On this page, we discuss the acne treatments available at Anue. To learn about acne in detail and its underlying causes, please visit the Acne Definitive Guide at the Anue Learning Hub.
How to get rid of acne?
Anue is dermatologist-led and has the expertise to navigate proven treatments to provide you with tailored care that has been demonstrated to get rid of acne. More importantly, we aim to settle your acne without significant delay to avoid new scars from developing.
We know that people are unique and can respond to treatments differently. No one option is suitable for everyone. Ultimately, the choice of treatment comes down to what you want to achieve with your skin.
The most important question you’ll be asked is:
What is your goal for treatment?
- Do you just want to keep your acne at bay? or
- Do you want to break free from acne with potentially curative treatments, allowing you to get on with your life without constantly being held back.
As a dermatologist-led clinic providing comprehensive, evidence-based care, we can guide you through the entire process, from clearing your acne, striving for long-term cure to treating scars if needed.
We also have a full range of adjunct therapies, such as peels, lasers, and topical treatments. These can assist with the improvement of acne and are an option for those who don’t wish to take medication.
The Hidden Impacts of Acne
We understand that the world can be a superficial place and that acne can really affect your mental health, self esteem and social relationships.
Anue is here to help you get your acne sorted, allowing you to regain your confidence and live your best life.
A Special Note
“Acne is my favourite condition to treat. Successful treatment can literally be life changing and gives me immense satisfaction”.
Dr David Lim, Dermatologist
Avoid a lifetime of scars
While acne is considered temporary for most people, the scarring that results can be permanent. This, of course, is one of the most feared complications of acne. We recommend properly treating your acne with our experts to minimise the risk of scarring.
Furthermore, if we predict that scaring is imminent, we may recommend additional treatments that can shut down the early stages of scar development.
What are the acne treatment options?
There are many options available for acne and we are happy to navigate the vast variety of therapies to suit your lifestyle and goals. Please note that we have a detailed description of acne treatment options in our Definitive Guide to Acne article at the Anue Learning Hub. Below is a brief summary.
While the majority of treatments merely suppress acne, some options have cure rates of around 70% with a single course of treatment. Repeated courses can boost the long-term cure rate to over 90%.1Rademaker M. Isotretinoin: dose, duration and relapse. What does 30 years of usage tell us? Australas J Dermatol. 2013 Aug;54(3):157-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2012.00947.x
Topicals (eg. creams)
Both prescription and non-prescription topicals are suitable for mild forms of acne where no scarring is evident. Overall, topicals achieve an approximate 30% to 50% improvement for mild acne.
Topical products include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, adapalene, and tretinoin.
Prescription tablets (non-retinoids)
These include antibiotics such as doxycycline as well as hormonal medications like the oral contraceptive tablet and others. Typically, doctors use these for moderate-to-severe acne or when topical creams fail.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin (also known as Oratane in NZ) is by far the most effective treatment for acne. When used correctly, it achieves high long-term cure rates and is safe and well-tolerated. Isotretinoin is close to 100% effective at clearing acne while taking the medication. Around 70% of people achieve a long-term cure after completing a single course.2Rademaker M. Isotretinoin: dose, duration and relapse. What does 30 years of usage tell us? Australas J Dermatol. 2013 Aug;54(3):157-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2012.00947.x
These are an option for acne although they are not usually the best course of action. Strong chemical peels can result in significant improvement, with gentle peels resulting in only mild improvement. While this can be a good option for those who don’t like taking medication, the effects are only temporary and require ongoing treatment approximately monthly to maintain results. This can end up becoming very expensive and time-consuming.
Light and laser therapies
Light and laser can also help with the removal of acne. Vascular lasers can very effectively shut down the inflammatory component of acne. Newer light therapies are still being studied to determine their overall efficacy. They are normally used as adjuncts to other treatments.
Adjunct acne treatments
Alongside acne treatments, we have a range of other treatments that can help with scarring, erythema (redness), and other underlying conditions.
Scars: for scarring, we can provide a range of treatments including laser resurfacing, microneedling and minor surgical procedures such as punch release and subscision. Please read more on our definitive guide to acne scarring page.
Erythema: for unwanted redness, we have a range of laser and IPL treatments that not only help reduce redness but can also minimise subsequent scar formation.
Hormonal: for hormonal-related acne, we can offer a variety of hormonal-based options as they can be more effective for hormonal acne. However, all treatments can still be useful. Our experts can guide you through the options.
Other underlying conditions: the most common underlying condition for females is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If this is the case, we can arrange further investigations, and if confirmed, we can organise treatment with appropriate specialists.
What about non-medical acne treatment?
We know that there are numerous alternative services and sometimes expensive products that claim to help with acne being advertised on the internet and in social media. Sometimes, these even have celebrity endorsements.
At Anue, we offer treatments that science has proven and demonstrated to be effective and many of these options don’t include medication.
Acne treatment with Anue
We believe our clients deserve access to expert, evidence-based acne treatment. That is why we offer our services by our trusted team, supervised by renowned specialist dermatologist, Dr. David Lim.
By using refined techniques, qualified professionals, and high-quality products, we aim to make you look and feel your best. Our acne treatments are safe and effective at helping you achieve your goals.
A typical teenage acne case may only need around 2-3 appointments to achieve a long-term cure. However, this does depend on the treatments that you have chosen. Our optimal goal is to help you achieve a long-term cure and not have to keep you coming back for appointments.