What are the mainstream medical treatments currently in use for treating acne?

Long term oral antibiotics and accutane are the most commonly used treatment modalities for treating acne in GP and Dermatology settings. However, both these treatments carry significant side effects and may not be suitable for everyone.

What about over-the-counter acne products?

Over-the-counter acne management skin products (often with big clebrity endorsements) rely upon two key ingredients, namely Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide, to manage excess oil production by sebaceous glands in the skin. These products do offer some help to acne sufferers. However, we routinely see patients who have spent hundreds of dollars on such over-the-counter products with little or no significant improvement.

The problem is that acne is a multifactorial condition and just one type of treatment may not be able to control it in every patient. Also, the concentration and percentage of active ingredients in acne products available directly to the public is very low . Therefore, only mild acne breakouts can be treated with such products (by law, high strength skin care products for any skin condition can only be prescribed by medical professionals).

Hence, it very important for any acne sufferer to understand that for moderate to severe acne cases, professional medical management is essential to prevent potential scarring.

How is acne managed after the options of topical and systemic treatments have been tried?

Acne is managed with all medical and laser options available today. We fully understand the frustration and resentment most acne sufferers have after spending hundreds of dollars on sometimes suboptimal skin products.

We tailor-make our Acne Management Treatment Plan to suit individual patient needs. After detailed history taking, your skin is clinically analysed using state of the art computerised digital skin analysis to determine the extent of your problem.

A combination treatment plan is then drawn up for each patient under the direct supervision of our medical team.

Patient motivation and commitment is the key to a successful outcome.