From the Guidelines
Alternative medicine approaches, such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, and green tea extract, may be considered for acne treatment, but their effectiveness is not strongly supported by recent evidence. According to the most recent guidelines 1, available evidence is insufficient to develop a recommendation on the use of topical tea tree oil, topical green tea, topical witch hazel, oral pantothenic acid, oral or topical zinc, oral or topical niacinamide for acne treatment.
Considerations for Alternative Treatments
When considering alternative treatments for acne, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the lack of strong evidence supporting their effectiveness. Some alternative approaches that may be considered include:
- Tea tree oil applied as a spot treatment (5% solution) to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria due to its antimicrobial properties
- Aloe vera gel applied directly to affected areas twice daily to soothe inflammation and promote healing
- Green tea extract, either as a topical application or consumed as a beverage, to provide antioxidant benefits that may reduce sebum production and inflammation
- Dietary changes, such as reducing dairy, sugar, and high-glycemic foods, to decrease inflammation and hormonal fluctuations that trigger acne
- Stress management techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or regular exercise, to reduce stress hormones that stimulate oil production
Prioritizing Conventional Treatments
However, it's crucial to prioritize conventional treatments that have stronger evidence supporting their effectiveness, such as benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and oral doxycycline, as recommended by recent guidelines 1. These treatments have been shown to be effective in managing acne and should be considered as the primary treatment options. Alternative approaches can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments, but their use should be carefully considered and monitored by a healthcare professional.
From the Research
Acne Treatment Alternative Medicine
- Acne is a rare condition in societies with higher consumption of omega-3 (n-3) relative to omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids, supplementation with n-3 may suppress inflammatory cytokine production and thereby reduce acne severity 2
- A study found that fish oil supplementation is associated with an improvement in overall acne severity, especially for individuals with moderate to severe acne 2
- Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid has been shown to decrease inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions significantly 3
- Omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid could be used as adjuvant treatments for acne patients 3
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Acne Treatment
- Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which involve reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, eicosanoids, and insulin-like growth factor-1 4
- A prospective intervention study found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improved acne severity in patients with target omega-3 fatty acid levels 4
- Many acne patients have a omega-3 fatty acid deficit, which can be increased by a Mediterranean diet and oral supplementation with algae-derived omega-3 fatty acids 4
Diet and Acne
- Diet has been a part of the acne discussion for decades, with several studies evaluating the significance of the glycemic index of various foods and glycemic load in patients with acne 5
- Individuals with acne who consume diets with a low glycemic load have reduced acne lesions compared with individuals on high glycemic load diets 5
- Dairy has also been a focus of study regarding dietary influences on acne, with whey proteins responsible for the insulinotropic effects of milk may contribute more to acne development than the actual fat or dairy content 5
- Diets consisting of fish and healthy oils, thereby increasing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake, may benefit individuals with acne 5