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Acne is a skin condition affecting oil glands in the nose, forehead, back, neck and abdomen. Each hair follicle has a tiny hair and sebaceous glands, which are structures that produce an oily substance called sebum. This substance travels up the hair follicle to the skin's surface. In acne, sebum gets trapped within the follicle. This can cause reddish, inflamed, pus-filled bumps on the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, upper arms and shoulders. These are the areas that contain the most sebaceous glands. One cause of acne is hormones called androgens. Other causes are increased sebum production, changes inside the follicle and bacterial growth. Some cosmetics can also cause or worsen acne.
Symptoms
Acne may appear on the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, and upper arms and shoulders. The symptoms include:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Pustules
- Nodules (firm swellings below the skin).
- Cysts (large nodules).
A word of caution: Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement or herb. There's no way of knowing if they interfere with a health condition or medication. The purity and quality may not be good. Much of the research on these substances is scant and questionable. Also, supplements in high concentrations can be dangerous. Your doctor is the best person to talk with about your concerns.
| Herb or supplement |
Claims |
Possible interactions and dangers |
Possible side effects |
What the experts say |
| Tea tree oil |
Helps clear up lesions |
Do not ingest. Some people may be allergic and may develop red, itchy rashes and skin swelling. |
May cause skin to become too dry if you use it with other acne medications such as tretinoin (Retin-A®, Renova®) or isotretinoin (Accutane®). |
Some studies suggest tea tree oil may help acne clear up just as well as over-the-counter medications. However, studies have been too small and too poorly done to draw any conclusions. |
| Guggul |
Treats acne |
May cause a rash if ingested. |
Stomach ache, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. |
A few flawed studies have been done, but no evidence says it works. |
Conventional treatments
Topical salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin (Retin-A®) and erythromycin (Erygel® and Staticin®) may help keep the skin pores clear. Oral isotretinoin (Accutane®) may help with severe acne. Tetracycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®) may also be used to help control acne.
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External Sources
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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