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.
- Every claim linked to its source
- No sponsored rankings
- Dated & updated
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
Start here
Start with the question you actually have.
Three ways into the evidence — pick the one that matches what’s going on with your skin right now.
Acne types
Blackheads, inflamed pimples, hormonal jawline breakouts, cysts — and the lookalikes that aren’t acne at all.
Explore →
Ingredients
Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, azelaic acid and more: how each works, and how strong the evidence really is.
Explore →
Routines
Simple, evidence-first routines for adults and teens — from a three-step drugstore basic to barrier-friendly regimens.
Explore →
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
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.