Chlorophyll for Acne

Verdict: Published with Warning

Across 2 PubMed studies, the evidence for Chlorophyll in Acne grades Tier C — weak evidence. Effective, but with safety or population caveats.

C 🟠 C Weak Evidence Published with Warning

🔬Why this grade7-layer evidence engine

⚖️

Scoring transparency

All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable

Raw score 0.33

← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →

Final grade

C · Published with Warning

Confidence

64%

Broadly consistent

Evidence level

Multiple smaller RCTs (n<500)

How strongly each layer supports this effect

lower = less supportive

L5 Clinical bodiesAuthoritative stance

0.15

L2 PubMedPrimary literature

0.40

L1 ExamineGlobal benchmark

0.50

L3 MechanismPlausibility

0.50

L11 AI re-checkIndependent read

0.50

Against Mixed Supports

▸View the full decision path (audit trail)

compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.327
tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
apply_hec_rules — 無高階證據可裁決
tier_strict_requirement_check — D 級條件未達 (需 E1-E3 negative；實際 E6)
detect_disputes — 偵測到 1 個 hard + 1 個 soft dispute
decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status

📄PubMed studies (2)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews

Pilot Study of Topical Copper Chlorophyllin Complex in Subjects With Facial Acne and Large Pores

PMID: 26091384 2015 RCT (open-label) n = 10

Finding: All clinical efficacy parameters showed statistically significant improvements over baseline at week 3; product well tolerated. No placebo/control arm, no p-values reported in abstract.

🟠 Limited quality ⚠️ Industry-funded Effect size: Not quantitatively reported; pre-post only

View on PubMed

Photodynamic therapy using chlorophyll-a in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, single-blind, split-face study

PMID: 24930587 2014 RCT (single-blind) n = 24

Finding: Chlorophyll-a PDT side showed significant reductions in lesion counts, severity grades, and sebum levels vs LED-only side; side effects tolerable.

🟠 Limited quality Effect size: Specific statistics not reported in abstract; qualitative 'significant' reductions

View on PubMed

🏛️Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …

L4a US FDA

Cautious

The color additive sodium copper chlorophyllin may be safely used to color dentifrices that are drugs and cosmetics in amounts not to exceed 0.1 percent. source↗

L4b EU EFSA

Against

L4d TW TFDA / 衛福部

Neutral

銅葉綠素及銅葉綠素鈉均為我國及國際規範所准許使用之食品添加物……銅葉綠素為國際規範准許使用之食品添加物著色劑，但各國均未准許使用於『食用油脂產品』中。如標示、宣稱為『天然色素』、『天然葉綠素』等字樣，涉屬標示不實。 source↗

L4e WHO

Neutral

ADI NOT LIMITED (JECFA 13, 1969); INS 140 — Chlorophylls. Report: NMRS 46/TRS 445-JECFA 13/10. source↗

L5a NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Cautious

L5c Cleveland Clinic

Against

There's been some research around topical chlorophyll and its potential to improve acne, pore size and sun damage. But it's important to note that these studies were small-scale in size — with around 10 people per study. Would I recommend chlorophyll? No. source↗

✓PMID 100% verifiedevery citation checked via NCBI Entrez

🔬2 PubMed studiesindependently re-checked by multiple sub-agents

engine_version: v1.0 claim_id: CLM-COND-acne-INT-chlorophyll-001 繁體中文版 →