Skin
Acne
Acne is a skin condition involving visible inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. Changes such as microcomedones can also affect hair follicles.
A concise starting point for understanding acne within the broader skin-health landscape.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
None of these options has good evidence yet. Best evidence first.
2 options:1 mixed1 not tested in people
Cupping TherapypracticeMixed resultsSize of effect: Not known
Studies disagree: some found a benefit, others found none. Do not count on it.
2 of 3 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
A 2012 pooled analysis of randomized trials found wet cupping superior to medications for treatment success, while a 2010 review said the human evidence was insufficient; a 2021 review noted potential lack of effectiveness in more than one included study.
Open the Cupping Therapy pageRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)practiceNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
Red light therapy is described as reducing acne lesions by decreasing inflammation and sebum production, with use framed for mild to moderate acne.
Open the Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition2 listedMost likely to help, from the evidence we have
- →PracticesCupping TherapyCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A 2012 pooled analysis of randomized trials found wet cupping superior to medications for treatment success, while a 2010 review said the human evidence was insufficient; a 2021 review noted potential lack of effectiveness in more than one included study.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Acne
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Asthma
- Chronic Urticaria
- Common Cold
- Herpes Zoster
- +5 more
Open Cupping TherapyStudy result
Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs showed wet cupping superior to medications in improving cure rate.
Low probability(1)
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Red light therapy is described as reducing acne lesions by decreasing inflammation and sebum production, with use framed for mild to moderate acne.
Open Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)Study result
Red light therapy reduces acne lesions by decreasing inflammation and sebum production, and is a recommended treatment for mild to moderate acne.
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worseNothing in this library is currently recorded as making Acne worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Acne is a skin condition involving visible inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. Changes such as microcomedones can also affect hair follicles. It is distinct from treatment-related effects such as dryness, lip cracking, and peeling skin, which may occur during isotretinoin therapy.
Evidence-backed options
The options associated with acne have been studied in different forms and settings rather than as one uniform treatment approach. They include oral supplementation with Evening Primrose Oil, Omega-3, and Zinc; topical products containing Milk Thistle (Silymarin), Vitamin A as retinyl palmitate, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin) as niacinamide; and theoretical consideration of Saw Palmetto. Vitamin A was assessed with microneedling in a series of three procedures. Some findings involving Evening Primrose Oil and Omega-3 relate specifically to people receiving isotretinoin, including skin hydration and treatment-related effects.
The evidence is thin in several important ways. Findings for CBD (Cannabidiol) include laboratory observations and a clinical evaluation whose results have not been published yet, while Saw Palmetto is supported only by a theoretical rationale. The findings for Milk Thistle (Silymarin), Vitamin A, Evening Primrose Oil, and Zinc come from specific products, formulations, or treatment contexts, so they do not establish that every form will have the same effect. Omega-3 findings vary in magnitude across studies.
Clear information about how quickly effects appeared and how long most options were used is not provided. As a result, these findings do not define a predictable onset or treatment duration for acne, and they should be interpreted alongside the particular formulation and clinical context. Anyone considering an option for a medical condition should discuss it with a clinician.