This review looked at 49 clinical trials with nearly 3,880 participants to see how well salicylic acid (plus azelaic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and alpha-hydroxy acids) actually work on acne. The abstract cuts off before revealing the actual results, so we can't tell you whether salicylic acid won or lost—but the researchers did track whether people saw improvement, dropped out of studies, experienced side effects, and felt better overall.

Researchers searched medical databases through May 2019 and analyzed randomized controlled trials comparing these topical treatments against each other, placebos, or no treatment. Most participants had mild-to-moderate acne, were female, aged 12-30, and were treated for at least 8 weeks.

Funding not disclosed in abstract