Acne vulgaris, known as Busoore Labaniya in the Unani System of Medicine (USM), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, affecting a significant portion of adolescents and adults worldwide. This review integrates conventional and Unani perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis of its etymology, historical context, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, psychosocial impact, treatment modalities, prognosis, limitations, and future research directions. Conventional medicine targets sebum overproduction, hyper keratinization, microbial colonization, and inflammation using topical and systemic therapies. USM views Busoore Labaniya as a Maddi (matter involving) disease caused by Balgham (phlegm) imbalance, advocating holistic interventions like dietotherapy, regimenal therapy, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. By synthesizing both systems, this paper highlights their complementary strengths, addresses limitations such as antibiotic resistance and lack of Unani standardization, and proposes strategies to enhance acne management through integrative approaches.
Kazmi et al. (2025) studied this question.