Burdock root has been eaten as a food in Asia for centuries, and burdock has a long history of use for the skin. [1][2] ClearDerm with Probiotics includes burdock root as one part of a 22-ingredient formula, to help promote clear skin. [3] Here is what the research shows.
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From Anirva, the maker of ClearDerm with Probiotics. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- Burdock has a long history of skin use. In folk skin remedies of Eastern Europe, it ranked third of 106 plants. [4] Europe lists burdock root as a traditional herbal medicine for seborrhoeic (oily) skin conditions. [5]
- In two controlled trials, burdock root lowered markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. [6][7]
- In the lab, peptides from burdock root were active against acne bacteria. [8]
- ClearDerm provides 100 mg of burdock root powder. [3]
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Burdock (Arctium lappa) root, as powder [3] |
| Amount in ClearDerm | 100 mg a day, in 2 capsules [3] |
| Traditional use | A food in Asia; a folk skin remedy; an EU traditional herbal medicine for seborrhoeic skin conditions [1][4][5] |
| What it is studied for | Inflammation and oxidative stress markers [6][7]; acne bacteria and skin inflammation in lab and animal studies [8][9][10] |
| Kinds of evidence | An EU herbal monograph, a folk-medicine study, two controlled trials, lab and animal studies, a skin cream study and reviews [2][5][4][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] |
| Last reviewed | [DATE] |
What is burdock?
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a plant in the daisy family. [12]
The root contains inulin, a kind of fiber, and plant compounds called lignans, such as arctiin and arctigenin. [12][10]
A long tradition of use for the skin
Burdock has been used in Europe, North America and Asia for hundreds of years. [2] In traditional Chinese medicine, burdock fruit was applied to the skin for skin complaints. [1]
A 2018 study rated 106 medicinal plants used in folk skin care in Romania and other Eastern European countries. Burdock ranked third. [4]
A 2010 monograph from the European Medicines Agency lists burdock root as a traditional herbal medicine for seborrhoeic skin conditions, which involve oily skin. [5] This listing applies to registered traditional herbal medicines in the EU.
How burdock relates to acne-prone skin
Research looks at three things linked to breakouts: inflammation, oxidative stress and acne bacteria. Oxidative stress is damage from unstable molecules, which antioxidants help control.
What the studies show
Burdock root by mouth: two controlled trials
In a 2026 double-blind trial, 60 women with a hormonal condition took burdock root powder or placebo for 12 weeks. In the burdock group, two antioxidant enzymes made by the body (SOD and catalase) went up. MDA, a marker of oxidative stress, and CRP, a marker of inflammation, went down, compared with placebo. [6]
In a 2016 trial, 36 adults aged 50 to 70 with knee arthritis were divided at random. They drank burdock root tea or hot water daily for 6 weeks. In the tea group, the inflammation markers IL-6 and hs-CRP fell, and so did MDA. Total antioxidant capacity rose. [7]
Burdock and acne bacteria: lab and animal studies
In a 2020 lab study, small peptides from burdock root were active against acne bacteria. They did not harm skin cells at the levels tested. [8]
In a 2024 mouse study, arctigenin, a compound from burdock, reduced ear swelling and an inflammation signal caused by acne bacteria. [9]
A 2025 review looked at burdock and its lignans in inflammatory skin conditions. In lab and animal studies, they calmed key inflammation pathways. The authors called burdock promising but the evidence preliminary. [10] The research is still growing.
Burdock on the skin
In a 2008 study, a cream with burdock fruit extract reduced wrinkle volume around the eyes in 4 weeks, compared with the same cream without it. [11]
How much burdock is in ClearDerm?
Two capsules provide 100 mg of burdock (Arctium lappa) root, as powder. [3]
22 ingredients, including 100 mg of burdock root
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule supplement that pairs burdock root with milk thistle, zinc and other nutrients chosen to support clear skin. Every ingredient is listed on the label.
See ClearDermWhat the research does not show yet
Is burdock safe?
The European Medicines Agency lists no reported drug interactions for burdock root. [5]
Burdock is one part of ClearDerm
ClearDerm with Probiotics is a daily two-capsule skin supplement with 22 ingredients: vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, an enzyme and six probiotic strains. They were chosen to promote clear skin, support a clear complexion and support the gut–skin connection. [3]
ClearDerm has not been clinically tested as a finished product. When you take it, you are not relying on one ingredient alone.
ClearDerm is made in Phoenix, Arizona, in a cGMP-certified facility. Every ingredient is listed on the label, and the probiotic blend is given as one total. [3]
Take ClearDerm with food and water, as the directions say. [3]
If you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, such as chrysanthemums, do not take ClearDerm unless your doctor says it is fine. [5][1]
If you take any medicine, or are pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start. [5]
If you are deciding
Burdock root has a long history of use for the skin, and Europe lists it as a traditional herbal medicine for seborrhoeic skin conditions. [4][5] In two controlled trials, it lowered markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. [6][7] Burdock is one of 22 ingredients chosen to promote clear skin. [3]
The short version
Burdock root is a traditional skin herb with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory research behind it. [5][6][7] ClearDerm includes it as one part of a formula to help promote clear skin. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is burdock good for acne-prone skin?
What is burdock root used for traditionally?
How much burdock is in ClearDerm?
Two capsules provide 100 mg of burdock root powder. [3]
Who should not take burdock?
People allergic to plants in the daisy family should not take it. Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. [5]
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Burdock. About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products. Updated March 13, 2023. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/burdock (accessed October 15, 2026).
- Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, et al. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011;19(5):245-254. doi:10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4. PMID: 20981575.
- Anirva. ClearDerm with Probiotics Supplement Facts label and product page. https://anirva.com/pages/clear-derm-with-probiotics (accessed October 15, 2026).
- Gilca M, Tiplica GS, Salavastru CM. Traditional and ethnobotanical dermatology practices in Romania and other Eastern European countries. Clin Dermatol. 2018;36(3):338-352. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.03.008. PMID: 29908576.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix. EMA/HMPC/246763/2009 Corr.1. Adopted September 16, 2010. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/arctii-radix (accessed October 15, 2026).
- Taheri H, Seydi F, Jalali-Mashayekhi F, et al. Effects of Arctium lappa L. root powder on some markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial study. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2026;30(2):272-281. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20250189. PMID: 41757842.
- Maghsoumi-Norouzabad L, Alipoor B, Abed R, et al. Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2016;19(3):255-261. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.12477. PMID: 25350500.
- Miazga-Karska M, Michalak K, Ginalska G. Anti-acne action of peptides isolated from burdock root: preliminary studies and pilot testing. Molecules. 2020;25(9):2027. doi:10.3390/molecules25092027. PMID: 32349230.
- Lu X, Han Y, Zhang Y, et al. An integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking approach to reveal the role of arctigenin against Cutibacterium acnes-induced skin inflammation by targeting the CYP19A1. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2024;104(2):e14598. doi:10.1111/cbdd.14598. PMID: 39090783.
- Yang M, Peng G, Abudouwanli A, et al. Immunopharmacological potential of Arctium lappa L. in immune-mediated skin diseases: a critical review of experimental and clinical evidence. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16:1660352. doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1660352. PMID: 41111517.
- Knott A, Reuschlein K, Mielke H, et al. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008;7(4):281-289. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2008.00407.x. PMID: 19146605.
- Uzbekova AA, Kozhanova KK, Kadyrbayeva G, et al. Unveiling the antihyperglycemic potential of Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae): traditional application, phytochemistry, and molecular insights. Foods. 2026;15(4):794. doi:10.3390/foods15040794. PMID: 41750986.
