Zinc and atopic dermatitis – a literature review

Abstract

Introduction and objective Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that significantly reduces the quality of life of the affecte patients. The disease is characterized by the occurrence of eczema, increased pruritus and lichenization. Diagnosis is based on the diagnostic criteria of Hanifin and Rajka, which take into account the clinical picture of the disease. Atopic dermatitis often co-occurs with sleep and mood disorders. Recently, there have been scientific studies to clarify the association of atopic dermatitis with the level of zinc in the body. This review resents the importance of zinc in the proper functioning of human skin and its possible links to the pathogenesis and clinical advancement of atopic dermatitis. Review methods Articles from PubMed, Scopus and article references from 1990–2020 were analyzed. Articles were selected on the topic of zinc supplementation in patients with atopic dermatitis and articles on the level of zinc in the serum, erythrocytes and hair in patients with atopic dermatitis. Brief description of the state of knowledge The review refers to scientific studies conducted on animals, in which the effect of a low supply of zinc on the course of the disease was determined. The review also refers to clinical trials determining the effect of zinc supplementation on the course of atopic dermatitis in patients, and describes the relationship between zinc levels in serum, hair and erythrocytes, and the severity of the disease. Conclusions The review indicates that zinc may have a significant impact on the course of inflammatory dermatoses, including atopic dermatitis. It is worth exploring this topic and conducting larger clinical trials because the results of currently available scientific research are promising.

Keywords

• zinc
• atopy
• atopic dermatitis