Best Acne Treatment UK Providers Sell

Most people have had spots or pimples at some point during their lifetime. However, if you regularly suffer from outbreaks of greasy, spotty skin, you probably have the common condition known as acne.

It may have a reputation for affecting teenagers, but acne can develop at any age and affects all genders equally. And it’s not just confined to your face. If you’re particularly unlucky, you may find that you get acne on your neck, your shoulders, your chest and even your back. Unfortunately, any degree of acne can make you feel uncomfortable about your appearance, and some people find that their mental health is quite significantly affected by their skin.

Acne is usually caused by a combination of different factors, from hormonal imbalances that cause your skin to produce more oil than unusual, to bacteria and dirt on the skin that mixes with these oils and gets clogged in tiny holes on the surface of your skin called pores. Some studies suggest that acne risk can be genetic, so if you’re parents or other close blood relatives had acne, you could be more likely to, too.

If you suspect you’ve got acne, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis before you start treatment. This is because sometimes acne is confused with other skin conditions, such as dermatitis or eczema. An accurate diagnosis will ensure that you get the right treatment for your skin.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most common and effective acne treatments available in the UK, so that you can make an informed choice when it comes to improving the health and appearance of your skin.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Acne Treatment?

While some people try to stick to using purely natural remedies, such as tea tree oil on cotton pads, to improve their acne, there are plenty of very effective medical treatments that have been shown to help target and improve active acne, as well as prevent future breakouts.

These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Acne creams, gels and lotions
• Oral medications, including antibiotics
• Laser/light treatment
• Chemical peels
• Steroid injections
• Washes, cleansers and moisturisers
• Vitamin supplements

Do I Need A Prescription For Acne Treatment?

Some acne treatments are only available with a prescription. This means that you’ll need to have a consultation with a licensed clinician before you can access them. This consultation is necessary because the treatments are often stronger and have a greater risk of side effects than over-the-counter alternatives, and your clinician must be sure that they are right for you. We’ll be covering some of them in this guide.

Acne Creams, Gels And Lotions

Also known as topical treatments, creams, gels and lotions are applied directly to your skin. There are a huge range of topical treatments available, many which are available over the counter without a prescription, and some that you can only access after speaking to a clinician.

In most cases, you’ll be recommended to try non-prescription treatments first. This is because they can be very effective while also causing fewer side effects. Some of the best non-prescription creams, gels and lotions are based around the use of Vitamin A, which is well known for being good for your skin. Check out Acenide 5% gel which is available without a consultation.

Prescription acne topical treatments that you may look to consider include Skinoren 20% cream, Duac 5% gel, Treclin gel or Differin. These are all topical antibiotics which means that they target bacteria and skin infections that could be making your acne worse.

Oral Medication/Antibiotics For Acne

If topical treatments – even those available on prescription - aren’t improving your acne enough, you may be recommended to try oral acne medications. These are a form of antibiotic, and work by reducing the number of bacteria on your skin that causes inflammation and infection (pustules which appear as yellow-headed spots). They also contain anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce swelling and redness.

Oral antibiotics for acne are usually recommended to be used at the same time as non-antibiotic topical acne treatments, like those we’ve listed above. It’s not a quick fix though, with most treatment plans lasting between three and six months. This is so your clinician can see how well the treatment is working, and to enable you to receive the optimal benefit.

Some of the side effects that have been associated with taking oral antibiotics for acne include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness and itchy skin. However, they are generally safe and effective when used as prescribed. If you’ve got any concerns about side effects, always speak to your clinician.

Some of the oral antibiotics that we offer include Tetralysal and Lymecycline.

Buy Tetralysal (Lymecycline) 300mg Capsules Safely and Securely

from£17.49

Tetralysal capsules are prescription antibiotics used to treat acne and skin infections, helping to reduce inflammation and bacterial growth.

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Lymecycline Capsules

from£15.99

Lymecycline is an effective prescription-only oral antibiotic used to treat acne. A generic, unbranded version of Tetralysal, Lymecycline capsules target the acne-causing bacteria responsible for skin inflammation, lesions, and blemishes, enabling the skin to heal and preventing further breakouts.

