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POSTED: 11 Aug 2025

Where to Get Acne Treatments Online in the UK

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions affecting teenagers and adults alike. Whilst many people manage with products, persistent or moderate-to-severe acne often requires something stronger. This is to properly control inflammation, unblock pores and prevent scars. In the UK, many of the most effective acne treatments are prescription-only. This ensures a proper medical review of your skin in order to select the most appropriate and safest treatment. Whilst this has traditionally limited access, in recent years there has been an increase in availability thanks to online platforms. Through these, you can access prescription-strength acne treatments. In this post we review the top medical clinics where you can get acne treatments online in the UK.

What are Prescription Acne Treatments?

Unlike over-the-counter products, contain active ingredients at therapeutic strengths and formulas which affect skin cells. These acne treatments can be to help treat moderate to severe acne. They often target the underlying biological processes that rather than simply addressing the visible . In the UK, these treatments are only available following a medical assessment. This is they can carry side effects and are not suitable for . If appropriate a medical provider may prescribe topical treatments, oral medications or a combination of both. This depends on the type and severity of acne. The commonly used include:

How to Get Acne Treatments in Person in the UK

Traditionally, you would get prescription acne treatments following an in-office appointment with a GP, private dermatologist or aesthetic skin clinic. Each of these offers slightly different services and limits. For example only dermatologists can provide treatment with and GPs offer what the NHS recommends which is usually antibiotics, , or Treclin. Aesthetic clinics tend to provide generic or branded skincare such as or physical treatments like or . After your skin, a prescription may be issued and dispensed by a pharmacy. Whilst effective, in-person appointments can be inconvenient due to the time commitment and booking appointments in advance. This is why to get at-home acne treatments have become so popular in the UK.

Where to Get Acne Treatments Online in the UK

First of all, it’s really important to be clear that getting acne treatments online in the UK does not mean buying prescription medication without assessment from some overseas pharmacy. This is actually illegal and dangerous. Thankfully, there are several legitimate online dermatology services in the UK which offer prescription . These services aim to improve access whilst maintaining appropriate clinical care. They a remote consultation with a UK-registered clinician, by treatment where clinically indicated. Below are the most popular telemedicine clinics in the UK where you can get acne treatments online:

#1 City Skin Clinic

is an online skin clinic providing personalised . We create custom treatments using like , , , and where appropriate. City Skin Clinic provides the option of a video or online form consultation with a doctor. They will assess your , concerns and goals to design a bespoke plan for you. This may involve a once a day or twice a day treatment depending on the severity of your acne and treatment goals. We also like to involve our patients in the process and accommodate their wishes as much as . Regardless of which consultation type you choose, you will have the same doctor your progress and help you get the most out of your treatment. You can connect with your doctor at any time by email for help or advice.

You can easily book a or . Following this the doctor will create a bespoke protocol using the right , strengths and formulas for your skin. They’ll also advise on the best way to use your treatment to reduce side effects and optimise your existing skincare routine. We deduct the consultation fee from your first order and deliver the treatment to you. All face treatments usually last 3 months and your doctor will work with you to adjust the composition of your next formula based on your progress. We are not a subscription service as we know everyone is different. We leave it up to you to tell your doctor when you’re ready for a refill.

Personalised prescription-strength skincare

#2 Skin+Me

provides personalised prescription skincare through an online assessment form by registered clinicians such as doctors, nurses or pharmacists. Their acne treatments come in the form of customtopical creams, often combining a retinoid like tretinoin or with other active ingredients such as , azelaic acid or where clinically appropriate. Skin + Me operates on a monthly subscription model, with on their online . This allows gradual adjustment of treatment strength and formulation.

#3 Dermatica

is an online dermatology service providing prescription topical treatments for acne and other skin conditions. After completing an online consultation, a clinician then reviews your case. If appropriate, Dermatica a bespoke topical formulation, which may include ingredients such as tretinoin, adapalene, azelaic acid, clindamycin or . Delivery of treatments is automatically every month. Adjustment of formulations is over time depending on how your skin responds.

