Key TakeawaysA new skincare trend on TikTok involves eating cloves of raw garlic daily with the claim that it will clear up acne.Experts say while there are some benefits to eating garlic, no amount of garlic taken orally will cure acne.There is no one-size-fits-all food recommendation for managing acne, but dermatologists generally recommend eating a diet rich in antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support overall skin health.

Key Takeaways

A new skincare trend on TikTok involves eating cloves of raw garlic daily with the claim that it will clear up acne.Experts say while there are some benefits to eating garlic, no amount of garlic taken orally will cure acne.There is no one-size-fits-all food recommendation for managing acne, but dermatologists generally recommend eating a diet rich in antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support overall skin health.

In a TikTok video with nearly 24 million views, one user documented their journey of eating raw garlic to fight hormonal acne. Another user, whose video has 14.4 million views, shared progress in eating raw garlic to treat acne and dark spots.

While garlic may seem like an accessible and affordable alternative to acne treatments—especially if you don’t have easy access to a dermatologist, there’s a couple of reasons you might want to think twice before giving this approach a go.

The Health Benefits of Garlic

Can Eating Raw Garlic Cure Acne?

Garlic has been used in medicine for centuries as a treatment for all kinds of ailments, like high cholesterol and coronary artery disease. However, there haven’t been enough studies to say for sure that the potent produce can clear acne,Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group, told Verywell.

“There is not enough science-backed evidence to support taking garlic orally as an acne treatment,” said Nazarian. “The truth is that no amount of garlic taken orally will help cure acne.”

Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, told Verywell that while garlic alone might not have a major effect on facial acne, “it could be beneficial” if it’s part of a diet of low-glycemic, high-fiber, and whole foods.

Garlic has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help keep your skin healthy, similar to the benefits of antioxidant-rich foods like green tea, berries, and pomegranate, according to Nazarian.

A 2014 review found that garlic has compounds that can prevent the growth of certain bacteria and fungi, potentially helping with certain skin conditions.However, the researchers didn’t say whether garlic would be useful for treating acne, specifically. Nazarian mentioned that because studies are lacking, “the consideration is purely theoretical.”

It’s also important to remember that thecauses of acnecan be very different for each person who has the condition. Acne can stem from hormonal changes or even using makeup or skincare products that clog pores and cause breakouts, according to Palm.

“In both scenarios, eating garlic would do little to address and treat acne,”Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD, told Verywell. “There are likely more efficient and effective methods of treating acne than eating raw garlic on a daily basis, as this TikTok trend recommends.”

Can Eating Garlic Help Certain Types of Acne?There have been no published and randomized control trials to date studying the use of oral garlic for treating acne, so experts cannot confirm if garlic is effective for different types of acne breakouts. For example, it’s not known if garlic would help withblackheads(open comedones),whiteheads(closed comedones),nodules, pustules, orcystic acne.

Can Eating Garlic Help Certain Types of Acne?

There have been no published and randomized control trials to date studying the use of oral garlic for treating acne, so experts cannot confirm if garlic is effective for different types of acne breakouts. For example, it’s not known if garlic would help withblackheads(open comedones),whiteheads(closed comedones),nodules, pustules, orcystic acne.

Do Experts Recommend Trying Garlic for Acne?

Geddes-Bruce does not recommend eating cloves of raw garlic daily to try and control your acne, as “too much raw garlic can be irritating, not to mention stinky. And we have much more effective ways to treat acne that are available.”

If you’re thinking rubbing garlic on your skin instead of eating it might be the way to go, experts don’t recommend that either.

“Raw garlic can be extremely irritating if rubbed directly on the skin, so please don’t try that,” said Geddes-Bruce. “We sometimes recommend it for at-home wart removal, so that can tell you how destructive it can be.”

Palm added that since there is a lack of research on garlic consumption or topical usage and acne control, “it is hard to make recommendations for who might respond better or more poorly to this form of unusual treatment.”

Does Garlic Have Other Health Benefits?Although eating raw garlic may not do much to clear up your skin, there are plenty of reasons to add it to your diet. For starters, sincegarliccontains antioxidant properties, it can decrease inflammation and help repair damage fromfree radicals, potentially lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer.Garlic contains manganese, which the body needs to build strong bones and maintain a ready-to-fight immune system. Garlic also has high levels of potassium, which is important for muscle contraction and heart function.

Does Garlic Have Other Health Benefits?

Although eating raw garlic may not do much to clear up your skin, there are plenty of reasons to add it to your diet. For starters, sincegarliccontains antioxidant properties, it can decrease inflammation and help repair damage fromfree radicals, potentially lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer.Garlic contains manganese, which the body needs to build strong bones and maintain a ready-to-fight immune system. Garlic also has high levels of potassium, which is important for muscle contraction and heart function.

