Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc
For the health condition: Scratches and Abrasions
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Zinc is commonly used in topical formulations—such as zinc oxide creams and ointments—to support the healing of minor skin injuries, including scratches and abrasions. Scientific evidence indicates that zinc plays a crucial role in various aspects of skin repair. It is an essential trace element involved in DNA synthesis, cell division, and protein synthesis, all of which are vital for wound healing. Topically applied zinc has been shown to promote re-epithelialization, reduce inflammation, and decrease bacterial growth at the wound site, thereby accelerating healing and reducing the risk of infection.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that zinc-containing dressings and creams can improve healing rates in superficial wounds compared to placebo. For example, a review in the journal Dermatology Research and Practice (2010) highlights zinc’s positive effects on the healing of skin ulcers and abrasions. However, the evidence is stronger for chronic wounds (like ulcers) than for acute, minor injuries, and some studies have methodological limitations. Despite this, the safety profile of topical zinc and its biological plausibility support its continued use for minor scratches and abrasions. While oral zinc supplements are not typically recommended for minor wounds in otherwise healthy individuals, topical zinc preparations are widely used and generally considered effective.
In summary, the use of zinc for supporting the healing of minor skin injuries is backed by moderate scientific evidence, especially when applied topically, and is a common component in over-the-counter wound care products.
Other ingredients used for Scratches and Abrasions
AbutaAcacia
Acemannan
Achyranthes
Agrimony
Alkanet
Alkanna
Allantoin
Aloe vera
Anemone
Anserina
Antirrhinum majus
Aquilegia formosa
arnica
Asclepias cordifolia
babassu
babchi
bai ji
Baliospermum
barbary matrimony vine
bayberry
bee propolis
Begonia fimbristipula
benzoin
bindweed
bisabolene
bittersweet
black poplar
black root
Black spruce
black walnut
black-eyed Susan
blackbrush
blackthorn
bleeding heart
Bletilla
bloodroot
Brazilian peppertree
Bridges\' penstemon
Bush Monkey Flower
Calochortus
Calotropis gigantea
Calyptridium umbellatum
camphor oil
Campsiandra angustifolia
Campylandra fimbriata
candleberry
carrapichinho
castile soap
cattail
Ceanothus integerrimus
cedar
Cedrus libani
chamomile
chickweed
Chinese thoroughwax
Chiococca alba
cleavers
cocklebur
columbine
comfrey
common thatching grass
common zinnia
copaiba oil
cornflower
cranesbill
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cynoglossum grande
Davilla rugosa
deerbrush
devil\'s club
dragon\'s blood
Dwarf Nettle
dyer’s woad root
elemi
elephant vine
elkweed
emu oil
English elm
Erigeron
Eupatorium
European hazel
fiesta flower
figwort
fir
fireweed
fleabane
Formosan sweet-gum
four-leaved grass
Gambir
Genipa americana
geranium
Gleditsia
Glycerite
glyceryl monolaurate
golden ragwort
Golden Willow
Gumweed
hairy arnica
hartstongue
Heliopsis
henna
hound\'s tongue
Immortelle
impatiens
iodine
Japanese sophora
Jessica\'s sticktight
Jewelweed
jojoba oil
Kelloggii's Monkey-flower
Kochia
Labdanum
lac resin
lacquertree
Lantana camara
lauric acid
Leptospermum scoparium
lilac
Lygodium
Lysimachia
Mahonia
Manchurian thorn
Marking Nut Tree
melaleuca alternifolia
Microtea debilis
Monardella odoratissima
Moss
Mountain bluebells
Mountain horopito
Mountain mahogany
Mucin
Oak
Ocotillo
oriental arborvitae
Pacific madrone
paederia foetida
Panthenol
parthenium
peacock\'s tail
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Pink Root
Plumbago zeylanica
Plumeria lancifolia
Potentilla
Povidone
protease
proteolytic enzymes
Psacalium peltatum
Purple Avens
purple Tephrosia
Quebracho
Queen's Delight
red alder
red soapwort
red spiderling
Rhus coraria
Rhus glabra
Rosa californica
rubber rabbitbrush
Rupturewort
Sangre de Grado
Sanicle
Sapindus mukorossi
Sargentodoxa
Siberian Elm
Silverweed
slippery elm bark
Smooth Alder
Snakeroot
Soapberry
Soft rush
Southernwood
Spiraea
Stone Root
Storax
Tansy
tartarian aster
Tea Tree Oil
Terpinen-4-ol
Teucrium marum
Thuja
Toadflax
Tridax
Triplaris peruviana
Trumpet Vine
turmeric
Tynanthus elegans
vitamin C
Waltheria ovata
Weak Jumby Pepper
White Dead Nettle Flower
White Heather
White oak
White Poplar
Wild Daisy
Witch Hazel
Wood betony
Woodwardia
Wrightia tinctoria
Yarrow
Yerba Mansa
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by Zinc
AbrasionsAcne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Products containing Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine 5-HTP Power
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Calcium-Magnesium (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Candida Clear
Nature's Sunshine Cellular Energy
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Men's Formula (With Lycopene)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Chocolate
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Vanilla
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Target TS-II Formula
Nature's Sunshine Thyroid Support
Nature's Sunshine Ultrabiome DTX
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
Nature's Sunshine Yeast/Fungal Detox
Nature's Sunshine Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
