The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Facial Sebum Levels in Patients with Mild to Moderate Acne
Keywords:
Intermittent fasting, facial sebum, acne, alternative treatment, clinical studyAbstract
Facial sebum and acne are common skin problems among the Thai population. Current treatments primarily focus on symptomatic relief rather than addressing root causes, which may produce side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 16/8 intermittent fasting protocol on facial sebum levels in patients with mild to moderate acne This clinical trial included 30 participants aged 20-35 years, divided into two groups: an experimental group of 15 participants following a 16/8 intermittent fasting schedule (16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating window) and a control group of 15 participants maintaining their regular eating patterns. The study monitored participants for 4 weeks, measuring facial sebum levels using a sebumeter SM 815.
The results showed that the intermittent fasting group experienced a statistically significant reduction in facial sebum levels from 97.09 ± 30.04 μg/cm² to 76.19 ± 25.22 μg/cm² (p < 0.001), while the control group showed no significant changes (90.48 ± 48.61 μg/cm² to 88.13 ± 47.73 μg/cm², p = 0.677). However, between-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences (p = 0.82). intermittent fasting may reduce facial sebum production; however, further studies are warranted to validate these findings and control for confounding factors No adverse effects were observed during the study
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