Acne Control Gel — Reddit Reviews

• Anti-Aging

  Strong evidence

  Glycolic Acid: 14 studies tested it directly. See all 21 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found glycolic acid helped with signs of aging
  • It often improved fine lines, roughness, skin texture, and overall skin clarity
  • Some studies found it also helped fade dark spots and sun damage
  • One study found it was less helpful than tretinoin for skin firmness
  • The most common side effects were stinging and burning

• Acne

  Some evidence

  Salicylic Acid: 16 studies tested it directly. See all 34 studies→

  On Reddit: Spot-treating breakouts is how commenters use it, sometimes on nights they skip tretinoin. 8 mentions

  Both ingredients for acne

  Salicylic Acid · Some evidence

  • Most studies found salicylic acid helped clear acne
  • It often reduced pimples, blackheads and whiteheads
  • It often worked about as well as other common acne treatments
  • Used with other acne treatments, it sometimes cleared acne better than the other treatment alone
  • Side effect results were uncertain when compared with benzoyl peroxide

  Studied at 0.5–30% · this product: 2%

  Glycolic Acid · Some evidence

  13 studies tested it directly. See all 22 studies→

  • Most studies found glycolic acid helped clear acne
  • It often reduced blackheads, whiteheads, and red, sore spots
  • It cleared acne better than a placebo in some studies
  • It usually worked about as well as other common acne treatments or peels
  • The most common side effects were peeling and early skin irritation

• Hyperpigmentation

  Some evidence

  Glycolic Acid: 15 studies tested it directly. See all 23 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found glycolic acid helped fade dark spots or patches
  • It often worked better when added to another treatment than when that treatment was used alone
  • It usually worked about as well as several other peel treatments for melasma
  • Some studies found other treatments worked better, or that the lightening did not last
  • The most common side effects were irritation, discomfort, stinging and burning

• Texture/Pores

  Some evidence

  Glycolic Acid: 3 studies tested it directly. See all 6 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found glycolic acid helped with skin texture and pores
  • It improved roughness and overall skin texture in some studies
  • It helped fine lines in some studies, though roughness did not improve in one study
  • The most common side effects were stinging and burning

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.