Essential Oils in the Treatment of Various Types of Acne—A Review

Abstract

Acne is a chronic, common disease that poses a significant therapeutic, psychological and social problem. The etiopathogenesis of this disease is not fully understood. Drugs used in general and external therapy should have anti-seborrhoeic, anticomadogenic, bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Acne treatment is often associated with the long-term use of antibiotics, contributing to the global antibiotic resistance crisis. In order to solve this problem, attention has been paid to essential oils and their terpene components with potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Research shows that certain essential oils effectively reduce inflammatory acne lesions through mechanisms related to the sebaceous glands, colonization of Cutibacterium acnes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). An example is tea tree oil (TTO), a more commonly used topical agent for treating acne. TTO has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. The paper presents the latest scientific information on the activity and potential use of specific essential oils in treating acne. Evidence of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of several essential oils and their main components was presented, indicating the possibility of using them in the treatment of acne.

The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne

“…And a rising number of studies have reported resistance to a variety of antibiotics in C. acnes, which limits its use as a therapy (Sardana et al, 2015;Adler et al, 2017). In order to avoid drug resistance, natural extracts, including essential oils and total flavonoids, have been widely used in many cosmetics or supplements to promote acne in recent years (Mohammad et al, 2018;Nurzyńska-Wierdak et al, 2022). As herbal skincare has a long history in skincare, it gains more and more attention and recognition.…”

Acne treatment using tea tree oil, aloe vera, lavender, and calendula: The perception of pharmacy students

“…The use of the oil in treating acne arises from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A cream prepared by mixing TTO (3%), propolis (20%), and Alo vera (10%) has been shown to be more effective in the treatment of acne compared to erythromycin [5].…”

“…The types of acne lesions include inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. An increase in linoleic acid in the body is believed to affect the regulation of monocyte differentiation and thereby leading to the formation of inflammatory foci [5]. Effective pores management involves reducing sebum production, preventing clogged pores, and controlling inflammation.…”

Tea Tree Oil: Properties and the Therapeutic Approach to Acne—A Review

“…Characteristics such as fragrance and absorption of the product were those that obtained lower score values [ 156 ]. TTO has a peppery-spicy, camphor-like aroma with a less intense cooling effect than menthol [ 1 ]. These characteristics could be beneficial in an anti-acne product as the sense of freshness may lead to greater acceptability, however, the more intense aroma may be the reason for the lower scores described above.…”

“…Although acne is not a life-threatening disease, it can have serious psychosocial consequences leading to low self-esteem, social isolation, and depression, as the severe disease can leave disfiguring scars on the face and is not limited to a few papules or comedones. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the following actors are involved: increased sebum production and modification of its composition, increased proliferation and retention of hyperkeratosis, hyper-colonization of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes ), Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , and inflammation ( Figure 1 ) [ 1 , 2 ].…”