#4 Boots Online Doctor

The offers prescription acne treatments which you can access through an online questionnaire. Assessment of these is by a prescribing clinician. Unlike bespoke dermatology services, Boots generally prescribes off-the-shelf prescription acne such as oral antibiotics, Duac, Epiduo, Treclin and Skinoren depending on suitability. Boots dispense prescriptions which they deliver to your home or make available for collection.

#5 Superdrug Online Doctor

Similar to Boots, provides acne treatments following completion of an online medical assessment which is reviewed by one of their . Available treatments typically include standard topical retinoid creams and gels as well as oral antibiotics. Once approved, prescriptions are dispensed through Superdrug’s pharmacy services and delivered directly to your home or you can collect it.

#6 LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor

is pharmacy offering prescription acne treatments after completing an online consultation form which one of their clinicians reviews. As with other pharmacy-based platforms, treatment options are usually limited to off-the-shelf prescription products like Duac, Benzoyl peroxide or oral antibiotics. Again, treatment is available for collection or can be delivered to your home.

#7 Zava

 is a telehealth platform that offers online skin assessments for acne using a form. Their doctors review this and if appropriate may offer a range of prescription skincare products such as Treclin, Adapalene, oral antibiotics and other standard acne treatments that you can order through their website. They deliver the products directly to your home.

#8 MedExpress

 is another online pharmacy that provides standard prescription acne skin treatments like Treclin or Adapelene creams and gels. They offer online form skin which their or pharmacists then review. If appropriate, you can order their recommended prescription skincare treatments through their . Products are then delivered to your address.

#9 Chemist4U (Formerly Doctor4U)

 is long-standing online pharmacy that offers standard topical prescription acne skincare treatments like adapalene, treclin and benzoyl peroxide. To use their service, you need to complete an online . Their healthcare providers (mainly pharmacists) will then review it and if appropriate, you can order their products through their website. They will then deliver the treatments to you.

#10 Push Doctor

 is a telemedicine startup that offers video virtual consultations with (mainly GPs) through their app. They offer topical retinoids and azelaic OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow’s Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling (http://lotuspeptide.co.uk) as well as oral or antibiotics and hormone treatments for acne. The doctor will prescribe what they feel is appropriate for you. You then take and pay for your prescription at a pharmacy. For more complex acne cases, they may refer you to a specialist instead of or alongside issuing treatment.

#11 The Online Clinic

 is a large telemedicine platform that you can access by completing an assessment questionnaire which their doctors then review. Based on the consultation form, the doctor may provide standard prescription skincare treatments such as retinoids, azelaic acid and oral antibiotics. They charge a fee that the consultation, prescription and medication. Treatments are then delivered directly from their pharmacy.

#12 SkinDoc

is an online dermatology service offering acne assessment and treatment by dermatologists. Their acne treatments include oral isotretinoin and spironolactone which their doctors prescribe for suitable patients following a video assessment (form consults are available for minor acne) and pre-treatment blood tests.

#13 Treat Direct

is another online acne service that provides access to oral roaccutane to patients following a video consultation with one of their doctors. Their fee includes blood and pregnancy tests which can be done at home as well as regular follow up. Treatments are then delivered to patients directly.

#14 NHS Dermatology Services

Acne treatment through the NHS begins with a GP which tend to be in person but some practices offer virtual options. GPs can prescribe topical treatments like adapalene or treclin and oral antibiotics. If these fail or in severe cases, your GP may refer you to an NHS dermatologist. Increasingly many trusts are offerring a virtual dermatology assessment for acne in order to overcome long waiting lists that can be as long as months.

Increasingly acne treatment is becoming more accessible largely thanks to online dermatology and pharmacy platforms. However, it is important to find a legitimate service that offers a thorough assessment by a UK-licensed clinician and follow up. This is particularly important for prescription treatments like tretinoin and oral Roaccutane. The latter also requires and monitoring blood tests.

At City Skin Clinic, we believe that skincare is personal and should always centre around your needs. Our doctors offer using ingredients like , , and where appropriate. If you are interested in a please use our or . and take your first step towards great skin.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical provider for any medical concerns or questions you might have.

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SKINCARE 11 March 2024

CULTUREHEALTHSKINCARE 10 July 2023

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