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Acne Medications

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a common skin condition where blocked, oily hair follicles cause spots, blackheads, whiteheads and sometimes painful cysts on the face, back and chest. Oil, the skin bacterium Cutibacterium acnes and hormones all drive it.

Key points

  • Blocked, oily hair follicles trigger the spots, blackheads and sometimes painful cysts seen on the face, back or chest.
  • Moderate to severe cases may add an oral antibiotic, or in women a hormonal option such as the combined pill.
  • Benzoyl peroxide and some adapalene products can be bought over the counter, unlike stronger retinoids and oral treatments.
  • Isotretinoin is reserved for severe or resistant acne and needs strict pregnancy-prevention measures, because it causes serious birth defects.

Medicines used to treat Acne

Yasmin

Drospirenone, Ethinylestradiol

3/0.03mg

Indicated for hormonal contraception, formulated to inhibit ovulation and to support the management of acne by stabilizing androgen levels in women.

Terramycin

Oxytetracycline

250mg

Formulated to treat bacterial infections, utilized to support the eradication of pathogenic microorganisms.

Minocin

Minocycline

50 · 100mg

Designed to alleviate acne symptoms, utilized to support skin health.

Tazorac

Tazarotene

1 · 5%

Formulated to manage acne vulgaris and designed to alleviate skin inflammation and promote cell turnover in psoriasis.

Retin-a Cream

Tretinoin

0.025 · 0.05%

Formulated to alleviate acne vulgaris and designed to support skin texture improvement.

A-ret

Tretinoin

0.1%

Accelerates skin cell turnover to clear blocked pores, reduce breakouts, and improve overall skin texture.

Aczone

Dapsone

100mg

Indicated for acne vulgaris utilized to target inflammatory skin lesions.

Adapalen

Adapalene

15g

Indicated to address acne vulgaris to alleviate skin inflammation.

Isotroin

Isotretinoin

10 · 20mg

Developed to mitigate severe acne, utilized to target sebum production and support long-term skin health.

Renova

Tretinoin

0.025 · 0.05 · 0.1%

Formulated to address skin texture, this product is utilized to mitigate signs of photoageing and support a healthy complexion in clinical settings.

Azelex

Azelaic Acid

20%

Intended to address inflammatory skin lesions and to support clearer skin texture.

How it’s treated

For mild acne, doctors prescribe topicals: benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids (adapalene, tretinoin, tazarotene), azelaic acid and topical antibiotics, often in combination. Moderate-to-severe cases add an oral tetracycline antibiotic (lymecycline, doxycycline, minocycline) for several months or, in women, hormonal treatment such as a combined oral contraceptive or the anti-androgen co-cyprindiol (cyproterone with ethinylestradiol). Resistant nodular acne may need oral isotretinoin under specialist care.

UK status

Benzoyl peroxide and some adapalene products are available over the counter as Pharmacy (P) or general-sale items. Prescription-strength retinoids, oral antibiotics, hormonal treatments and isotretinoin are prescription-only (POM). Isotretinoin requires specialist dermatology prescribing with monthly review, and strict pregnancy-prevention measures for anyone who can become pregnant.

Further reading