Acne Supplements Sold Online

Acne Supplements Sold Online

Authors

  • Emily Burns Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Milbrey Parke Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Ariadna Perez-Sanchez Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
  • Dina Zamil Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Rajani Katta Department of Dermatology, McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

Keywords:

acne supplement, dietary supplement, diet, nutrition, safety

Abstract

Introduction: As no centralized database of acne supplements is available, we aimed to provide an overview of these products, with a focus on safety.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to document the number, formulation, contents, and marketing strategies utilized by acne supplements sold online.

Methods: An online search was conducted between March and May 2020. Products were included in the study if they used the terms: “whitehead”, “blackhead”, or “acne”. Data were extracted from the website, box, and Supplement Facts label.

Results: 49 products were identified, which contained 146 unique ingredients. These included vitamins, minerals, food extracts, botanical extracts, amino acids, animal products, and distinct microbial strains. Few (4.1%) products were tested by third parties.

Conclusions: This survey of acne supplements available online raised concerns regarding lack of warning labels, teratogenicity, exceedingly large levels of vitamins and minerals, and lack of third-party testing. Given the limited regulation and oversight of dietary supplements, it is imperative that physicians educate patients on the potential risks of these products.

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Published

2022-02-02

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Original Article

How to Cite

1.
Acne Supplements Sold Online. Dermatol Pract Concept [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 2 [cited 2024 Dec. 6];12(1):e2022029. Available from: https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/1751

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