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Light/Laser Therapy For Acne

Also sometimes known as photodynamic therapy, light therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free acne treatment. It uses special wavelengths of blue or red light to kill the bacteria that live on your skin and may be contributing to your acne. It can also shrink the oil glands in your skin, effectively drying your skin out so that there is less oil to clog your pores and cause spots to form.

Light therapy is considered to be safe and effective when administered properly by a qualified and trained professional. However, it has also been linked to side effects such as redness, swelling and excessive dryness, as well as changes in skin colour. The treatment can also make your skin more sensitive to light than usual, so it’s important to stay out of the sun in the days following your treatment.

Although the treatment is non-invasive and drug-free, you’ll still need to have your suitability assessed as you may not be able to have light therapy if you’re epileptic, have cancer, pregnant or sensitive to light.

Laser therapy is a newer form of treatment. It’s mostly recommended to treat acne scarring by either removing damaged skin, or stimulating the growth of new, smoother skin to cover it.

Chemical Peels For Acne

Once only considered as an anti-aging treatment, chemical peels have also started to be used as a tool for tackling acne and acne scarring. The treatment uses a chemical solution that removes the outermost layers of your skin, to reveal smoother, healthier skin underneath. This helps to improve the texture and overall appearance of your face, as well as unclogging any blocked pores, helping to prevent future outbreaks.

There are lots of different chemical peels available, with some harsher than others. It’s important to have a consultation with a qualified and experienced provider before going ahead with a chemical peel.

Steroid Injections

Steroid injections are another advanced treatment for acne. They work by directly fighting acne inflammation, shrinking large cysts and helping to soothe sore, swollen areas of skin. However, steroid injections are quite a drastic course of action, they aren’t widely available, and you should be aware of side effects including pain at the site of injection, bruising and skin thinning.

Cleansers, Washes And Moisturisers

When it comes to keeping your skin clean, hydrated and healthy, cleansers, washes and moisturisers should form part of your day-to-day routine. They won’t directly target and improve your acne, but they can help to reduce the amount of oil and bacteria on your skin, which could make acne less likely.

A cleansing face wash containing benzoyl peroxide, such as Acnecide wash, can help to complement other acne treatments you may be using, and leave your skin feeling fresh and healthy.

Acnecide Face Wash

from£7.59

Acnecide Face Wash is a medicated wash off treatment for mild acne that affects the face. It is a highly effective acne treatment killing 95% of bacteria responsible for breakouts on the skin.

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Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin supplements won’t target acne directly either, but they could help improve the overall health and quality of your skin. Vitamins A and E are known for their skin-boosting properties, while zinc and collagen supplements could also be a worthwhile consideration.

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Prescription-Only Spot Treatments

As you know, there are some acne treatments that can only be accessed after a consultation with a doctor or clinician. This is to make sure they are safe for you to take, and their benefits should outweigh any risk of their use.

You can buy a range of different spot medications from our online pharmacy after speaking to a member of our clinical team. So, which could be right for you?

Tetralysal

Tetralysal is an oral antibiotic often recommended to treat moderate to severe acne. It works by targeting the bacteria that cause inflammation and infection, and that lead to the widespread outbreak of spots.

Tetralysal is often prescribed when over-the-counter acne treatments have been unsuccessful, and when you have an active acne infection with visible inflammation. It can also help to treat cystic acne, acne rosacea and hormonal acne.

Most Tetralysal treatment plans last 8-12 weeks, but your progress will be monitored by a member of our clinical team. It should be combined with a non-antibiotic topical treatment for best results.

Find more about Tetralysal use, side effects and reviews.

Buy Tetralysal (Lymecycline) 300mg Capsules Safely and Securely

from£17.49

Tetralysal capsules are prescription antibiotics used to treat acne and skin infections, helping to reduce inflammation and bacterial growth.

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Free Delivery Over £40. Fast & Discreet

Skinoren Cream

Skinoren cream is a great topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. Its active ingredient is azelaic acid, which works in two ways. First, it helps stop the growth of keratin skin cells, which mix with oil on your skin to block your pores. It also kills bacteria and reduce irritation and inflammation, making your skin calmer, more moisturised and less red.

Skinoren is also prescribed to treat rosacea, acne scarring and dark spots. It shouldn’t be used for more than six months, but it can take several weeks or more to start making a noticeable improvement to the health and appearance of your skin.

