Natural treatments for acne
Natural treatments for acne involve the use of various substances and lifestyle adjustments aimed at alleviating the condition characterized by clogged and inflamed pores. Commonly proposed natural remedies include niacinamide gel, tea tree oil, zinc, apple cider vinegar, and witch hazel, each with varying degrees of evidence supporting their efficacy. Zinc may help some individuals due to its potential role in reducing inflammation and improving skin healing, though studies show mixed results compared to conventional treatments. Tea tree oil has been highlighted for its antiseptic properties, showing effectiveness in reducing acne lesions in clinical trials.
Other approaches, including Ayurvedic medicine and dietary changes, are also considered, with some studies suggesting benefits from specific herbal combinations or low-glycemic-load diets. However, the scientific backing for many of these remedies is limited, and anecdotal evidence often predominates. While natural treatments may offer solutions for mild to moderate acne, caution is advised, especially in severe cases, as these treatments may not prevent scarring. As with any treatment, individuals are encouraged to consult healthcare professionals before starting new regimens, particularly if they are currently using prescription medications for acne.
Natural treatments for acne
DEFINITION: Treatment of a skin condition caused by clogged, inflamed, or infected pores.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Niacinamide gel, tea tree oil, zinc, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, brewer's yeast
OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Ayurvedic medicine, burdock, chromium, gugulipid, low-glycemic-load diet, red clover, selenium, vitamin E
Introduction
The blackheads and sometimes painful pimples known as acne occur most commonly during adolescence, but acne may persist into adulthood. An estimated 85 percent of young adults will encounter this condition, which can occur in varying degrees and constitutes multiple types. Much remains to be learned about what causes acne. During adolescence and other times of hormonal imbalance, such as menopause, glands in the skin increase their levels of oil secretions. A combination of naturally occurring yeast and bacteria then breaks down these secretions, causing the skin to become inflamed and the pimples to eventually rupture. In severe cases, acne can cause permanent scarring.
Conventional treatment of acne, which is usually quite successful, consists primarily of oral or topical antibiotics, cleansing agents, and chemically modified versions of vitamin A. The natural treatments discussed here should not be used to treat severe acne where scarring is possible.
Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
Zinc. Studies suggest that people with acne have lower-than-normal levels of zinc in their bodies. Research using zinc as a treatment is, nonetheless, mixed. Some studies suggest that taking zinc in appropriate doses can be safe and effective. In a 2020 study, a group prescribed zinc saw improved results in treating acne than those who did not. Nonetheless, other research does not indicate that taking zinc supplements will help acne. Several double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found zinc more effective than placebo but less effective than antibiotic therapy. In one of these studies, fifty-four people were given either a placebo or 135 milligrams (mg) of zinc as zinc sulfate daily. Zinc produced slight but measurable benefits. Similar results have been seen in other studies using 90 to 135 mg of zinc daily, although other studies failed to find that zinc helped. Relatively weak evidence suggests a lower and safer dose, 30 mg daily, may also be helpful.
A large double-blind trial (332 participants) compared 30 mg daily of zinc with a tetracycline family medication often used for acne (minocycline at 100 mg daily). The results showed minocycline is more effective than zinc. Tetracycline taken at a dose of 250 mg daily appears to be no more effective than zinc, but when taken at 500 mg daily, it seems to be considerably more effective.
The dosages of zinc used in most of these studies are much higher than daily requirements and have the potential to cause toxicity. One study specified 40 mg of zinc as a safe upper limit. Case reports indicate that some people have become extremely ill after taking zinc in hopes of treating their acne symptoms.
Tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties and has been suggested as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide for direct application to the skin. One of the best examples of evidence for the benefits of tea tree oil comes from a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of sixty people with mild to moderate acne. This study divided participants into two groups and treated them with a placebo or 5 percent tea tree oil gel. During the forty-five-day study period, researchers evaluated acne severity in two ways: by counting the number of acne lesions and by rating acne severity on a standardized index. The results showed that tea tree oil gel was significantly more effective than placebo at reducing acne lesions and their severity.
Niacinamide. In a double-blind trial, seventy-six persons with moderately severe acne were treated with either 4 percent niacinamide gel or 1 percent clindamycin gel (a standard antibiotic treatment). Niacinamide proved to be just as effective as the antibiotic in an eight-week trial. However, because this study lacked a placebo group, its results are unreliable.
