Topical Herbal Gels for Acne Management: Formulation Approaches and Clinical Potential

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that significantly affects quality of life and often requires long-term management. Conventional topical therapies such as antibiotics, retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide are effective but frequently associated with skin irritation, dryness, and development of microbial resistance. In recent years, topical herbal gels have emerged as promising alternatives owing to their multitarget therapeutic action and improved safety profiles. Herbal formulations contain diverse bioactive phytoconstituents that exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties, enabling simultaneous modulation of multiple acne-causing pathways. Gel-based delivery systems offer additional advantages, including non-greasy texture, enhanced skin penetration, localized drug action, and superior cosmetic acceptability. This review highlights recent advances in topical herbal gels for acne management, focusing on formulation approaches, key excipients, evaluation parameters, and clinical potential. Emphasis is placed on polymer selection, incorporation of herbal actives, physicochemical characterization, antimicrobial efficacy, and dermal safety. Clinical evidence suggests that herbal anti-acne gels effectively reduce inflammatory lesions, erythema, and bacterial load while demonstrating better tolerability than conventional synthetic formulations. Despite challenges related to extract standardization and stability, continued progress in formulation science is expected to strengthen their therapeutic utility. Overall, topical herbal gels represent a safe, patient-friendly, and effective strategy for long-term acne management.