Skinoren 20% Cream

from£19.99

Skinoren is a prescription-only topical treatment for acne that contains azelaic acid, a naturally-occuring acid that kills acne-causing bacteria and reduces the growth of keratin skin cells.

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Free Delivery Over £40. Fast & Discreet

Oxytetracycline

Oxytetracycline tablets are a prescription-only oral antibiotic recommended for treating moderate to severe acne. It works by destroying the bacteria on your skin, reducing visible inflammation and stopping the active infection.

Oxytetracycline should be taken in combination with a non-antibiotic treatment, and you should follow a solid skincare routine, cleansing and moisturising your skin at least twice each day to help further eliminate bacteria and excess oil. Your course of antibiotics will probably last between 12 and 24 weeks, depending on how long it takes for your acne to improve.

Oxytetracycline Tablets

from£44.99

This powerful, prescription-only oral antibiotic is available to order direct through The Independent Pharmacy — simply complete a free online assessment for review by one of our healthcare professionals.

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Duac Gel

Duac gel is another topical treatment that works by targeting the bacteria responsible for your acne. It is an antibiotic, and a good alternative if you aren’t able to take oral antibiotic medication for spots. It’s usually recommended for people with moderate to severe acne.

Duac gel contains two active ingredients – clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide. These both stop bacteria from reproducing and kill it, leading to a drastic improvement in the appearance of acne. It should be applied once each day onto clean, dry skin and you should start to notice an improvement in your acne within a month of use. However, there’s no limit to how long you can take it for.

Find out about Duac gel use, side effects and reviews.

Duac Gel (3% & 5%)

from£22.99

Duac Gel (3% & 5%) is one of the most popular acne treatments in the UK. It works by killing the bacteria that’s responsible for causing acne and is clinically proven to help reduce symptoms, ease flare-ups and prevent acne from spreading.

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Zineryt

Zinyert is also a topical antibiotic for moderate to severe acne and should not be used alongside oral antibiotic treatment. It contains erythromycin and zinc acetate, which stop bacteria growth and help your skin to heal. It’s specifically recommended as the best option for acne treatment during pregnancy as the active ingredients are known to be safe for use at this time.

You can expect to use Zineryt for up to 12 weeks to achieve optimal results.

Zineryt Lotion

from£17.99

Zineryt contains erythromycin and zinc acetate to help kill the bacteria that are the root cause of acne and will clear acne up in 10 to 12 weeks.

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Free Delivery Over £40. Fast & Discreet

Differin

Differin isn’t an antibiotic but has been shown to have acne-busting qualities thanks to an active ingredient of adapalene, which works by reducing the growth of keratin skin cells that can clog your pores and make spot breakouts more likely. It also helps to reduce inflammation and redness and increases the rate at which your skin sheds and renews.

It should be applied once every day, preferably at night and onto clean, dry skin. Make sure it’s properly absorbed before you put anything else on your skin, such as makeup or moisturiser.

Differin 0.1% Cream/Gel

from£29.95

Differin reduces the growth of keratin skin cells that would normally act to block pores in acne vulgaris. Start a free consultation and have it delivered as soon as the next working day.

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Treclin

Treclin is a dual-action acne treatment that contains a combination of the antibiotic clindamycin, and tretinoin. These work together to increasing the rate at which your skin cells renew, unclogging your pores and reducing inflammation, and are more powerful as a duo than used separately.

Treclin should be applied once every day, onto clean, dry skin. You only need a pea-sized amount, and it should be spread evenly across your entire face, rather than just the areas affected by acne. In most cases, you’ll be recommended to use it for at least 12 weeks which will enable our clinical team to assess how well it’s working, and to give you the maximum benefit from your treatment.

Find out more about Treclin

Treclin Gel

from£36.99

Treclin gel normally takes a few weeks of continued use to build up an effect by killing bacteria and helping your skin to replace and remove dead skin cells. It is normally prescribed for a period of 10-12 weeks.

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Acne can be a frustrating and even upsetting skin condition, but there are treatments that can help. If you’re feeling fed up with spotty, oily skin and would like expert advice, our discreet, compassionate clinical team are on hand to help. Get in touch with us today and start your journey to healthier, clearer skin.

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