Although eating raw garlic may not do much to clear up your skin, there are plenty of reasons to add it to your diet. For starters, sincegarliccontains antioxidant properties, it can decrease inflammation and help repair damage fromfree radicals, potentially lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Garlic contains manganese, which the body needs to build strong bones and maintain a ready-to-fight immune system. Garlic also has high levels of potassium, which is important for muscle contraction and heart function.

Geddes-Bruce and Nazarian said that eating garlic,—especially in high doses—is not healthy or safe for everyone. People withlow blood pressureshould be especially cautious, as garlic can affectbleeding and clottingbecause it functions as a blood thinner.

Palm added that if you takeblood thinners(anticoagulants), eating garlic can change the effectiveness of these drugs. Garlic may also affect of other medications, includingacetaminophenand certain HIV medications.

How Else Can You Treat Acne?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all dietary recommendation to help manage acne, Palm generally recommends eating a nutritious diet that is rich in antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support overall skin health. Alow-glycemic dietthat limits the consumption of processed foods may also be beneficial in minimizing acne breakouts.

Other treatments for acne include topical gels, creams, or lotions likesalicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, certain antibiotics,retinoids, laser and light therapies, chemical peels, and other products.

If you still can’t manage your acne at home, your best bet is to skip the TikTok trends and talk to a board-certified dermatologist.

What This Means For YouThere is no scientific evidence to support the latest TikTok skincare trend of eating raw garlic daily to clear acne. Instead, experts generally recommend maintaining a well-balanced and healthy diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

What This Means For You

There is no scientific evidence to support the latest TikTok skincare trend of eating raw garlic daily to clear acne. Instead, experts generally recommend maintaining a well-balanced and healthy diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

10 Years of Studies Link Acne Breakouts to Diet

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tesfaye A.Revealing the therapeutic uses of garlic (Allium sativum) and its potential for drug discovery.ScientificWorldJournal.2021;2021:8817288. doi:10.1155/2021/8817288USDA.The origins and distribution of garlic: how many garlics are there?.Baroni L, Sarni AR, Zuliani C.Plant foods rich in antioxidants and human cognition: a systematic review.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(5):714. doi:10.3390/antiox10050714Oregon State University.Garlic and organosulfur compounds.Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014;4(1):1-14.Michigan State University Extension Nutrition.Eat garlic for your health.Izzo AA, Hoon-Kim S, Radhakrishnan R, Williamson EM.A critical approach to evaluating clinical efficacy, adverse events and drug interactions of herbal remedies.Phytother Res. 2016;30(5):691-700. doi:10.1002/ptr.5591Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tesfaye A.Revealing the therapeutic uses of garlic (Allium sativum) and its potential for drug discovery.ScientificWorldJournal.2021;2021:8817288. doi:10.1155/2021/8817288USDA.The origins and distribution of garlic: how many garlics are there?.Baroni L, Sarni AR, Zuliani C.Plant foods rich in antioxidants and human cognition: a systematic review.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(5):714. doi:10.3390/antiox10050714Oregon State University.Garlic and organosulfur compounds.Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014;4(1):1-14.Michigan State University Extension Nutrition.Eat garlic for your health.Izzo AA, Hoon-Kim S, Radhakrishnan R, Williamson EM.A critical approach to evaluating clinical efficacy, adverse events and drug interactions of herbal remedies.Phytother Res. 2016;30(5):691-700. doi:10.1002/ptr.5591Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Tesfaye A.Revealing the therapeutic uses of garlic (Allium sativum) and its potential for drug discovery.ScientificWorldJournal.2021;2021:8817288. doi:10.1155/2021/8817288USDA.The origins and distribution of garlic: how many garlics are there?.Baroni L, Sarni AR, Zuliani C.Plant foods rich in antioxidants and human cognition: a systematic review.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(5):714. doi:10.3390/antiox10050714Oregon State University.Garlic and organosulfur compounds.Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014;4(1):1-14.Michigan State University Extension Nutrition.Eat garlic for your health.Izzo AA, Hoon-Kim S, Radhakrishnan R, Williamson EM.A critical approach to evaluating clinical efficacy, adverse events and drug interactions of herbal remedies.Phytother Res. 2016;30(5):691-700. doi:10.1002/ptr.5591Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017

Tesfaye A.Revealing the therapeutic uses of garlic (Allium sativum) and its potential for drug discovery.ScientificWorldJournal.2021;2021:8817288. doi:10.1155/2021/8817288

USDA.The origins and distribution of garlic: how many garlics are there?.

Baroni L, Sarni AR, Zuliani C.Plant foods rich in antioxidants and human cognition: a systematic review.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(5):714. doi:10.3390/antiox10050714

Oregon State University.Garlic and organosulfur compounds.

Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A.Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014;4(1):1-14.

Michigan State University Extension Nutrition.Eat garlic for your health.

Izzo AA, Hoon-Kim S, Radhakrishnan R, Williamson EM.A critical approach to evaluating clinical efficacy, adverse events and drug interactions of herbal remedies.Phytother Res. 2016;30(5):691-700. doi:10.1002/ptr.5591

Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017

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