Acne
Acne develops when oil and dead skin cells clog hair follicles, creating whiteheads, blackheads and sometimes deeper, tender nodules. Most common in teenagers, it also affects many adults, particularly along the jaw and chin. The combination of heat and humidity makes blocked pores a year-round problem.
Medicines used to treat Acne
Retin-A Cream
0.025 · 0.05%
Tretinoin cream at 0.025% and 0.05%, applied for acne vulgaris and photoageing. It normalises keratinisation so microcomedones do not form.
Retin-A Gel
0.01 · 0.025%
Retin-A Gel is tretinoin at 0.01% and 0.025% in a gel base for acne vulgaris, a vitamin A derivative that speeds turnover of the skin.
Vibramycin
100mg
Doxycycline 100mg capsules and tablets, used for acne vulgaris, chlamydia, Lyme disease and respiratory tract infection. A broad-spectrum tetracycline.
Key points
- Acne develops when excess oil and a blocked pore let the bacterium known as Cutibacterium acnes flourish, with hormones amplifying the process.
- A common misconception blames oily food or poor hygiene, when the real irritant is often harsh scrubbing, which damages the skin barrier.
- Mild acne often responds to topical retinoids that speed up cell turnover, while more inflamed cases often need an oral antibiotic.
- Healed spots in darker skin often leave temporary brown marks rather than true scarring.
What is actually driving it
Three factors converge: excess sebum, a blocked follicle and the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. Hormones amplify all three, which is why breakouts often track the menstrual cycle or periods of high stress. Contrary to a persistent myth, oily food and poor hygiene are not direct causes, and vigorous scrubbing irritates the skin barrier without clearing pores.
How acne is treated
Treatment is matched to severity. Topical tretinoin is a mainstay for mild to moderate acne, speeding cell turnover so pores stay clear. Inflamed acne often requires an oral antibiotic from the antibiotics category, with doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline all commonly used. For women whose acne has a hormonal pattern, a combined pill containing drospirenone and ethinylestradiol can reduce breakouts significantly. All acne treatments need six to eight weeks to show full results, so consistency matters more than frequent product changes. The full skin care range on AU Chemist covers topical and systemic options.
Marks versus scars
In darker skin tones, healed acne spots frequently leave brown or reddish patches rather than true scars. These are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks. Treating acne early and wearing daily broad-spectrum SPF are the most effective ways to limit how dark and long-lasting those marks become.
Further reading
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