Acne

EVIDENCE-BASED ACNE CARE

Acne is the most common skin condition in the UK, and it is far more treatable than most people realise. Fill out a confidential online form, choose your preferred treatment, and a UK-registered prescriber will review it. If approved, your treatment is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and delivered discreetly.

Start your free online form Takes a few minutes and is reviewed by a UK prescriber. Treatment is supplied only if approved.
  • Fill out a short form
  • Choose your treatment
  • Delivered if approved
  • GPhC-registered pharmacy
  • Confidential plain packaging

The condition

Understanding acne

Acne happens when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin, allowing bacteria to multiply and the skin to become inflamed. Hormones drive the process, which is why it is so common in the teenage years, but adult acne is common too, particularly in women. Genetics play a big part, and it is emphatically not caused by being unclean.

Acne ranges from occasional spots to painful, persistent breakouts, and its effect on confidence is real at any severity. Effective treatments exist at every level, from pharmacy products to prescription options, and treating acne early also reduces the risk of scarring. Speaking to a clinician is the first step.

Know the signs

Symptoms and when to seek help

Acne shows up differently for everyone. Treatment is worth considering when any of the following sound familiar.

  • Blackheads, whiteheads or red spots on the face, chest or back
  • Painful, deeper spots that take weeks to settle
  • Breakouts that keep returning despite over-the-counter products
  • Marks or dark patches left behind after spots heal

When to see a doctor

See your GP if any of the following apply, as they need in-person assessment or a dermatology referral rather than an online service.

  • Severe acne with large, painful nodules or cysts
  • Acne that is scarring your skin
  • Acne alongside irregular periods, excess facial hair or unexplained weight gain
  • Sudden severe acne with fever or joint pain
  • Low mood that is affecting your daily life

Severe or scarring acne responds best to specialist treatment that only dermatologists can prescribe, so an early GP referral is genuinely worth it. If acne is weighing on your mood, tell your GP that too, because support is available. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111.

Our clinic model

How it works at Medicosmetic

Fill out a short medical form

Answer a confidential set of health questions online. It takes a few minutes and can be done in private, at any time. We carry out identity checks to keep the service safe.

Choose your preferred treatment

Select the treatment option you would prefer, and upload photos of your skin if asked. A UK-registered prescriber reviews your form and approves your choice only if it is clinically appropriate. They may suggest an alternative, or refer you to your GP if your acne needs specialist care.

Delivered discreetly if approved

Once approved, your treatment is checked and dispensed by our pharmacist at Erdington Community Pharmacy, then posted in plain, unbranded packaging with tracking.

This service is for adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, your GP can prescribe effective acne treatment for you. We encourage everyone to let their GP know about any treatment received, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied.

Start your form

Evidence-based options

Treatment approaches

Treatment builds in steps. Pharmacy products containing benzoyl peroxide kill acne bacteria and unblock pores, and are a sensible starting point for milder acne. Prescription creams and gels work more deeply, either by speeding up skin cell turnover to keep pores clear or by combining approaches in one product. For more stubborn acne, a short course of oral treatment may be added, and women sometimes benefit from hormonal options. Whichever route, treatments take six to twelve weeks to show real change, and skin can look slightly worse in the first few weeks before it improves.

Alongside treatment, be gentle with your skin. Wash twice daily with a mild cleanser, avoid scrubbing and picking, use non-comedogenic moisturisers and sunscreen, and remove make-up before bed. Severe or scarring acne needs a dermatology referral, and your prescriber will say so honestly rather than supplying something that will not be enough.

Compare your options

Treatment options and pricing

The main differences between acne treatments are how strong they are, how they work, and whether they need a prescription. The comparison below is factual information to help you choose a preferred option in your form. Your prescriber approves a treatment only if it is clinically appropriate for you, and may recommend an alternative.

Pharmacy treatment (benzoyl peroxide)

From £X including delivery

  • How it's takenGel or wash applied to the whole affected area
  • Starts workingVisible change typically 4 to 8 weeks
  • LastsWorks while treatment continues

No prescription needed, subject to pharmacist approval. A sensible first step for milder acne. Can bleach fabrics and dry the skin at first.

