Objective: To explore the effect of combined application of glycolic acid in holistic nursing for patients with mild to moderate acne. Methods: 80 patients with mild to moderate acne were randomly divided into the observation group (40 cases) and the control group (40 cases). Patients in the control group received routine care during the treatment with glycolic acid, while patients in the observation group were combined with holistic care during the treatment with glycolic acid. Observation indicators include the number and color of skin lesions, the severity of acne, adverse reactions, quality of life, and satisfaction with nursing care. Results: After the intervention, the number of skin lesions, the color of skin lesions, the severity of acne, and the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group, while the quality of life and nursing satisfaction were higher than those in the control group. All the above comparisons were P < 0.05. Conclusion: In patients with mild to moderate acne treated with glycolic acid, the combined application of holistic nursing can reduce the number of skin lesions and alleviate their color, lower the severity of acne and adverse reactions, and simultaneously improve the quality of life and nursing satisfaction.