Acne Treatment

Order a prescription for your pharmacy of choice for acne treatment.

€21.50 per consultation

€21.50 per consultation

Not sure? Ask one of our doctors to recommend a treatment

Simply fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a suitable treatment. How to Order

If you have acne spots and the usual over the counter products don’t help, you can try prescription acne treatment. Our confidential service allows you to order a prescription for an antibiotic or a topical treatment online.

Fill in our short questionnaire and upload two photos of your skin condition into your patient record, and one of our UK based doctors will review your case.

Once the doctor has approved your prescription for medication, you can collect it from any Irish pharmacy to purchase it. Alternatively, you can choose to have your medication delivered directly to your door.

A consultation for a prescription for acne treatment costs €21.50.


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What acne treatments are there?

There are various acne treatments including lifestyle changes, topical creams and antibiotics. While antibiotics work to treat acne “from the inside”, topical creams help relieve the symptoms “from the outside”. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and your personal preference, our doctors can help find the acne treatment which works best for you.

There are numerous skin care products available, so choosing the right one can be difficult. If you are experiencing some mild symptoms of acne, a pharmacist may be able to advise you on the right treatments you can buy over the counter. If your acne is severe or you feel that your skin condition affects your quality of life, you should seek medical help from a doctor.

How should I take care of my skin while undergoing acne treatment?

If you have acne spots, you should clean your skin regularly with a facial cleansing lotion or peeling. However, you should be careful not to irritate your skin further and choose a milder cleansing product if irritations occur. You must not squeeze your acne spots as this will worsen the infection and can even lead to permanent scarring.

People who use make-up need to wash it off completely before going to bed at night, so their skin can breathe during night-time. Leaving your makeup on during the night is likely to worsen your skin condition, as your makeup will contribute to your pores being clogged.

As with most health problems, making lifestyle changes and living healthily can lead to a significant improvement in your skin’s health. You should aim to drink enough water and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Being physically active regularly has also been found to improve skin conditions like acne.

Scientists have found a link between smoking and acne, although the exact mechanism is still unknown. If you are a smoker suffering from acne, stopping smoking should be part of your acne treatment plan.

Why do some people develop acne?

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions. The typical spots and lesions are caused by a hormonal imbalance, which leads to an increase in the production of sebum. The excess sebum causes the pores of your skin to be blocked, resulting in bacterial infection and inflammation.

Acne often affects teenagers, as it is very common for hormonal changes during the teenage years to result in an excess of androgens, a sexual hormone which belongs to the group of steroids. If your androgen levels are too high, you are likely to develop acne. As boys and men generally have higher steroid-levels, they often experience a more severe form of acne. Although acne is often regarded as a typical teenage problem, it can occur later in life and affects patients of all ages.

How can ZAVA help?

If you would like to treat your acne, our online service allows you to obtain a prescription to receive treatment quickly, without booking an appointment with your GP. We will ask you to fill in a brief questionnaire to find out about the symptoms and severity of your condition, as well as your previous medical treatment. We will also ask you to upload two photos, so one of our doctors can assess your case properly. Our doctor will then prescribe either a topical treatment or an antibiotic to target the inflammation.

If you are a female acne patient, you may wish to consider taking a contraceptive pill. Due to the oestrogen content, some combined oral contraceptives can reduce acne symptoms and improve your skin. If you are already taking an oral contraceptive, you can visit our contraception clinic for a repeat prescription.

How do I use a topical treatment?

The topical acne treatments we prescribe are Zinneryt, Isotrex and Differin. They are usually applied daily for a period of 12 weeks. If you choose this treatment option, you will need to apply a thin layer of these creams every night before going to bed. You need to ensure you cover all affected areas while avoiding contact with your eyes, mouth and hair. They will reduce the production of sebum and kill the bacteria living in the affected area. The treatment heals existing lesions and prevents the development of new spots. It may take a while until you notice the effect of this acne treatment.

What antibiotics for acne are there?

ZAVA can prescribe Lymecycline to treat acne. You need to take your antibiotics with plenty of water but need to make sure you avoid consuming milk or milk products at the same time, as they reduce its effectiveness. The duration of your antibiotics for acne treatment will depend on your symptoms and the effect the antibiotics have on your condition. Both cream and tablets can be used at the same time to achieve the best possible result.

What is isotretinoin?

Isotretinoin is a treatment for severe acne, which contains an anti-inflammatory agent. It was licensed in 1983 and has proven very effective in healing acne. However, Isotretinoin can cause severe side effects, including very dry skin, pruritus, scaling and dermatitis. It has also been linked with several mood disorders such as severe depression, psychotic disorders and suicide attempts. While these side effects are very rare, they can be serious. If you have a history of depression, Isotretinoin is not suitable for you. If you experience mood swings or abnormal behaviour during treatment, you need to seek help immediately. ZAVA does not prescribe Isotretinoin.

What side effects can acne treatment cause?

The side effects you may experience depends on which acne treatment (or combination of treatments) you use. Topical creams are more likely to cause skin irritation, while oral medications are more likely to be associated with nausea and digestive problems.

Side Effects of Creams and Gels

  • redness of the skin
  • scaling and dry skin
  • burning sensation after application

Side Effects of Antibiotics for Acne

  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • blood vessel inflammation
  • allergic reactions and rashes
  • swelling of lymph nodes and face
  • fever and muscle pain
  • visual problems
  • sensitivity to sunlight
  • liver inflammation

Severe side effects when taking Lymecycline are quite rare. However, if you experience severe symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical help.

For a complete list of side effects, always read the patient leaflet of the medication you are taking. Women who choose to take an oral contraceptive may encounter side effects associated with the combination of hormones in their pill.

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Medically reviewed by:
Dr Kathryn Basford

Dr Kathryn Basford is an IMC and GMC registered GP who works with our Irish team here at ZAVA. She graduated from the University of Manchester and completed her GP training at Whipps Cross Hospital in London.

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Last reviewed: 08 Jan 2021

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