TITLE: SURVEY REPORT ON COMPARATIVE TREATMENT OF HERBAL AND SYNTHETIC FOR ACNE PORE TREATMENT
AUTHOR(S): Rushikesh M. Kamble*, Akshada V. Deshmukh, Sakshi B. Padalkar, Abhishek A. Jalihale, Vasudha M. Kadam
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Abstract:
Bacterial infections, clogged pores, and excessive sebum production are the causes of acne. Around 20% of people globally and up to 80–90% of teenagers suffer with acne vulgaris, a prevalent dermatological disorder. It appears when sebaceous glands overproduce sebum, or oil, which clogs pores when combined with dead skin cells. As a result, Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes) bacteria can develop in an anaerobic environment. Inflammation brought on by the bacterial activity might result in papules, pustules, nodules, or cysts. Acne can be made worse by hormone imbalance, stress, high-glycemic diets, and bad skincare practices. The two main categories of treatments are herbal (plant-based) and synthetic (chemical-based).
Keywords:
Clogged pores, inflammation, synthetic & herbal treatments, bacterial infection.
Introduction:
Treatments for acne fall into:
Synthetic (based on chemicals): These consist of hormonal medicines (oral contraceptives), antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin), retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene), and benzoyl peroxide. These substances function by unclogging pores, eliminating germs, and lowering sebum production. Prolonged usage, however, can cause skin irritation, dryness, and antibiotic resistance.
Herbal (Plant-Based): Made from medicinal plants including aloe vera, tea tree oil, neem (Azadirachta indica), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and green tea (Camellia sinensis) that contain antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant chemicals. With few adverse effects, they work by preventing bacterial development, lowering sebum, and encouraging skin repair. Because of their holistic approach and biocompatibility, herbal medicines are becoming more and more popular.
1. Materials and Procedures
1. Design of the Study
This study compares the effectiveness, safety, cost, and consumer preference of herbal and synthetic acne and pore management therapies using a survey and literature review methodology.
To examine the performance metrics of both therapy modalities, the study aggregates information from consumer surveys, published research publications, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical databases.
2. Sources of Data
Data was gathered from the sources listed below:
Scientific databases: ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar.
WHO, AYUSH, and Statista reports are examples of institutional and regulatory sources.
Market and consumer research: assessments of Indian consumers' preferences for herbal and synthetic skincare products conducted between 2021 and 2023.
Clinical studies: Peer-reviewed clinical data contrasting synthetic drugs (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids, etc.) with herbal extracts (neem, aloe vera, turmeric, tea tree oil, green tea, (antibiotics). (1).
3. Selection Standards
Criteria for inclusion:
research papers released from 2010 to 2025.
research on pore therapy and acne vulgaris.
research that compared herbal and synthetic formulations, either clinical or observational.
articles on cost-effectiveness, safety, efficacy, or customer happiness.
Criteria for exclusion:
studies with ambiguous formulation details or insufficient clinical data.
studies that employ synthetic chemicals or botanicals for purposes other than dermatology.
studies on animals without a human connection.
4. Survey Specifications
Five primary criteria served as the basis for the comparison analysis:
Effectiveness: Lesion clearance %, recurrence rate, and time required for noticeable acne reduction.
Safety and Tolerability: The frequency of photosensitivity, dryness, redness, or irritation.
Accessibility and Cost: The market pricing (₹/g) and the product's availability in local or online marketplaces.(2).
Consumer Preference: based on survey results from 500 people between the ages of 18 and 35 who suffer from acne.
5. Analysis Method
For each parameter, a comparison grading matrix was created, with 1 denoting poor and 5 denoting good.
Based on reported clinical outcomes (decrease in lesion count, erythema, and dryness %), average efficacy and tolerability were determined.
The frequency (%) of using herbal versus synthetic products was used to examine consumer preference data.
Market retail values gathered from pharmacy and e-commerce databases were used to compare costs.
6. Materials Taken into Account
Review of Herbal Ingredients:
Neem, or Azadirachta indica,
Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis
The turmeric plant, Curcuma longa
Tea tree oil, or Melaleuca alternifolia
Green tea, Camellia sinensis
Review of Synthetic Agents:
Peroxide benzoyl
Salicylic acid
Tretinoin and Adapalene (Retinoids)
Erythromycin and Clindamycin are topical antibiotics.
Hormonal therapies based on oral contraceptives(3).
7. Method of Evaluation
To assess the benefits, drawbacks, and results of each category, comparative data were collated into tabular form.
Clinical efficacy percentages were used to validate the findings in the literature, including:
In just one week, benzoyl peroxide reduced germs by 98%.
In six weeks, neem extract can reduce lesions by 40–50%.
Tea tree oil has fewer negative effects and is just as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide.
Due to a variety of data sources, statistical interpretation concentrated on qualitative tendencies rather than quantitative meta-analysis.(4).
8. Moral Points to Remember
There was no direct testing on humans or animals because this is a review and survey-based study.
All of the data came from publicly accessible consumer data and previously published, ethically approved research studies.(5).
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