Dairy

• In 2005 the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published a study based on a questionnaire of 47,355 women which found an association between dairy intake and acne in teenage women. The authors hypothesized the link may be related to the presence of hormones and bioactive molecules in milk.

Stress

• In 2007 Acta Dermato-venereologica published a study which followed 94 students with an average age of 15 years during high and low stress periods. The data showed a significant correlation between high-stress conditions (such as mid-term exams) and acne severity, especially in males.
• In 2009 BioMed Central Public Health published a study involving 18 or 19 year old adolescents which found that self-reported acne was significantly associated with mental stress and, among females, infrequent consumption of raw vegetables.

Vitamins A, E and Zinc

• In 2014 Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology published a study which found that compared to a control group of 56 volunteers, 94 age and sex-matched acne patients had significantly lower level of Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Zinc.

Vitamin A and Vitamin E

• In 2006 Clinical and Experimental Dermatology published a study involving 100 acne patients and 100 age-matched controls (no acne) which found a strong relationship between between low vitamin A and E levels and increased acne severity.

Low dose Vitamin A

• In 2015 Medical Archives published an open-label study, involving 50 patients, which found that 3 months of low dose isotretinoin (vitamin A) was effective in the treatment of moderate acne, with low incidence of side effects.

Vitamin B5

• In 2014 Dermatology and Therapy published a double-blind study, involving 41 patients, which found that 12 weeks of a pantothenic acid-based dietary supplement significantly reduced total lesion count compared to a placebo.

Zinc

• In 2010 Dermatologic Therapy published a study in which 48 acne sufferers were treated with a methionine-based zinc complex with antioxidants 3 times daily. After 12 weeks almost 79 percent of the participants showed 80 – 100 percent improvement. Only 2 patients experienced side effects.

Tea Tree Oil

• In 2007 the Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereol Leprol published a 45-day double-blind trial involving 60 patients which found that 5-percent tea tree oil was almost 6 times more effective at reducing acne severity when compared to a placebo.

Pulsed-dye laser

• In 2003 Lancet published a double-blind study in which 41 adults with mild to moderate facial acne were treated with either a single pulsed-dye laser treatment or a sham treatment (control group). After 12 weeks the pulsed-dye laser group had a 53 percent reduction in acne lesions compared to 9 percent in the control group. The most significant improvements were seen after 4 weeks.
• In 2010 The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published a study which compared pulsed-dye laser (PDL) treatments and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments in a split-facial trial of 20 patients. The IPL treated sides of the face showed greater immediate results, though acne began to recur 8 weeks into treatment. Conversely, the PDL treatment lead to more gradual improvements that lasted 8 weeks after treatment.
• In 2007 Actas Dermo-Sigliograficas published a study in which 36 patients with mild-to-moderate acne received pulsed-dye laser treatment every 4 weeks. After 12 weeks the total number of active acne lesions was reduced by an average 57 percent.
• In 2006 Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published a study involving 15 acne patients in which pulsed-dye laser treatment alongside 1,450-nm diode laser decreased acne lesions by 84 percent after 3 treatments. Improvements in acne scarring and inflammation were also seen.

Chloroxylenol and salicylic acid

• In 2003 Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research published a 12-week, double-blind study which found that chloroxylenol with salicylic acid cream was as effective as benzoyl peroxide in treating acne and better tolerated.

Salicylic acid peels

• In 2013 Dermatology Surgery published a study which 13 patients received 3 treatments of Jessner’s solution on one side of the face and 3 treatments of 30 percent salicylic acid on the other side. The 30 percent salicylic acid was as effective as Jessner’s solution for inflammatory acne lesions and more effective for non-inflammatory acne.

D-panthenol HSD gel

• In 2016 European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences published a study in which 30 patients with mild-to-moderate acne applied HSD (hydrogen peroxide (4%), salicylic acid (0.5%) and D-panthenol (4%)) gel once daily for 60 days. The treatment significantly improved acne with good tolerability to sun exposure, when using a sunscreen.

Isotretinoin with salicylic acid peels

• In 2013 the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery published a 16-week study which compared 20 mg of isotretinoin daily against a combination of 20 mg of isotretinoin daily along with 20 percent salicylic acid peels every 2 weeks. The isotretinoin alone reduced acne by 73 percent while the combination therapy resulted in a 92 percent reduction in acne.

Pyruvic acid 50 percent

• In 2016 the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences published a study including 86 acne patients which found that there was no difference in efficacy or side effects between pyruvic acid 50 percent and salicylic acid 30 percent in the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne.

Lipohydroxy Acid peels

• In 2011 the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published a split-face study involving 20 acne patients comparing lipohydroxy acid peels with salicylic acid peels. Both treatments were well tolerated and significantly reduced total acne lesions, with no significant difference between treatments.