Evidence-based acne research
Acne answers, backed by the actual research.
I’m Kelsey: not a dermatologist, just an adult with stubborn acne who got tired of advice that fell apart under scrutiny. So I read the clinical guidelines, systematic reviews and trials, and write up what they actually say.
How strong is the evidence behind acne treatment?
All 23 statements in the American Academy of Dermatology’s 2024 acne guideline, sorted by how certain the evidence is.
Every clinical claim here is traced to
AAD
Clinical guidelines of care for acne
Cochrane
Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
NIH
NIAMS & MedlinePlus references
FDA
Drug labeling & OTC monographs
PubMed
The underlying trials, linked
Find my answer
What’s going on with your skin?
Pick the closest match. Each link goes straight to one evidence-based guide. No quiz, no email wall.
01
What I’m seeing
Start with what your skin is actually doing.
02
What I’m using
See what the evidence says about an ingredient.
03
What I want
Practical, step-by-step answers.
- A simple routine
- A cheap teen routine
- An adult hormonal routine
- To start adapalene right
- To know if it’s purging
- To know how long it takes
- Moisturizer & SPF that won’t clog
- To stop picking
- Pimple patches that work
- To know if diet matters
- Makeup that won’t clog
- To shave without breakouts
- To know if stress matters
- To know if face mapping is real
04
What I’m considering
Prescription, in-office and scar treatments.
Start here
The three guides I’d read first.
If you only read three things on this site, make it these. They cover what you’re dealing with, what to use, and how to put it together.
Acne TypesTypes of Acne: Blackheads to Cysts, and How Severe Yours IsAcne comes in two families: non-inflamed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflamed lesions (papules, pustules, nodules and cysts). Severity runs mild to severe; NICE…
IngredientsSalicylic Acid vs Benzoyl Peroxide: Which Is Better for Acne?Salicylic acid unclogs pores, so it suits blackheads and whiteheads; benzoyl peroxide kills acne bacteria, so it suits red, inflamed spots. Benzoyl peroxide has…
RoutinesSimple Acne Routine: A 3-Step Morning and Night PlanThree steps, twice a day: a gentle cleanser, one proven treatment such as adapalene or benzoyl peroxide, and an oil-free moisturizer, plus broad-spectrum SPF…Browse by topic
Or go deep on one area.
Every guide sits in one of five hubs, 50 evidence-based guides in total, all cross-linked.
Acne types
Blackheads, inflamed pimples, hormonal jawline breakouts, cysts, and the lookalikes that aren’t acne at all.
See all 14 guides →
Ingredients
Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, azelaic acid and more: how each works, and how strong the evidence really is.
See all 10 guides →
Routines
Simple, evidence-first routines for adults and teens, from a three-step drugstore basic to barrier-friendly regimens.
See all 12 guides →
Treatments
Isotretinoin, antibiotics, the pill, tretinoin and more: what each prescription option does, how well it works, and what to ask.
See all 8 guides →
Scars & marks
Dark marks, red marks and true scars: what fades on its own, and what microneedling, peels and lasers can realistically do.
See all 6 guides →
Who this is for
Written for two kinds of frustrated.
Adults 25–38
Acne that didn’t end with your teens
- Hormonal & jawline breakouts, explained without the hype
- What the evidence says about retinoids, azelaic acid & more
- Barrier-friendly routines that don’t wreck your skin
- When prescription options are worth raising with a dermatologist
Teens & parents
Clearer skin on a drugstore budget
- Which cheap ingredients actually have evidence behind them
- Simple 3-step routines you can stick to
- How to tell a normal breakout from one that needs a doctor
- No shame, no scare tactics, no $80 serums
Most-read guides
What readers dig into next.
Acne TypesHormonal Acne in Adults: Causes, PCOS Signs and TreatmentsTreatmentsAcne Treatment Options: From Drugstore to Prescription, Explained
RoutinesTeen Acne Routine on a Budget: Cheap Drugstore Basics That Work
Acne TypesCystic Acne: Why It Scars, What Works, and When to Get Help
RoutinesAdult Hormonal Acne Routine: A Barrier-Friendly Plan That Works
RoutinesMoisturizer and Sunscreen for Acne: What the Evidence Says
Acne TypesBack Acne: Causes, What Works, and How to Treat It
Acne TypesStress and Acne: What the Evidence Says About Stress Breakouts
How I research
How every article gets made.
- Start with the best evidence. Clinical guidelines first, then systematic reviews, then the trials themselves.
- Link every clinical claim. The source sits right next to the sentence, so you can check it.
- Say how strong it is. Small study? No control group? Company-funded? You’ll hear about it.
- Date it and keep it current. Every article shows when it was last reviewed against the evidence.
Who writes this
“I’m not a doctor. I just refuse to guess.”
Kelsey Hart is the pen name I write under: disclosed, not disguised. No invented credentials, no fake “expert team,” no before-and-after photos. Just one curious person reading the research, with the sources linked so you can check my work.
What you won’t find here
Things this site will never do.
No miracle cures
If something promises overnight results, the evidence usually disagrees.
No fake reviewers
No invented doctors. A reviewer will only appear if a real one checked the work.
No paid rankings
Affiliate links never decide what I recommend, or what I criticize.
No before & afters
They can’t be verified and are trivially faked. Studies only.
Not sure where to start?
Tell me what your skin is doing, or start with a simple routine built from the ingredients with the strongest evidence.