
zinc. These include: alcoholism, burns, sugar diabetes, skin
disorders, ongoing stress, kidney disease and liver disease.
How
Zinc works
Zinc performs many different functions in the body. One of
them is to allow for the correct functioning of the sexual
organs in men and for the production of Testosterone. Infertile
men have been successfully treated with zinc supplements.
Topically however, zinc appears to inhibit DHT production
and lowers DHT levels. In
a study conducted on human skin, Zinc Sulfate and Azelaic
acid were shown to reduce 5 alpha-reductase activity by 90%.
In another study on a rat prostate, Zinc Gluconate and Arginine
were shown to significantly
reduce the level of 5 alpha-reductase activity.
Zinc is also widely used as a topical wound healing treatment.
Its wound healing properties have been well documented in
various clinical studies. In
a double-blind trial involving 37 leg ulcer patients with
low serum zinc levels, topical zinc oxide promoted cleansing
and re-epithelialization. Infections and deteriorations
of ulcers were less common in zinc oxide treated patients.
In addition it also reduced inflammation and bacterial growth.
In this study Zinc Oxide performed better than Zinc Sulfate
as it dissolved more slowly but constantly.
In another study on rats, a
local application of zinc oxide from a zinc tape to wounds
was performed on 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Tapes
with or without zinc oxide were applied on excisional wounds
of both zinc-deficient and zinc-sufficient animals. The reduction
in wound area was more pronounced in zinc-tape-treated animals
given both a zinc-deficient and zinc-sufficient diet. The
results of the study indicated that topically absorbed zinc
from wounds promotes both the early wound healing phase and
growth in both zinc-deficient and zinc-sufficient rats.
Another study was done on humans, a
randomized, double-blind study of the efficacy of locally
applied zinc oxide on the healing of leg ulcers. Thirty-seven
geriatric patients, nineteen with arterial and eighteen with
venous leg ulcers, were treated either with a gauze compress
medicated with zinc oxide (400 micrograms ZnO/cm2) or with
an identical compress without zinc oxide. The treatment was
assessed from ulcer size measurements and the presence or
absence of granulation and ulcer debridement over a period
of 8 weeks. The zinc-treated patients (83% success rate) responded
significantly better than the placebo-treated patients (42%
success rate). The results suggested that healing of leg ulcers
is improved after the addition of zinc oxide to the local
regimen.
From these studies and several other that are not included
here, its conclusively shown that Zinc Oxide does increase
wound healing which is good news since that is how Tricomin
was developed. Tricomin originated as a copper wound healing
preparation where it was shown to stimulate hair growth. It
was then developed as a product specifically for stimulating
hair growth. Wound healing properties and hair growth properties
are closely related.
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