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About Acne — Physical Health.
Inflammatory skin condition causing spots, pimples, and cysts. Affects face, back, and chest.
Audited published research per compound. Drill into a pair for the breakdown.
Bar length counts published studies — green marks studies reporting at least one benefit, slate the other studies (no benefit, unclear or harm); labels read benefit studies / all studies.
◆ marks each compound's research score (0-100): how consistently published studies reported a benefit, weighted by study design. It summarises the research, not how well a compound will work for you.
Compounds with published trial evidence for this condition, ranked by strength of evidence. Each result is put in plain terms and comes from the study itself — open “Exact figures” for the published statistics, or follow the study link to read the paper.
| Compound | Evidence strength | What studies found |
|---|---|---|
| ZincResearch score 22/100 · Mixed/Weak | 1 randomised trial — 1 study | 1/2 outcomes showed benefit
|
We publish community results for acne only once at least 10 people have reported on the same compound — so no individual report is ever shown. Until then, here is the research side on its own.
Used something for acne? Sharing how it went for you helps the next person — it is only ever published as part of a group of 10 or more.
Add your outcomeOpen the original papers, check their methods, and discuss what is relevant with a qualified professional.
Every study behind the numbers above is linked next to its result.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Dietary patterns, metabolic pathways and metainflammation in hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic reviewCelik E, et al. · Frontiers in immunology · 2026Systematic Review · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)
PMID 42233037 ↗02Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Nutraceuticals for Treating Acne: A Systematic ReviewShields A, et al. · JAMA dermatology · 2023Systematic Review · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)
PMID 37878272 ↗03Non-pharmacologic approaches for hidradenitis suppurativa - a systematic reviewHendricks AJ, et al. · The Journal of dermatological treatment · 2021Systematic Review · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)
PMID 31106609 ↗04Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acneLiu H, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Meta-Analysis · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)
PMID 32356369 ↗05Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysisYee BE, et al. · Dermatologic therapy · 2020Meta-Analysis · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)
PMID 32860489 ↗These compounds appear in related research or traditional use. Their position is not a recommendation or ranking. Research scores summarise published studies only.
Meta-Analysis · matched via Acne · PubMed record (CORPUS-A)