Ingredient Beauty BenefitsAcne
Sebum, blocked pores and inflammation, tangled together.
Moderate evidenceAcid
Salicylic acid
Salicylic Acid
Most acne trials used 30% peels performed in a clinic. What Korea allows as an acne functional claim is 0.5%, and only in rinse-off cleansers. There is a sixtyfold gap between those two numbers.
Moderate evidenceOther
Tea tree oil
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
In a double-blind trial of 60 people using a 5% gel for 45 days, total lesion count and acne severity improved significantly more than with placebo — 3.55 and 5.75 times more, respectively. It is one trial, and 45 days is short.
Medicines used for this concern
Medicines are not listed alongside cosmetic ingredients. Dosage and whether a prescription is needed are settled in consultation.
- Tretinoin Prescription only
- Benzoyl peroxide Over the counter — ask the pharmacist
- Adapalene Prescription only
- Azelaic acid Over the counter — ask the pharmacist
Clinical procedures related to this concern
Procedures are not listed alongside topical ingredients. They are not something you use at home.
- PDRN Injection