Other Proposed Natural Treatments
Ayurvedic medicine has shown some promise for acne. One study evaluated the potential benefits of an herbal combination containing the following constituents: Aloe barbadensis, Azardirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Hemidesmus indicus, Terminalia chebula, T. arjuna, and Withania somnifera. In this four-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fifty-three people with acne, combined topical and oral use of the herbal preparation significantly improved acne symptoms. Oral treatment alone was not effective.
Another controlled trial compared an extract of the Ayurvedic herb guggul with tetracycline for the treatment of acne and found them equally effective. The study report does not state whether this trial was double-blind, so the results are not reliable. Other commonly mentioned natural treatments for acne include chromium, vitamin E, selenium, burdock, and red clover. However, there have been no well-designed studies examining these treatments.
Other natural treatments include applying a mask made of honey and cinnamon, tea tree oil, aloe vera, and green tea. In all cases, the substances were applied directly to the skin. In most of these cases, scientific research does not yet conclusively show positive correlations between the usage of these remedies and a reduction in acne.
The effect of diet on acne is unclear. One far-from-definitive study compared a low-glycemic-load diet with a high-carbohydrate diet and found that the low-glycemic-load diet reduced acne symptoms.
Other natural treatments are recommended for acne, though they lack large clinical studies and are based more on anecdotal evidence. Apple cider vinegar has shown antibacterial properties that have helped several different skin conditions, including acne. Witch hazel has also shown success due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming brewer’s yeast, which is high in B vitamins, chromium, copper, iron, and zinc, also appears to help acne healing. One study showed that people who consumed brewer’s yeast had 60 percent greater acne healing at the end of five months. Adding fish oil and eliminating dairy have also been shown to reduce acne.
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only with Caution
Various herbs and diet supplements may interact adversely with conventional (including prescription) drugs used to treat acne, so people should be cautious when considering the use of herbs and supplements.
Bibliography
"Acne." Cleveland Clinic,2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne#. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
Bassett, I. B., D. L. Pannowitz, and R. S. Barnetson. "A Comparative Study of Tea-Tree Oil Versus Benzoylperoxide in the Treatment of Acne." Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 153, 1990, pp. 455-458.
Cobb, Cynthia. "4 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pimples as Fast as Possible." Healthline, 26 Apr. 2023, www.healthline.com/nutrition/get-rid-of-pimples-fast#other-remedies. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Dreno, B., et al. "Multicenter Randomized Comparative Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Zinc Gluconate Versus Minocycline Hydrochloride in the Treatment of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris." Dermatology, vol. 203, 2001, pp. 135-140.
Enshaieh, S., et al. "The Efficacy of 5 Percent Topical Tea Tree Oil Gel in Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris." Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, vol. 73, 2007, pp. 22-25.
"Herbal Treatment for Dermatologic Disorders - Herbal Medicine." NCBI, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Igic, P. G., et al. "Toxic Effects Associated with Consumption of Zinc." Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 77, 2002, pp. 713-716.
Klien, Erika, and Kayla McConnel. "How to Get Rid of Acne: 14 Home Remedies for Pimples." Healthline,14 Feb. 2023, www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-acne-remedies. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
Lalla, J. K., et al. "Clinical Trials of Ayurvedic Formulations in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 78, 2001, pp. 99-102.
Meynadier, J. "Efficacy and Safety Study of Two Zinc Gluconate Regimens in the Treatment of Inflammatory Acne." European Journal of Dermatology, vol. 10 2000, pp. 269-273.
Porea, T. J., J. W. Belmont, and D. H. Mahoney, Jr. "Zinc-Induced Anemia and Neutropenia in an Adolescent." Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 136, 2000, pp. 688-690.
Skroza, Nevena, et al. "Adult Acne Versus Adolescent Acne: A Retrospective Study of 1,167 Patients." The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018, pp. 21-25, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788264. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Slomka, Megan, et al. "Forehead Acne and Pimples: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention." Medical News Today, 9 Aug. 2024, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322130. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Smith, R. N., et al. "A Low-Glycemic-Load Diet Improves Symptoms in Acne Vulgaris Patients." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 86, 2007, pp. 107-115.
Sparks, Dana. "Home Remedies: All About Acne." Mayo Clinic, 9 Jan. 2019, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-all-about-acne. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
Thappa, D. M., and J. Dogra. "Nodulocystic Acne: Oral Gugulipid Versus Tetracycline." Journal of Dermatology, vol. 21, 1994, pp. 729-731.