Medicinal Plants for Acne Vulgaris: An Evidence-Based Review of Treatments Promoted by Social Media

Acne vulgaris refers to a chronic inflammatory state of the pilosebaceous follicles that affects the majority of adolescents. Treatments encompass topical agents and systemic therapies. Nowadays, we encounter a growing tendency to use herbal remedies, which raises concerns about misinformation disseminated by digital platforms.

This narrative review investigated herbal acne treatments recommended by virtual platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram), and gleaned medicinal plants from authoritative references.

A literature search across international and Persian databases, including PubMed and Scopus, was implemented employing keywords and Boolean operators. Data synthesis highlighted evidence gaps and inconsistencies.

The review found different medicinal plants holding potential acne treatment properties, including tea tree oil, lavender, licorice, turmeric, and heartsease among others. Some demonstrated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, or sebum-reducing effects in vitro or clinically. Others lacked strong evidence or clinical validation. Furthermore, combinations like tea tree and lavender oils showed lesion-decreasing effects. However, gaps remain in clinical research for a number of plants traditionally claimed to treat acne vulgaris.

While digital platforms play an important role in spreading health-related information, they have promoted several remedies for acne vulgaris that have not been scientifically verified. Hence, cyberspace is not currently deemed a dependable source of treatment information for nonmedical experts.