The treatment comparison was negative
The study tested zinc sulfate against placebo for 90 days in people with moderately severe facial rosacea. Forty-four participants completed the trial, with 22 in each group. [1]
Rosacea severity improved in both groups. The magnitude of improvement did not differ significantly, although serum zinc was higher in participants receiving the supplement. [1]
Correcting a laboratory value is not the same as treating rosacea
This trial followed an earlier favorable report and did not reproduce a clear clinical advantage. Its result does not prove that zinc has no role in any possible subgroup, but it does not support a general promise of rosacea improvement. [1]
Funding and conflicts were not established from the abstract. The reported zinc-sulfate amount is the mass of a compound, not automatically the amount of elemental zinc. It should not be copied as a self-treatment dose or used to replace a rosacea management plan. [1]
Look for the clinical comparison
Imagine supplement users show higher nutrient blood levels while symptom changes match placebo. That demonstrates exposure, but not a superior treatment effect.
| Detail | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 90 days | Trial duration |
| Serum zinc | Higher with supplementation |
| Rosacea severity | No greater improvement |
Sources for this article
- Randomized, double-blind trial of 220 mg zinc sulfate twice daily in the treatment of rosacea - PubMed
Source consulted: 2026-09-19. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.