Minerals and Trace Elements: Key Protectors of Skin Health and Defenders against Skin Disorders

Skin is the human body's largest organ, protecting it from various environmental threats. At the same time, it is the most accessible organ of the body, which ensures the reception of stimuli and contact with the environment. Such common signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and discoloration, result from both extrinsic and intrinsic factors that act for a long time. If the skin does not look well enough, it is worth investigating whether minerals or trace elements are deficient. The positive role of some minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, and magnesium) and trace elements (iron, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and silicon) was found in maintaining skin health. There are also a variety of skin conditions, such as inflammatory disorders (eczema, psoriasis), acne, lichen planus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, or even skin cancer, which require specific approaches for their prevention and treatment considering the saturation of the body and the skin with mineral elements. They could be supplied internally (through adequate nutrition or food additives) or externally (by application of cosmetics). Some aspects of the danger of the toxic trace elements used in cosmetics are also described in this review.