How to get your Acne Treatment

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What is Acne?

Acne is one of the most common skin diseases known to humans; it affects both genders and people of all ages but occurs more during Adolescence. Basically, acne happens when your pores get clogged with oil (Sebum). Acne can also lead to having pimples when exposed to certain bacteria. Funny enough, acne is most common in the places you don’t want it to show up: on your face, back, and chest.

What Is Cystic Acne?

Cystic acne is a more severe type of acne identified by its deep, painful, and pus-filled lumps underneath the skin. If you might be facing this, it’s best that you see a dermatologist to help you reduce the chance of getting infected.

What are the different types of acne?

There are three primary types of acne, which can range from mild to severe. These acne are categorised as:1. Non-Inflammatory Acne: These are the most basic and mild types of acne. They usually do not hurt or look very red. The two types of non-inflammatory acne are blackheads and whiteheads. Blackheads are open, plugged follicles, and when exposed to air, they turn dark. Whiteheads, on the other hand, are closed, making them look like small white bumps. 2. Inflammatory Acne This type of acne is moderate in terms of severity. These are most times red and swollen, and they include Papules, pustules, and sometimes more severe blackheads. 3. Severe Acne From the name, these are the most painful type of acne that goes deeper into the skin and, in most cases, can cause scars. The two main types of severe acne are Nodules and Cysts.

Why It Happens

Acne is mainly caused by pores becoming clogged with a combination of excess oil (Sebum). There are other reasons that cause acne, like dead skin cells, bacteria, and hair follicles, and we’ll look into them.

  1. Oily skin: Some people naturally have skin that produces way too much oil, which clogs up the skin
  2. Infants: These are seen in infants around 1 year old, but there’s nothing to worry about, as it cures itself in a few months, but if acne persists beyond that age, contact a doctor.
  3. Hormones: When hormones go up due to stress or puberty, acne usually gets worse.
  4. Bacterial Growth: Cutibacterium acnes (aka C. acnes) is a type of bacteria found in the skin that feasts on these clogged spots that could lead to an infection.
  5. Puberty: Increased sex hormones during puberty stimulate the oil glands that end up producing more oil from our skin.
  6. Genetics: If your parents had acne, there’s a strong chance you’ll have to deal with it too.
  7. Cosmetics: Using oil-based cosmetics can clog up the pores, leading to acne.

How to prevent acne

Preventing Acne is not 100% possible due to the fact that you can have acne due to genetics and hormones, but some tips and habits can help you reduce your chances of clogging your pores or at least make them less severe.

  1. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle water-based cleanser.
  2. Moisturise your skin with an oil-free moisturiser.
  3. Shower after sweating to prevent sweat from building up
  4. Drink water,, as it helps skin function properly. 
  5. Avoid touching your face, as our hands carry dirt and bacteria.
  6. Getting enough sleep
  7. Manage stress, as stress hormones can cause acne.
  8. Change pillowcases and face towels regularly

 

Getting in Contact with Us

If you’d like to know more about acne, what causes it, or the treatments available, our pharmacy team can definitely help you with that. You will also be able to find information about each option on the product pages. And you are still not sure which treatment is right for you? Reach out to our professionals for the best advice.

Topical Acne Treatments

Name Active Ingredients Best For How to Use Expert Advice
Epiduo Gel 0.1% / 2.5% Adapalene (retinoid), Benzoyl Peroxide (antiseptic) Mild to moderate acne Apply once daily Treats and prevents breakouts, brightens skin, and helps reduce scarring.
Finacea 15% Gel Azelaic Acid Mild to moderate acne Apply twice daily Good option if avoiding retinoids or antibiotics. Helps prevent breakouts and calm rosacea.
Differin 0.1% Cream/Gel Adapalene (retinoid) Mild to moderate acne Apply once daily Gold-standard topical retinoid. Prevents and improves breakouts and scarring.
Skinoren 20% Cream Azelaic Acid Mild to moderate acne Apply twice daily Higher strength version of Finacea. Only use if you can tolerate Finacea.
Clindamycin & Benzoyl Peroxide Gel Clindamycin (antibiotic), Benzoyl Peroxide Mild to moderate acne Apply once daily Effective for stubborn acne. Switch to retinoid-based treatment
Duac Daily Gel Clindamycin, Benzoyl Peroxide Mild to moderate acne Apply once daily Branded version of the above combination. Same benefits and precautions.
Aklief Cream Trifarotene (retinoid) Mild to moderate acne Apply once daily Promising but less studied than Adapalene (Differin). Helps with scarring
Aknemycin Plus Solution Erythromycin (antibiotic), Tretinoin (retinoid) Mild to moderate acne Apply once or twice daily Alternative for those avoiding Clindamycin. Should be combined with Benzoyl Peroxide (e.g. Acnecide).
Treclin Gel 1% / 0.025% Clindamycin, Tretinoin (retinoid) Moderate to severe acne Apply once daily Combines antibiotic and retinoid. Effective but less tolerated than Adapalene.

Oral Antibiotic Acne Treatments

Name Active Ingredient Best For Dose Expert Advice
Lymecycline 408mg Capsules Lymecycline Moderate to severe acne 1 capsule daily Best used for severe cases and always alongside a topical treatment. Do not combine with another antibiotic cream/gel.
Doxycycline 50mg Capsules Doxycycline Moderate to severe acne 1 capsule daily Same guidance as Lymecycline. Use with a non-antibiotic topical treatment.
Tetralysal 408mg Capsules Lymecycline Moderate to severe acne 1 capsule daily Branded version of Lymecycline capsules.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Acne Treatments

Name Active Ingredient(s) Best For How to Use Expert Advice
Acnecide 5% Gel Benzoyl Peroxide Mild to moderate acne Apply once or twice daily Recommended if you can’t or don’t want to use Azelaic Acid or a Retinoid.
Freederm Fast Track Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory vitamin) Mild to moderate acne, occasional breakouts Apply once daily It is Best for small breakouts or single spots.
Freederm Treatment Gel (10g & 25g) Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory vitamin) Mild to moderate acne Apply twice daily It helps with small areas of acne but not strong enough for persistent breakouts.

No. Though it is most common, it can be seen in infants and elderly people as well.



The best way to treat acne is to follow a consistent habit and over-the-counter products containing ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.



You should use most acne treatment for around 8 weeks but preferably if you want the best results you should use them for about 2-3 months.

For some people acne improves with age but for other it
continues to adulthood, seeking processional help will be recommended.

Written and reviewed by our qualified team

GPhC Number: 2233073
Tarun Kumar

Reviewed by:

Tarun Kumar

Clinical Leads

📖 Find out more about our team of medical content authors and how we ensure the accuracy of our content with our content guidelines.

Content last updated: 31 Mar 2025

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