Zinc & Tox – A Match Made in Heaven?
We’re always looking for tips and tricks to help our patients maximize their aesthetic procedures. While things like tox or filler can make a rapid and dramatic difference in a patient’s appearance, we can’t discount natural ways to enhance our skin or the treatments we provide. Such an intervention is zinc, which has proven to be a natural enhancement to tox therapies. In fact, a 2012 study showed that 92% of the study participants who took zinc citrate 50mg with phytase orally increased the effective duration of the tox by 30%
Zinc is a naturally occurring substance that we get through food. Foods highest in zinc include:
- Oysters
- Beef
- Chicken
- Tofu
- Pork
- Pumpkin seeds
- Lentils and more
Eating a healthy and balanced diet gives us an appropriate amount of zinc, which can be confirmed through a simple blood workup administered by your primary care physician at your annual physical.
Of course, as with any vitamin or mineral, some patients have a zinc deficiency. These can cause several adverse health issues, not least of which is a compromised immune system. Other symptoms of a zinc deficiency can include:
- Hair loss
- Vision issues
- Wound healing problems
- GI issues and more
Zinc deficiency can also affect facial skin; hence, this blog.
Should I Take a Zinc Supplement When on a Tox Regimen?
While some supplements can be taken with relatively minor concern, all supplements should be taken under the supervision of your doctor and only if you have a deficiency. What constitutes a deficiency may differ slightly from the recommended daily allowance, and you can speak to your doctor about how much you should be getting.
On the other hand, foods high in zinc are also very healthy. As such, if you are starting or even well into a tox regimen, you may consider upping your consumption of these foods.
The Bottom Line
While zinc can enhance the effects of toxin therapy, including Jeuveau and Botox, we do not suggest that you supplement with zinc for this purpose alone. Instead, we encourage you to eat more foods naturally high in zinc and speak to your doctor about periodic blood testing to ensure your zinc and other vitamin and mineral levels are where they should be.
Of course, you can always come to the office and speak to Dr. Boger about this and any other concerns about your tox regimen. We look forward to seeing you at the office and encourage you to note down any questions so we can answer them as fully as possible.
Resource:
- Koshy JC, Sharabi SE, Feldman EM, Hollier LH Jr, Patrinely JR, Soparkar CN. Effect of dietary zinc and phytase supplementation on botulinum toxin treatments. J Drugs Dermatol. 2012 Apr;11(4):507-12. PMID: 22453589.