Zinc sulfate is a mineral salt form of zinc, a trace element the body needs for wound healing and immune function, and it has been studied both as an oral supplement and a topical treatment for acne.
An early clinical trial testing a topical 5% zinc sulfate solution found it reduced acne lesion counts over the treatment period. A broader review pooling research on zinc and acne found that people with acne often have lower blood zinc levels than those without it, and that both oral and topical zinc treatments were associated with improvement, though topical zinc research is less extensive than oral zinc research.
Zinc is thought to help by calming inflammation and having mild antibacterial activity against acne causing bacteria.
Zinc Sulfate References
Topical Zinc Therapy for Acne Vulgaris, International Journal of Dermatology, 1985
Serum Zinc Levels and Efficacy of Zinc Treatment in Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Dermatologic Therapy, 2020
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
