rct of an oral acne supplement for adult women

Conditions: Acne

Summary: this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplement in mild to moderate acne in adult females.

this is a 12-week, single-center, placebo controlled double blind, randomized clinical trial in adult female subjects with mild to moderate non-cystic acne. female subjects will be enrolled in this single site study to evaluate the efficacy of an oral acne supplement. upon enrollment, subjects will be randomized to a treatment or a placebo group. both the subject and the investigator will be blinded to the subject's group allocation. the objective of this research is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplement in mild to moderate non-cystic acne in adult females when compared to a placebo.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. females subjects 18-50 years of age. 2. subjects with mild to moderate (non-cystic) acne (8 inflammatory lesions, 10 non-inflammatory lesions). 3. subjects with an iga score of 2-3 4. subjects with all skin types (normal, oily, etc.) 5. subjects with all fitzpatrick skin types i-vi. 6. subjects who agree to use only the provided study skin cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen products during the study duration. 7. subjects agree not to introduce any new colored cosmetics (lipsticks, eye shadows, facial foundations, blush, powder) on their face. 8. no known medical conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with study participation. 9. women of childbearing potential must be willing to use a form of birth control during the study. for the purpose of this study, the following are considered acceptable methods of birth control: oral contraceptives, norplant®, depo-provera®, double barrier methods (e.g., condom and spermicide) and abstinence. 10. subjects are dependable and able to follow directions and willing to comply with the schedule of visits. 11. subjects in generally good physical and mental health. 12. able to read, write, speak, and understand english 13. individual (and/or his/her legally acceptable representative, as applicable) has signed the consent for photograph release and icd including health insurance portability and accountability act (hipaa) disclosure. 14. subject must avoid sun exposure. 15. subject must avoid professional or facial spa procedures during the study. exclusion criteria: 1. any dermatological disorder, which in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with the accurate evaluation of the subject's skin characteristics, except for the study condition of acne. 2. subjects who are not willing to use the assigned skin care study products to their face as instructed and are not willing to take an oral acne supplement. 3. females who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study or within 30 days of study completion. (subject must document her response in either the source documentation or informed consent/assent forms). 4. subject has a surgery and/or invasive medical procedure planned during the study. 5. subject has observable suntan, scars, nevi, tattoo, excessive hair (including beard, mustache, or goatee), or other dermal conditions on the face that could interfere with study evaluations or confound study results, as determined by the pi or designee. 6. subject has a history of or a concurrent health condition/situation which, in the opinion of the pi, if medically qualified, or study physician, may put the individual at significant risk, confound the study results, or interfere significantly with the individual's participation in the study. 7. subject is an employee/contractor or immediate family member of the pi, study site, or sponsor. 8. subjects with clinically significant unstable medical disorders. 9. subjects who are unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol. 10. subjects with any known allergies or sensitivities to the study products. 11. subjects who have a history of a psychological illness or condition that would interfere with their ability to understand and follow the requirements of the study. 12. subjects who have acne nodules/cysts representative of severe acne. 13. subjects who are currently using, planning to use during the study or has used any of the following in the specified time range (based on subject report): * 1 month prior to visit 1: prescription (oral or topically applied on the face) antibiotics, inhaled steroids (except those prescribed for allergies), or hormones (pre- or post-menopausal hormone-replacement therapy; insulin, etc.), or other medications that could make skin more sensitive or have an effect on the skin, as determined by the pi or designee. oral contraceptives are acceptable. * 1 month prior to visit 1: prescription medication for acne (e.g. doxycycline, minocycline, clindamycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim \[bactrim\], tetracycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, or vibramycin®) * 1 month prior to visit 1: topical prescription retinoids (e.g. retin-a®, retin-a micro®, renova®, adapalene, tazarotene, avita®, tazorac®, avage®, differin®), azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, dapsone, sodium sulfacetamide, epiduo®, or other similar prescription drug on the face * 6 months prior to visit 1: accutane or other oral retinoid * 2 weeks prior to visit 1: any of the following on the face: * light therapy * otc topical medications/products (including antiacne or antibacterial agents, topical anti-inflammatories, topical retinoids, etc.). sunscreens (spf) are acceptable. 14. subject is taking medications that would mask an adverse event (ae) or influence the study results, including: * immunosuppressive drugs and steroidal and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within 3 months before visit 1 and during the study. * regular use of antihistamines within 1 month before visit 1 and during the study. 15. subject has a history of or a concurrent health condition/situation, which in the opinion of the pi, if medically qualified, or study physician, may put the individual at significant risk, confound the study results, or interfere significantly with the individual's participation in the study. 16. subjects who are currently experiencing an acne flare. 17. subjects having started hormone replacement therapies (hrt) or hormones for birth control less than 3 months prior to the study entry or who plan on starting, stopping or changing doses of hrt or hormones for birth control during the study. 18. subjects taking any medication or supplement that has a known interaction with any of the study product ingredients, including but not limited to berberine, which is associated with inhibition of cyp450 enzymes.