The race is on to find an effective but natural cure for acne, which has become the most common skin complaint among adult women, with over 40% experiencing acne at some point.

A new study has found that a natural plant flavonoid found in the bark of apple trees could be an effective natural treatment for reducing the symptoms of acne by inhibiting the production of sebum as well as reducing inflammation and puss caused by the acne bacteria.

The flavonoid, called phloretin, was found to have significant anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial actions on acne and helped reduced symptom over a four-week period.

The study, carried out on 30 people with acne and published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science*, found that after the one month placebo-controlled trial, Phloretin showed anti-microbial activities against the two main acne bacteria.

In addition phloretin showed a clinically and statistically significant reduction of sebum output levels. Compared to before treatment, whiteheads, blackheads, papules, sebum output level and amount of sebum produced were significantly decreased at four weeks in the test group.

*International Journal of Cosmetic Science; Volume 38, Issue 1, pages 85–92, February 2016