PoreWise One finding · Human trial · 2018
Study title
Comparative study of buffered 50% glycolic acid (pH 3.0) + 0.5% salicylic acid solution vs Jessner's solution in patients with acne vulgaris
- Kind of evidence
- Human trial 2018 · 20 people · patients with acne vulgaris · PMID 29164826
- Measured outcome
- Skin effect
- Year
- 2018
- Who was studied
- 20 patients with acne vulgaris
- Sample size
- 20
- Measured outcome
- In a prospective, randomized, evaluator-blind, split-face trial of 20 patients with acne vulgaris, two 50% glycolic acid + 0.5% salicylic acid peels significantly reduced total lesion count (P<0.001) and produced fewer side effects than Jessner's solution.
- Certainty
- Moderate
- Who was measured
- Patients with acne vulgaris receiving two 50% glycolic acid + 0.5% salicylic acid peels 2 weeks apart (one side vs Jessner's solution on the other).
- Study limits
- Small sample (20) and a combination peel (glycolic + salicylic acid); this is a procedural peel.
Where it comes from
- Comparative study of buffered 50% glycolic acid (pH 3.0) + 0.5% salicylic acid solution vs Jessner's solution in patients with acne vulgaris
Published by Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (In Jae J, Dong Ju H, Dong Hyun K, et al.) · Last checked 2026-10-29
Ingredients it was measured on
Skin concerns studied
Other findings on the same ingredient or concern
- Skin effectThe effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone
In 23 women, a single application of a 4% alpha-hydroxy acid solution combined with negative-pressure physical action significantly reduced whitehead and blackhead counts at 1, 2 and 4 weeks, and reduced pore area and number at week 1, compared with AHA peeling alone.
Human trial · 2015 · 23 people · healthy women (mean age 30) · Healthy women receiving a single in-clinic application in a randomised split-face design, assessed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. · The intervention was a single in-clinic chemical peeling plus negative-pressure physical action.
- Skin effectShake-Induced Temporary Ion-Pairing Between Lecithin and Glycolic Acid for Enhanced Exfoliation in a Novel Biphasic Serum: Comparative Ex Vivo and in Vivo Randomised Studies
In a 2-week double-blind split-face study of 37 participants, a biphasic serum with 10% glycolic acid delivered 45.52% greater exfoliation (p<0.001) and improved skin brightness, texture and hydration versus the comparison side.
Human trial · 2026 · 37 people · participants in a split-face study · Healthy participants using a 10% glycolic acid biphasic serum on one side of the face for 2 weeks. · Short duration (2 weeks) and a single product formulation; the study measured exfoliation and cosmetic parameters.
- Skin effectA comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
In a double-blind trial of 150 people with mild-to-moderate acne, a 14% gluconolactone solution and a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion each reduced inflamed and non-inflamed lesion counts significantly more than the vehicle lotion, and fewer side-effects were reported with gluconolactone than with benzoyl peroxide.
Human trial · 1992 · 150 people · people with mild-to-moderate acne · Inflamed and non-inflamed acne lesion counts, and local side-effects, in mild-to-moderate acne. · Confidence intervals or treatment duration. The trial is from 1992 and used a 14% leave-on solution. It compares gluconolactone with benzoyl peroxide and vehicle.
- Skin effectTopical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
Against topical tretinoin, salicylic acid showed similar values in overall acne improvement (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09; one trial, 46 participants). The review graded the certainty of that finding as low.
Review article · 2020 · 46 people · People with mild to moderate acne, mostly aged 12 to 30 · Topical salicylic acid for mild to moderate acne. Most participants in the review were 12 to 30 years old, and most studies ran longer than eight weeks. · The review covers 49 trials with 3880 participants, salicylic acid appears in a small part of them: 41 to 86 participants per comparison. Every salicylic acid comparison was graded low or very low certainty.
- Skin effectGuidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (2024)
The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology acne guideline lists topical salicylic acid as a conditional recommendation. Strong recommendations in the same guideline go to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics and oral doxycycline.
Clinical guideline · 2024 · Acne vulgaris in people aged nine and older, as covered by the guideline's scope.