Check my suitability

Prescription creams and gels

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenApplied to the whole affected area, not just spots
  • Starts workingVisible change typically 6 to 12 weeks
  • LastsWorks while treatment continues

Prescription only. Stronger topical options that keep pores clear or combine approaches. Skin may look worse briefly before improving.

Check my suitability

Prescription oral treatment

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenA daily course, usually alongside a topical treatment
  • Starts workingVisible change typically 6 to 12 weeks
  • LastsCourses are time-limited and reviewed

Prescription only, for more stubborn acne. Used for a set period with review, never open-ended, and always combined with skin treatment.

Check my suitability

Prices shown include the consultation, prescription, dispensing and delivery. Treatment is supplied only if approved by a UK-registered prescriber following your online form. Supply is never guaranteed, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied. Information above is factual and does not replace clinical advice.

Trusted care

Why Medicosmetic

GPhC-registered pharmacy

Medicosmetic is a trading name of Erdington Community Pharmacy (Premises No. 1107990). Verify on the GPhC register.

Named Superintendent Pharmacist

Mohammad Luqman Ghani (GPhC 2220694) oversees our pharmacy services.

UK-registered prescribers

Every form is reviewed by a clinician registered to prescribe in the UK.

Genuine UK-sourced medicines

Dispensed by our own pharmacy, never third-party marketplaces.

Discreet by design

Plain packaging, tracked delivery, and confidential handling of your information.

Straightforward next steps

If treatment is not suitable, we explain why and signpost you to the right care, usually your GP.

Common questions

Acne FAQs

What causes acne?
Blocked pores, excess oil, bacteria and inflammation, all driven largely by hormones and genetics. It is not caused by poor hygiene, and scrubbing harder usually makes it worse by irritating the skin. Certain medicines, hormonal conditions and, for some people, heavy or pore-blocking cosmetics can contribute. Understanding the cause is why treatment works better than willpower.
How long do acne treatments take to work?
Real change typically takes six to twelve weeks of consistent use, so judge a treatment over months rather than days. Keep applying it to the whole affected area, not just visible spots, because treatment works by preventing new spots forming. Monthly photos are a fairer judge of progress than the mirror.
Why does my skin look worse since starting treatment?
Some treatments, particularly prescription creams and gels, can cause dryness, redness or a brief flare in the first few weeks as the skin adjusts. This usually settles and is not a reason to stop. If irritation is severe, painful or blistering, stop and contact us or your GP. Starting a few nights a week and building up often helps.
Can adults get acne?
Absolutely, and adult acne is common, particularly in women, where hormonal shifts around periods, pregnancy or stopping contraception often play a role. Adult acne responds to the same evidence-based treatments, and women have some additional hormonal options worth discussing. Persistent adult acne alongside irregular periods or excess facial hair is worth raising with your GP.
Do I need antibiotics for my acne?
Usually not as a first step. Most acne responds to topical treatments, and oral courses are reserved for more stubborn cases, used for a set period alongside skin treatment and then reviewed, never open-ended. Using them carefully protects their effectiveness for everyone. Your prescriber will recommend the least treatment that will genuinely work.
What about severe or scarring acne?
Severe, nodular or scarring acne responds best to a specialist-only treatment that dermatologists prescribe with close monitoring, and no online service should offer it. If that is your situation, the right move is a GP referral to dermatology, and it is worth making early because treating severe acne promptly prevents permanent scarring. Our prescriber will tell you honestly if this applies to you.
Can I use acne treatments while pregnant?
Some acne treatments must not be used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive, particularly certain prescription creams and tablets. Always tell your prescriber if you are pregnant, trying, or breastfeeding, and they will advise which options are appropriate. Never assume a cream is automatically safe because it goes on the skin.

Ready to start? It begins with a short form

Fill out a confidential medical form, choose your preferred treatment and, if approved by our prescriber, have it dispensed by our pharmacist and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start your free online form