OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of acne, and to analyze the current situation of clinical studies at present.

METHODSRetrieve PubMed, Cochrane library, CBM databank, CNKI databank, etc., and collect the randomized and controlled trials of treatment of acne with acupuncture and moxibustion, and select clinical trials conforming with the enrolled criteria, and conduct evaluation of quality with Cochrane systematic manual 5.0, and RevMan 4.2.8 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSSeventeen papers, including 1,613 cases, conformed with the enrolled criteria. Seventeen studies adopted the cured rate as the evaluation index, Meta-analysis showed treatment of acne by acupuncture and moxibustion with routine western medicine as control, significant difference for inter-group comparison [combined RR (random efficacy model) = 2.96, 95% CI (1.63, 4.91), Z=4.08. P<0.0001]; comprehensive acupuncture and moxibustion therapy was controlled with single acupuncture moxibustion therapy, significant difference for inter-group comparison [combined RR (fixed efficacy model) = 2.51, 95% CI (1.76, 3.57), Z=5.11, P<0.00001].

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-mox ibustion is safe and effective for treatment of acne, and it is possibly better than routine western medicine, and the comprehensive acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is better than single acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. The conclusion has not been determined yet, because lower quality of a part of literature enrolled.