The Mechanism of Action and Therapeutic Potential of Tanshinone in the Treatment of Acne

Acne, a common skin disorder, is prone to causing erythema and pigmentation. It has a high prevalence rate and is prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich experience in treating acne, with methods such as syndrome differentiation and treatment, acupuncture, TCM decoctions, and facial masks. The treatment approaches are unique and effective. This article, through analyzing the common combinations of TCM in the treatment of acne, found that the proportion of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the combinations of TCM preparations is significant. The research discovered that the active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza have a remarkable effect on the treatment of acne. This article explores the inhibitory effect of tanshinone on androgen and the combined effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Scutellaria baicalensis in killing Propionibacterium acnes, and analyzes the mechanism of action of tanshinone in the treatment of acne. At the same time, it also investigates the research progress in improving the pigmentation caused by acne. However, in the treatment of acne, TCM mainly proves the effectiveness of treatment through practical means such as the review and summary of clinical results, with relatively few experimental explorations. Therefore, future research should focus on the exploration of the effective components and action mechanisms of TCM, as well as the investigation of new treatment methods.