TY - JOUR
T1 - Acne Supplements Sold Online
AU - Burns, Emily
AU - Parke, Milbrey
AU - Perez-Sanchez, Ariadna
AU - Zamil, Dina
AU - Katta, Rajani
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright: © 2022 Burns et al.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - Introduction: As no centralized database of acne supplements is available, we aimed to provide an ABSTRACT 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.
AB - Introduction: As no centralized database of acne supplements is available, we aimed to provide an ABSTRACT 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.
KW - Acne supplement
KW - Diet
KW - Dietary supplement
KW - Nutrition
KW - Safety
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127628896&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.5826/dpc.1201a29
DO - 10.5826/dpc.1201a29
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85127628896
SN - 2160-9381
VL - 12
JO - Dermatology Practical and Conceptual
JF - Dermatology Practical and Conceptual
IS - 1
M1 - e2022029
ER -