Salicylic acid got a conditional recommendation for acne treatment—meaning dermatologists say it can help, but it's not a first-choice option. The stronger recommendations went to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and topical antibiotics instead. For severe acne, isotretinoin is the standout recommendation.

A dermatology work group reviewed existing acne research systematically and graded the evidence quality for different treatments using a standard evaluation framework.

Funding not disclosed in abstract