Balance Pharmacy · Acne Treatment Clinic
Acne treatment,tailored to your skin.Guided by a clinician.
Get personalised acne advice from a clinician, online or in branch. We’ll assess your skin, understand what you’ve already tried and recommend the most appropriate next step.
Free clinician consultation · Online or in branch · Age 12+
No consultation fee. Treatment is only supplied when clinically appropriate.
- GPhC regulated pharmacy
- Clinician reviewed
- Free consultation
- Collect or delivery
- Private & confidential
Acne is personal
The right treatment starts with understanding your skin.
Acne can look similar from person to person, but the causes, severity and treatment required can be very different.
Instead of repeatedly trying new skincare products, our Acne Treatment Clinic gives you access to a clinician who can assess your skin, understand what you’ve already tried and determine whether prescription treatment may be appropriate.
You don’t need to know which treatment you need before you start. That’s what the consultation is for.
How it works
Assessment. Review. Treatment if suitable.
A clear clinical journey from the first question to the treatment in your hand — with a clinician making every decision along the way.
- 01
Your assessment
Complete a confidential health and skin questionnaire online and upload clear photographs of the affected areas — or speak to us face to face in branch.
- 02
Clinician review
A clinician assesses your symptoms, medical history, current medicines, previous acne treatments and your skin photographs.
- 03
Treatment if suitable
Where treatment is clinically appropriate, the clinician recommends the most suitable option and explains exactly how to use it.
- 04
Collect or deliver
Choose how to receive your treatment: collect it free from Balance Pharmacy, or have it delivered to your door for £4.99.
Treatment is never supplied automatically. Every request is subject to clinical assessment.
Understanding acne
What type of acne do you have?
Acne appears in several different forms, and many people have more than one at the same time. These descriptions are here to help you understand what you may be seeing, not to place yourself into a category.
Comedones
Blackheads and whiteheads caused by blocked pores.
Papules
Small inflamed or tender bumps.
Pustules
Inflamed spots containing pus.
Nodules
Larger, deeper inflammatory lesions.
You don’t need to diagnose yourself. Your clinician will assess the pattern and severity of your acne as part of your consultation.
Suitability
Could our Acne Treatment Clinic help you?
The service is intended for people with mild to moderate acne, subject to clinical assessment. It may be appropriate if any of the following sound familiar.
- People aged 12 years and above
- Blackheads or whiteheads
- Inflammatory spots
- Recurring facial acne
- Acne that has not improved enough with ordinary skincare
- People unsure which treatment approach is appropriate
Available from age 12, subject to clinical assessment and appropriate consent.
Start free assessmentSometimes another service is more appropriate.
If acne appears severe, is causing significant scarring or pigmentation, the diagnosis is uncertain, or previous appropriate treatments have repeatedly failed, the clinician may recommend assessment by your GP or another specialist instead.
If that happens, we will explain why and help you understand the most useful next step.
Treatment approach
Prescription treatment works differently from skincare alone.
Skincare can be an important part of controlling acne, but some people benefit from medicines that target the processes involved in acne more directly.
Depending on your skin and clinical assessment, prescription topical treatment may help address:
- Blocked pores
- Inflammation
- Acne-causing bacteria
- Excess build-up of skin cells
- Recurring inflammatory spots
Blocked poreSkin cells and oil build up within the pore.
InflammationThe surrounding skin becomes red, raised or tender.
Treatment approachTreatment aims to reduce acne activity and limit new lesions.
The most appropriate option depends on your skin, medical history, other medicines and previous treatment.
Find out what’s suitable for meTreatments used by the clinic
The treatments a clinician may consider for you.
These are prescription-only medicines. They are never supplied automatically and cannot be bought from this page. If treatment is appropriate, your clinician will discuss which option suits your skin, medical history and other medicines during your free consultation.
Azelaic acid
Skinoren 20% cream
A topical azelaic acid cream that a clinician may consider for mild to moderate acne following assessment.
- Applied to affected areas twice daily
- Improvement may begin after around four weeks
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
Azelaic acid
Finacea 15% gel
A lighter gel formulation of azelaic acid, sometimes preferred for oilier or combination skin.
- Gel base rather than a cream
- Used twice daily unless advised otherwise
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
Clindamycin 10 mg/g + tretinoin 0.25 mg/g
Treclin gel
A combination topical gel that may be appropriate where inflammatory spots and blocked pores occur together.
- Applied thinly once daily in the evening
- Not suitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
Not everyone needs a prescription treatment, and some people are better served by a different service. A clinician will tell you honestly what is suitable.
Start free assessment
What to expect
What to expect from treatment.
Better skin takes consistency, not quick fixes. Treatment works best alongside a simple routine and realistic expectations about how skin changes over time.
Timescales
Changes to the skin can take several weeks to become noticeable, and some treatment plans continue for several months.
Your clinician will explain how to use any medicine supplied, what side effects to look out for and when treatment should be reviewed.
Your routine
Keep it simple: a gentle, non-alkaline cleanser, a light moisturiser, daily sun protection, and no picking or scratching.
Be cautious with harsh drying cleansers, excessive exfoliation, layering several acne products without advice, and heavy oil-based products.
Realistic outcomes
Acne usually improves gradually rather than overnight. The aim is to reduce activity and control new lesions.
The first treatment option is not always the final one. If your skin is not responding, further assessment or a different approach may be appropriate.
Your clinician can advise how your existing skincare routine should fit around treatment.
Cost
Your consultation is free.
£0 consultation fee
Complete your assessment online or book an appointment in branch without paying a consultation fee.
If a medicine is clinically appropriate, the clinician will explain the recommended option and cost before you decide whether to proceed.
- Collection from Balance Pharmacy
- FREE
- Home delivery
- £4.99
Two ways to start
Choose the consultation that suits you.
Online
Start from home
Complete the clinical assessment and upload photographs of your skin securely. Your information is reviewed by a clinician.
In branch
Prefer to talk face to face?
Visit Balance Pharmacy and discuss your skin directly with a member of the clinical team.
Safety
Your safety comes first.
Prescription acne treatments are not suitable for everyone.
Your assessment will ask about relevant medical conditions, allergies, medicines, pregnancy, breastfeeding and previous acne treatments.
Some treatment options have important pregnancy and contraception requirements, so it is essential that these questions are answered accurately.
If the service is not suitable for you, the clinician will explain why and recommend the most appropriate next step.
FAQs
Questions, answered.
Stop guessing what your skin needs.
Start with a free clinical assessment.
Tell us about your skin and let a clinician help determine the most appropriate next step.
Free consultation · No obligation to purchase treatment