To investigate the effect of facial photon therapeutic instrument in the adjuvant treatment of facial acne. Methods A total of 86 patients with acne admitted to our hospital from August 2020 to February 2023 were divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 43 patients in each group. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine, and the observation group was treated with facial photon therapeutic instrument on the basis of the control group. The clinical efficacy, skin status, inflammatory factor levels, psychological status and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 86.05%, which was higher than 65.12% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The Leeds score of the two groups after treatment was lower than that before treatment, and that in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). After treatment, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group was lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 6.98%, which was slightly higher than 4.65% in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). Conclusion Facial photon therapeutic instrument is effective in the adjuvant treatment of acne, which can effectively improve the skin state, inhibit the inflammatory response, improve the negative emotions of patients, and will not increase the risk of adverse reactions.