A lab study showed that red ginseng oil makes skin cells that are already inflamed (by bacterial LPS) produce more acne‑related chemicals, more sebum, and higher levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. In simple terms, red ginseng oil could worsen inflammatory acne, so people prone to breakouts should think twice before using it.

Ginseng has been known in Korea as a health-supportive herbal medicine from time immemorial. Essential oil isolated from fresh ginseng has been shown to display antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The effects of red ginseng oil (RGO) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells were studied. The cultured cells were treated with either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 µg/ml LPS, 50 µg/ml RGO, or 5 µg/ml LPS plus 50 µg/ml RGO for 6 and 24 hours. RT-PCR, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were performed for the analysis of inflammatory cytokine. RGO showed the increased gene and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. RGO also showed the increased protein expression of p-c-jun and p-JNK in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Gene expression of TLR2 was increased in LPS-treated sebocytes following treatment with RGO. Additionally, RGO resulted in an increased expression of LL-37 in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Moreover, it remarkably increased the production of sebum in LPS-treated sebocytes. RGO might be among the aggravating factors of acne vulgaris. It would be better to stop taking red ginseng in patients with inflammatory acne.