| | First author, publication year | Intervention type | Acupuncture points | Intervention treatment frequency | Control details | Control treatment frequency |
| | Han, 2010 [27] | Acupuncture | CV13 Shangwan, CV12 Zhongwan, CV4 Guanyuan, CV6 Qihai; ST24 Huaroumen, ST26 Wailing; Shangfeng Shidian (abdominal point 0.5 cun lateral and superior to ST24); KI13 Qixue, M-CA-23 Sanjiaojiu (Qipang) | 30 mins, 3 times per week | Isotretinoin capsules (oral) | 10 mg b.i.d. (first month);
10 mg q.d. (second month) |
| | He, 2009 [28] | Acupuncture | CV13 Shangwan, CV12 Zhongwan, CV4 Guanyuan, CV6 Qihai; ST24 Huaroumen, ST26 Wailing; Shangfeng Shidian (abdominal point 0.5 cun lateral and superior to ST24); KI13 Qixue, M-CA-23 Sanjiaojiu (Qipang), M-HN-3 Yintang, SI18 Quanliao, ST4 Dicang, M-HN-9 Taiyang, Ashi points | 30 mins: body points; 15–20 mins: head points Ashi points q.d. (first week), every 2 days (2nd and 3rd weeks) | Metronidazole (topical) | b.i.d. |
| | Li, 2002 [29] | I1 AA + SA
I2: AA | SA: Ashi points, AA: endocrine, lung, sympathetic, stomach, large intestine, ear Shen Men, internal genitals | SA: 30 min q.d.; AA: 3–5 min, b.i.d. | Tetracycline (oral) | 0.5 g, q.i.d. |
| | Liu, 2011 [30] | AA | Lung, endocrine, adrenal gland, ear Shen Men, subcortex, cheek; large intestine (wind and heat in lung meridian); spleen, stomach, large intestine (heat and damp in spleen and stomach); liver, kidney (penetrating and conception meridian disharmony) | AA: 5–10 min, t.i.d. | Benzamycin (oral) | b.i.d. |
| | Mo, 2005 [32] | Acupuncture | Governor meridian | 4-5 hrs/treatment, 5 times per week | Viaminate capsules, Vit B6 (oral) | Viaminate 0.25 mg t.i.d.;
Vit B6, 2 pills t.i.d. |
| | Tang, 2011 [33] | Acupuncture + SA | Manual: ST36 Zusanli, ST40 Fenglong, ST45 Lidui, LI11 Quchi, LI10 Shoushanli, LI4 Hegu; SA: Ashi points | 30 min q.d. | Erythromycin, zinc sulfate (oral); sulphur (topical) | Erythromycin 0.2 g b.i.d.; zinc sulfate 0.2 g b.i.d.;
sulphur (topical) q.d. |
| | Wu, 2011 [34] | Acupuncture + moxibustion | Acupuncture: CV11 Shangwan, CV12 Zhongwan, CV4 Guanyuan, CV6 Qihai; ST24 Huaroumen, ST26 Wailing; Shangfeng Shidian (abdominal point 0.5 cun lateral and superior to ST24); KI13 Qixue; Moxa: CV4 Guanyuan, CV6 Qihai | Acupuncture and moxibustion: 3 times per week | Isotretinoin capsules (oral) | 10 mg b.i.d. |
| | Liu, 2015 [31] | Acupuncture | GB14 Yangbai, SI18 Quanliao, GV14 Dazhui, LI4 Hegu, LI11 Quchi, ST44 Neiting | q.d. (total of 56 treatments) | Isotretinoin (oral) | 10 mg b.i.d.-t.i.d. |
| | Zhang, 2014 [36] | EA | Governor meridians, Jiaji and bladder through the first lateral line, lung, large intestine, stomach | Twice per week (total of 15 treatments) | Tretinoin (topical) | b.i.d. |
| | You, 2014 [35] | Acupuncture | M-HN-3 Yintang, SI18 Quanliao, CV24 Chengjiang, BL13 Feishu, BL19 Ganshu, BL20 Pishu, BL23 Shenshu, CV12 Zhongwan, CV10 Xiawan, CV4 Guanyuan, CV6 Qihai, ST25 Tianshu, GV14 Dazhui, LI11 Quchi, LI4 Hegu, ST36 Zusanli, KI3 Taixi, LU9 Taiyuan | q.d. (total of 15 treatments) | Tretinoin (topical) | q.n. |
| | McKee, 2004 [38] | Auricular acupuncture and EA | I1: Oleson’s Shen Men, allergy point, skin disorder point F, point zero, lungs 1 and 2, endocrine point, genital control point, face point bilateral ears;
I2: points as I1 plus EA 8–16 sec on 5–80 Hz | 20 min weekly | C1: 9 sham points on helix auricular ridge
C2: 9 sham points on helix auricular ridge as C1 plus EA 8–16 sec, 10–40 Hz | 20 min weekly |
| | Kim, 2012 [37] | Acupuncture | ST2 Sibai, ST6 Jiache, ST36 Zusanli, LI20 Yingxiang, LI11 Quchi, PC6 Neiguan, HT8 Shaofu, SP3 Taibai, SP6 Sanyinjiao, SP10 Xuehai, LR3 Taichong, and/or Ashi points randomly selected at papules and nodules on the face by acupuncture practitioner | Twice weekly for 4 weeks | Waitlist (no treatment) | |
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