Acne Treatment

Most over-the-counter acne products and medical treatments take a one-size-fits-all approach. We don’t. After a consultation with a doctor, we design a topical gel or cream treatment using prescription-strength ingredients tailored to your skin, with medication included where appropriate. The treatment will target your specific acne pattern, skin sensitivity, scarring and hyperpigmentation risk, alongside any other skin concerns you also have. Your dedicated doctor will take care of you throughout your journey. They’ll also adjust each course of treatment based on how you respond. Best of all, you can access your acne treatment from the comfort of your home via our online skin clinic.

Step 1
Choose a form or video consultation with your doctor

Step 2
Personalised treatment plan with custom topical cream.

Step 3
Follow-up to refine protocol and reduce side effects.

Understanding Acne

Acne develops when pores become blocked, oil production increases, bacteria build up and the skin’s immune response triggers inflammation. The result can range from blackheads and whiteheads to deeper, painful papules, pustules and nodules. It’s one of the most common skin conditions in the UK, and it doesn’t always clear up on its own, especially in adults. However, without proper treatment, acne can cause lasting acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark marks that linger long after a breakout clears). Early, well-matched treatment reduces both active breakouts and the longer-term damage they leave behind.

Why Personalised Acne Treatment Works Better

First of all, acne isn’t one condition. It varies by type, severity, hormonal pattern and how your skin responds to treatment. So, someone with oily, resilient skin and deep inflammatory acne needs a very different formula from someone with sensitive, hyperpigmentation-prone skin and persistent comedones. A treatment that works brilliantly for one person can irritate or underperform for another. That’s why we tailor every prescription-strength treatment to you and review it at the end of each course. Your doctor can increase, reduce or swap ingredients based on what’s actually happening with your skin rather than continuing you on a rigid fixed protocol.

Personalised Prescription Strength Acne Treatment

We provide personalised topical adult acne treatment following an online consultation with a doctor. Your cream or gel formula is built around your acne type, medical history and treatment goals then refined at the end of each course.
We offer two types of custom protocol pathways depending on what your skin needs and preferences:

• ACN: A single once a day acne treatment cream or gel. It is our standard acne treatment protocol for mild to moderate acne, or for maintaining results once acne is under control. ACN formulas can also address mild hyperpigmentation and uneven texture depending on the ingredients selected.
• ACN+: A two-product protocol (morning and evening) for more persistent, severe, inflammatory, scarring or hyperpigmentation-prone acne. ACN+ provides more intensive coverage and is typically used for a defined period before stepping down to ACN for ongoing maintenance.

Ingredients Used in Our Acne Treatments

Every formula is customised. It can also be adjusted at the end of each 3-month course. We choose ingredients to target the specific drivers behind your breakouts, address other skin concerns and to protect against hyperpigmentation and scarring where needed. These are some of the active ingredients we may use in our topical acne treatment cream and gel formulas:

• Tretinoin: A prescription retinoid that we may use either alone or with other ingredients in our acne cream or gel treatments. It works by promoting skin cell turnover to help unclog pores and reduce breakouts, smooth texture and fade mild hyperpigmentation. It needs careful monitoring as it is up to 20x more powerful than retinol.
• Azelaic Acid: Has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic properties. It reduces acne-causing bacteria, decreases inflammation and promotes a smoother complexion. Particularly useful for patients prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as it can treat acne and hyperpigmentation at the same time with a lower irritation risk than many alternatives.
• Niacinamide: Anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating. It reduces redness, balances oil production and strengthens the skin barrier. Niacinamide also works well alongside stronger actives to help reduce irritation without adding harshness.
• Clindamycin: A topical antibiotic that targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation and redness. We occasionally add this prescription medication to our acne creams for certain types of inflammatory breakouts in suitable patients for a limited period to avoid resistance.
• Spironolactone: An anti-androgen ingredient that helps reduce oil production. We may add this prescription medication to your gel or cream for hormonal acne treatment for suitable patients, particularly where breakouts follow a cyclical pattern along the jawline, chin and lower face.
• Arbutin: A natural skin-brightening agent that reduces melanin production. It helps treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from acne and lighten dark spots. However, arbutin is less suitable for patients with darker skin tones where dark marks are often the most persistent concern.
• Hydroquinone: A prescription depigmenting ingredient that we may use for limited periods in suitable patients when hyperpigmentation is a dominant concern. It reduces pigmentation by inhibiting melanin production and is suitable for all skin tones.
• Hydrocortisone: A corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and soothes irritated skin. We sometimes use it in the early stages to help skin adjust to active ingredients without excessive irritation.

All prescription ingredients are used in acne creams or gels only where we deem them safe, appropriate and suitable for you as an individual.

How Long Does Acne Treatment Take to Work?

Acne treatment is not a quick fix. That’s because it works by changing how your skin behaves over time rather than masking symptoms, and results vary between patients. So, some patients can begin to notice early improvement within 6 to 8 weeks with more meaningful progress typically developing over 3 to 6 months. However, rate of progress and amount varies from person to person depending on severity, skin type, response and consistency of use. Prescription-strength treatment can also help reduce the risk of longer-term damage to your skin.

In the first few weeks, acid or retinoid-based treatments can cause an adjustment phase. This may include some dryness, mild irritation or a temporary increase in breakouts (sometimes called purging). This is a recognised part of the process and one of the reasons we start with a strength and frequency suited to your skin rather than pushing maximum intensity from day one.

Why We Focus on Topical Acne Treatment

Topical treatment allows us to combine multiple active ingredients in a single formula, target them directly to the skin and adjust the balance at each review. For most patients with mild to moderate acne, a well-designed topical treatment can deliver strong results with lower systemic exposure and fewer side effects than oral medication. Our service is designed around topical prescription treatment. If your acne is severe or not responding adequately to topical therapy, your doctor will discuss this with you and may advise exploring other treatment options including systemic therapy.

Who is Suitable for Online Acne Treatment?

This service may be right for you if you:

• Have mild to moderate acne that hasn’t responded well to over-the-counter products
• Suffer from severe acne but have not tried topical treatments yet or wish to avoid systemic treatments for now
• Have persistent adult acne, including hormonal or cyclical breakouts
• Are concerned about post-inflammatory dark marks or early scarring
• Need a structured treatment plan with ongoing doctor follow-up and not a one-off prescription
• Prefer an online service with acne treatments delivered to your home

If your acne is severe, nodular or not responding to topical medication, your doctor may advise an alternative approach including alternative in-person or online services.

Why Choose City Skin Clinic

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all generic solutions. So, every treatment is prescribed by a doctor, tailored to your skin and adjusted at the end of each course based on how you respond. That means your treatment protocol evolves with you rather than staying the same. High standard of care and choice is what sets us apart from other online acne treatment services:

• Doctor-led care from day one: Your journey starts with either a detailed form consultation or an in-depth video consultation with one of our doctors. The choice is entirely yours based on your availability and preferences. Your doctor will review your concerns, evaluate your skin and design a treatment plan that is unique to you.
• Genuinely personalised: Treatment is designed around your acne type, skin sensitivity and scarring or hyperpigmentation risk. It can also be adjusted at the end of each cycle based on how your skin responds.
• Ongoing follow-up: Your journey does not end after your consultation. You can directly contact your prescribing doctor at any point for further advice, progress review and refills.
• Delivered to your door: Treatment shipped to your home with clear treatment plan. There is also unlimited aftercare.

From the initial consultation to follow-up, your doctor will provide expert advice, tailored treatments and unwavering support.