Pointers With Portela: Misleading Acne Vitamin

In one of his most recent YouTube episodes, "Did This Company Mislead Consumers About Acne Vitamin," Dustin Portela, DO, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Treasure Valley Dermatology in Boise, Idaho, discusses the potentially harmful and misleading claims of Clearstem Skincare's acne vitamin.

Portela references a TikTok video from Clearstem which claims they have launched an acne vitamin that can rival Accutane (isotretinoin).

"To say that it rivals Accutane would require a head-to-head study that is double-blinded and placebo-controlled. You'd need to have a group of patients taking Accutane. You'd need to have a group of patients taking [Clearstem's] supplement, and ideally, you should have another group of patients taking a placebo. The patient shouldn't know which one they're getting and the doctor shouldn't know which one they're getting, and you should have a defined outcome which is going to be clearance of acne lesions," said Portela.

Portela goes on to explain his frustrations with the claims stated by Clearstem, the truth being the supplement industry, the side effects of a vitamin A supplement, and published data on vitamin A for acne.

Opinions expressed are that of Portela and do not express the views or opinions of Dermatology Times®.

Do you have experience with patients wanting to take Clearstem's acne vitamin? Email us your thoughts at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.