A study on 236 people found zinc deficiency to be more common in people with melasma compared to volunteers without [1]. The link between zinc and melasma is fairly complex. Please read the full article to learn how it's connected.

Have you heard of tyrosinase? This enzyme is typically overactive in hyperpigmented skin, including melasma. Most skin brightening products have a tyrosinase inhibitors for that reason.

Tyrosinase is an essential enzyme to make melanin, the pigment that provides you with your hair, eye and skin color. Although, when tyrosinase is overactive, overly pigmented areas, like irregular brown patches in melasma occur.

Tyrosinase is also a cofactor for copper to exert its function in the body. Copper is an essential mineral found in our food and needed in wound healing and collagen production. When copper levels are high, tyrosinase is high too. Conversely, when tyrosinase is overactive, we may explore our copper exposure and copper levels.

Copper is needed in only very small amounts and any excess can easily become toxic. Typical symptoms of high copper levels are anxiety, depression and skin hyperpigmentation as well as excess estrogen.

Here are some reasons for increased copper levels:

1. Drinking water that runs through copper pipes is likely laced with copper particles.

2. Copper IUDs and its removal can leave copper particles in the body.

3. During pregnancy and after birth, copper levels are usually higher and likely a reason for the onset of melasma around that time. Holistic practitioners I have interviewed suggest high copper levels after giving birth to be the main contributor to postpartum depression.

4. I see a lot of women carrying around these pretty copper bottles as their water vessel. Storing water in copper is an old tradition to cleanse water. If you have one of these modern copper bottles, please know that you should only have a glass of this water per day.

5. Another factor that can lead to an imbalanced copper balance is a plant-based or vegetarian diet over a long time. Plant-based food usually contains sufficient copper but often lacks the zinc compared to animal products. This matters because zinc is the mineral that keeps copper levels in check. Additionally, legumes and grains contain phytic acid, an anti-nutrient hindering the absorption of zinc in the gut, leaving you with even lower zinc levels to balance copper.

6. Insufficient zinc intake due to poor diet choices or foods lacking minerals due to decreasing soil quality is another important factor to consider. Pesticides lower the pH level of soils. This acidification makes it difficult for plants to take up minerals from the oil with the consequence of lower mineral content in our produce [2].

If you suspect your melasma is linked to a copper and zinc imbalance, here some solutions:

1. A zinc supplement can be a safe solution. Speak to your nutritionist or holistic health practitioner for dosage and intake duration.

2. Avoid drinking tap water.

3. Soaking and fermenting grains and legumes before consumption reduces the phytic acid content for unhindered zinc absorption. Soaking times should be at least half an hour or overnight.

4. By buying organic produce, grass-fed meats, and wild caught seafood you are more likely to spend your money on food that actually nourishes. Foods high in zinc are oysters, red meat, oats and pumpkin seeds.

*This information is not medical advice.

1. Rostami Mogaddam M, Safavi Ardabili N, Iranparvar Alamdari M, Maleki N, Aghabalaei Danesh M. Evaluation of the serum zinc level in adult patients with melasma: Is there a relationship with serum zinc deficiency and melasma? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17:417–22.

2. factsheet22.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2024 Oct 1]. Available from: http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet22.pdf