Palm_Beach_Qld_Surf_Life_Saving_Club_Sun_safety_practiced_by_Gary_Fraser_early_1980s_-_photo_John_McPherson_IGA_8_5_2018_6_18_15_2bc.jpg. John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.
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If you’ve read a few of my articles, you may have gathered that I use advanced Do-It-Yourself (DIY) skin care practices on an almost daily basis. That means that I practice basic skin care and also apply advanced serums, creams, and solutions and use skin care tools consistently on my skin.
The_skin,_its_care_and_treatment;_teaching_every_detail_of_this_important_work_in_a_simple,_concise_and_practical_manner_(1904)_(14597219327).jpg. Maurer, Ruth D. (Johnson), 1870- [from old catalog], No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
I purchased a “gently used” Tria Age-Defying Eye Wrinkle Correcting Laser on eBay (this device is no longer available from Tria) and recently used this nightly before bed. Each treated area would become red and inflamed and some areas would still be irritated in the morning. On a hunch one night after a Tria treatment, I applied a thick layer of DIY zinc oxide cream over the red, inflamed areas. By morning it was a little skin care miracle, the redness and inflammation were gone. I had discovered my new go-to skin healing cream, zinc oxide ointment (formerly my DIY sunblock).
Zinc_Oxide_flowers.jpg, Principia Dardano, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Background
When practicing advanced skin care, there is a balance between causing minor skin irritations to promote skin remodeling and allowing the skin to heal or to remain in a stable state or homeostasis. I regularly select and schedule skin care practices based on this balance. I proactively apply potentially irritating products and consistently use skin care tools to cause micro-injuries to induce the skin’s biochemical healing responses to refresh, renew, and remodel. I cautiously avoid over treating my skin while optimizing my potential to maximize cell renewal.
The Tria tool is meant to be used on a daily basis during each treatment phase. This level of use may initially cause the skin to appear red, irritated and inflamed. Over time the skin may become accustomed to the minor trauma and become less inflamed. In the meantime, I knew that I needed to apply something that would heal my skin overnight and eliminate inflammation and redness by morning for me to continue using this device. I don’t know why but baby rashes and zinc ointment came to mind. I had previously made a DIY 20% zinc oxide cream as a sunblock, I applied a thick layer of it to the inflamed skin which felt better instantly.
After a refreshing 8, the next morning my skin was no longer red or inflamed. I was seriously surprised at how well the zinc oxide cream had worked to calm the irritated skin overnight.
Electron_shell_030_Zinc_(poor_metal)_-_no_label.svg, DePiep, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why had I never used zinc oxide as a skin healing ingredient before?
I simply had not known. I never integrated the rash/zinc treatment into my skin care thinking or practices and I don’t remember reading, hearing or being advertised to about topical zinc oxide benefits aside from diaper rash and sun protection.
A quick Internet search validated my skin healing experience using zinc oxide.
Like many other natural healing ingredients, zinc oxide has been used through the millennia to improve health and skincare conditions. The oldest reference to zinc oxide dates to about 500 BC when the Pushpanjan ointment was used in India to treat open wounds. In contemporary times, zinc oxide is a known ingredient in physical sunblocks and may be lesser known for its use to treat skin damage and irritation and to promote wound healing. Applying zinc oxide cream also provides a protective layer that locks skin moisture in and protects the skin from pathogens.
Zinc_fragment_sublimed_and_1cm3_cube.jpg, Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de), FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
Zinc has been found to offer properties that may help regenerate skin cells, balance oil production, reduce the appearance of large pores, enhance collagen synthesis, regenerate connective tissue and balance skin tone.
Zinc Oxide Benefits include:
Sun protection – reflects ultraviolet (UV) rays and creates barrier between skin and sun
Antibacterial/antiseptic – protects skin from bacteria, stabilizes skin care products
Acne – antibacterial/antiseptic activity reduces secondary infections in acne prone skin with open blemishes
Moisture – creates protective barrier and prevents water loss from skin
Irritation – soothes irritated or reactive skin, calms sensitive skin
Anti-aging – traps skin moisture and potentially acts as a co-factor or a helper molecule during DNA repair and collagen synthesis
Skin rash – protective barrier reduces skin and diaper rash and provides antibacterial protection
Research has shown that zinc is involved with enzymes that are required for cell replication during the skin’s healing process. This may be why topical application of zinc oxide appears to improve cell migration and result in faster wound healing.
Zinc_oxide_sample.jpg, Adam Rędzikowski, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
In addition, zinc oxide has a beneficial biochemical impact on wound healing and skin strength. When zinc oxide ointment is applied to a wound it supplies zinc ions over an extended period of time which appears to accelerate cell production and wound closing and to reduce bacterial growth.
As with everything, maintain a holistic approach to skin care. Use zinc oxide in combination with a comprehensive skin care practice for best results.
Zinc is an essential mineral.
In this article, I’ve focused on topical zinc oxide application. Surprisingly, 20 percent of the body’s zinc is stored in the skin! That means that zinc deficiencies could impact the quality, health and aesthetics of the skin. Fortunately, topical zinc oxide application appears to provide benefits even when there is a zinc deficiency.
Zinc supplementation is personal, and is best discussed with a medical health care professional. Zinc supplements vary in quality and effectiveness and may cause stomach upset for some. For general health, it’s smart to maintain good zinc levels by eating a variety of healthy foods.
Such_different_zinc_oxide_-_nanonails.jpg, Andrey P. Tarasov, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
No matter what your eating nuance may be, there is a zinc rich food type for you including: dark chocolate, some vegetables, whole grains, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, legumes, shellfish, and meat. Read more about food zinc sources on Healthline.
Bottom line: zinc oxide may be used to calm and protect irritated and inflamed skin and promote new skin cell production. To increase zinc levels in skin, apply a topical DIY zinc oxide cream, a zinc oxide sunblock or a zinc oxide diaper rash ointment.
If you need more information about skin care, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or it would be an honor to me if you purchased my book. Thank you!
Take good care of yourselves!
XO Deborah
This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.