Conditions:
Acne

Principal Proposed Treatments
  • Zinc, Niacinamide Gel
Other Proposed Treatments
  • Gugulipid, Tea Tree Oil, Chromium, Vitamin E, Selenium, Burdock, Red Clover

The blackheads and sometimes painful pimples that we know as acne occur most commonly during adolescence, but they may persist into later life as well. There is much we still don't understand about what causes acne. We do know that during adolescence and other times of hormonal imbalance, such as around menopause, the oil-secreting glands in the skin increase their level of 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 lead to permanent scars.

Conventional treatment, which usually is quite successful, consists primarily of antibiotics, cleansing agents, and chemically modified versions of vitamin A.

Warning: Do not rely on any of the natural treatments discussed in this article to treat severe acne where scarring is a possibility.

Principal Proposed Treatments for Acne

Zinc

Double-blind studies involving a total of more than 300 people have investigated whether zinc supplements can relieve the symptoms of acne. The results have been generally positive, indicating a definite but somewhat mild effect.

In one of these studies, 54 people were given either placebo or 135 mg of zinc as zinc sulfate daily. Zinc produced slight but measurable benefits.¹ Similar results have been seen in other studies using 90 to 135 mg of zinc daily.^2–5 One study suggests that a lower and safer dose, 30 mg daily, may also be helpful.⁶ In some studies, however, no benefits were seen.^7,8

Two studies have compared zinc against a standard treatment for acne, the antibiotic tetracycline. One found that zinc was as effective as tetracycline taken at 250 mg daily,⁹ but another found the antibiotic far more effective when taken at 500 mg daily.¹⁰

Note: Fairly high dosages of zinc (more than is completely safe) were used in most of these studies. See the article on zinc for more information.

Niacinamide

In a double-blind trial, 76 individuals with moderately severe acne were treated with either 4% niacinamide gel or 1% clindamycin gel (a standard antibiotic treatment).¹³ Niacinamide proved to be just as effective as the antibiotic over an 8-week trial period.

Other Proposed Treatments for Acne

A small controlled trial (blinding not stated) compared oral gugulipid (50 mg of guggulsterones twice daily) against tetracycline for the treatment of acne, and reported equivalent results.¹¹

Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties and has been suggested as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide for direct application to the skin. One study that compared the two treatments found benzoyl peroxide significantly more effective; tea tree oil also improved symptoms, but due to the absence of a placebo group this trial cannot be taken as evidence that tea tree oil is effective.¹²

Other commonly mentioned natural treatments for acne include chromium, vitamin E, selenium, burdock, and red clover. There haven't been any well-designed studies examining these treatments, however.

Last reviewed March 2002 by Medical Review Board

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