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Acne

Acne is a common skin condition causing spots that can range from mild to severe. There are many treatment options and ways to manage acne.

Symptoms of acne

Acne can range from mild, with a few spots, to severe, with deep, painful lumps under your skin. It usually affects your face, chest and back.

Symptoms of acne can include:

  • oily or greasy skin
  • spots on your skin
  • large, sometimes painful lumps under your skin
  • changes to your skin colour and texture, or scars where you've had spots
  • skin that may feel hot or painful to touch

Having acne can also affect your mental health, causing anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

Types of acne spots

There are different types of spots, and you may have more than 1 type.

The forehead and face of a person with black skin who has acne. The forehead and right side of their face is covered in small skin-coloured bumps (whiteheads).
Whiteheads are small bumps. They're usually the same colour as your skin but some may have white pus.
The forehead of a person with light olive skin affected by acne. There are many small brown and black dots (blackheads).
Blackheads are black and brown spots that are usually flat but may be raised.
The lower face and neck of a person with white skin who has acne. There are many small raised red bumps (papules).
Papules are raised bumps. On white skin they look pink or red, on brown and black skin they may look brown or purple.
Cheek of a person with white skin who has acne. There are many raised pink bumps filled with pus (pustules).
Pustules are raised bumps filled with pus.
Cheek of a person with light olive skin who has acne. There are many raised bumpy patches along the jawline (nodules).
Nodules and cysts are larger lumps under your skin. They may join together and can be painful.
The cheek of someone with medium brown skin who has acne and acne scars. There are dips in their skin, some of which are darker than the surrounding skin.
Acne can leave scars, such as shallow holes in your skin (ice-pick or boxcar scars).
Information:

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Acne types (British Association of Dermatologists Acne Support)

Things you can do to help with acne

There are some things you can do that can help with acne.

Do

  • wash your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser

  • remove make-up at the end of the day

  • use skincare and make-up products that are non-comedogenic (this means they will not clog pores)

  • try acne treatments you put on your skin such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide – you can speak to a pharmacist for advice

  • wear loose, breathable clothing (especially when exercising or sweating) if you have acne on your body

Don’t

  • do not pick or squeeze spots because this can cause scars

  • do not scrub your skin as this can irritate it and make acne worse

A pharmacist can help with acne

A pharmacist can recommend treatments for acne, including:

  • treatments you put on your skin
  • supplements that come as tablets, such as zinc, niacinamide and vitamin A
Find a pharmacy
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When and where to get medical help

You may need to get help from a GP for acne. They can offer treatment and advice to help manage it.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

You have acne and:

  • you've tried treating it yourself but it's not getting better
  • you have lots of spots, or the spots are deep, painful or causing scars
  • you have signs of a skin infection, such as hot, swollen and red skin (redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
  • it's affecting your mental health

A GP may offer treatments you can only get with a prescription or refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist).

Treatments from a GP or specialist

There are many acne treatments available from a GP or skin specialist (dermatologist) with a prescription. They are stronger than products you can buy from pharmacies and shops and can be very effective for more severe acne.

Medicine you put on your skin

Acne medicines you put on your skin (topical) usually come as a cream, gel or lotion. They're used to:

  • reduce inflammation and oiliness, and prevent spots, such as the retinoid medicines tretinoin and adapalene
  • kill the bacteria that cause inflammation and pus in acne, such as the antibiotics clindamycin and erythromycin

Medicine you take

Acne medicines you take usually come as a tablet that you swallow. They're used to:

  • control the type of bacteria that cause inflammation and pus in acne, such as the antibiotics doxycycline and lymecycline
  • manage hormone levels that contribute to acne, such as the combined pill
  • reduce inflammation and oiliness, and prevent spots, such as the retinoid isotretinoin
Information:

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Treatment (British Association of Dermatologists Acne Support)

Causes of acne

Acne can happen when hair follicles (where hair grows on the skin) become blocked with excess oil and dead skin cells. Bacteria can grow in blocked hair follicles and cause inflammation and pus.

Acne can be caused by:

Information:

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Page last reviewed: 22 September 2026
Next review due: 22 September 2029