Acne plagues 80 to 90 percent of adolescents in the United States, according to the University of Illinois – McKinley Health Center. Acne has several causes, from bacteria to an overabundance of natural skin oils, but the result is the same – angry, red bumps, usually on your face, chest and back. Hundreds of home remedies exist for the treatment of acne, but few, if any, actually work. Adding tahini to the diet is one of the less common, and possibly less effective, acne home remedies.

Acne, also known as blemishes, pimples or zits, occurs when your pores are blocked by natural oils, dead skin cells or dirt. Some pimples contain the bacteria P. acnes, but not all of them do. Acne is most often treated by using topical treatments such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. In severe cases, oral antibiotics are prescribed. There is little to no evidence that diet has any effect on acne, though preliminary studies suggest that eating a diet high in refined starches may be a contributing factor.

Tahini is made much the way peanut butter is, though it uses sesame seeds rather than peanuts. Tahini is used in Middle Eastern cooking as an ingredient in hummus – ground chickpeas with lemon and garlic -- and baba ganoush -- eggplant, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. It is also used in halvah, a candylike sweet made with honey. Tahini is high in protein and fiber. It is also a good vegetarian source of zinc.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, preliminary studies suggest that zinc may help treat acne, but concerns exist regarding the amounts of zinc used. topical zinc has also been studied, but the results are inconclusive. Tahini is a dietary source of zinc, but no evidence exists to prove that it has any effect on acne. Tahini as a topical treatment has not been studied.

Acne that does not respond to any sort of treatment after four to six weeks may need to be treated with prescription medications or topical treatments. Do not take zinc tablets if tahini is a large part of your diet, because too much zinc can be toxic. The recommended daily allowance of zinc is approximately 11 milligrams. The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions you not to take more than 40 milligrams of zinc per day without the advice and consent of your doctor.