From the Guidelines
There is no evidence to support the use of supplements as a primary treatment for acne, and patients should instead focus on proven treatments like benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and oral doxycycline as recommended by the guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris 1. When considering supplements, it's essential to prioritize treatments with the strongest evidence base.
- The guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris 1 do not recommend supplements as a primary treatment for acne.
- Instead, they strongly recommend benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, and oral doxycycline for the treatment of acne.
- While some supplements like zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics may have modest benefits for inflammatory acne, the evidence is not strong enough to support their use as a primary treatment.
- Patients with severe acne should consult a dermatologist for prescription medications, which will be more effective than any supplement.
- Maintaining a consistent skincare routine, avoiding picking at acne, and considering dietary changes like reducing dairy and high-glycemic foods may also help improve acne symptoms.
- It's crucial to note that supplements should complement, not replace, proven acne treatments, and results from supplements typically take 2-3 months to become noticeable, and not everyone will respond to them.
- The most recent and highest quality study 1 prioritizes treatments with strong evidence, and patients should follow these recommendations to achieve the best outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Supplements for Acne Treatment
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, may help alleviate acne severity due to their anti-inflammatory properties 2, 3.
- Zinc: Zinc supplementation has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory acne, with some studies showing a significant reduction in inflammatory lesions 4, 5, 6.
Efficacy of Supplements
- Omega-3 fatty acids: A study found that 8 out of 13 individuals with inflammatory acne showed improvement in acne severity after taking fish oil supplements for 12 weeks 2. Another study found that acne severity improved significantly in patients with target omega-3 fatty acid levels after taking algae-derived omega-3 FA supplementation for 16 weeks 3.
- Zinc: A multicenter randomized double-blind trial found that zinc gluconate was effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne, although minocycline had a superior effect 4. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that zinc preparations were effective in the treatment of acne, particularly at decreasing the number of inflammatory papules 6.
Safety and Side Effects
- Omega-3 fatty acids: No adverse events were reported in a study where patients took algae-derived omega-3 FA supplementation for 16 weeks 3.
- Zinc: The majority of adverse effects of zinc gluconate were moderate and concerned the gastrointestinal system, with 5 dropouts in a study 4. Another study found no significant difference in the incidence of side effects in zinc supplementation vs comparators 6.