Acne treatment online · Australia-wide
Online acne treatment, designed around your skin
See an Australian doctor about your acne by private video, wherever you live in Australia. Whether your breakouts have persisted, returned in adulthood or appeared for the first time later in life, understanding what you’re actually dealing with is the first step, and your own nurse stays with you between appointments.
Quick answer
Can I see a doctor about acne online?
Yes. Qr8 MediSkin offers private video consultations with Australian registered doctors for adult acne, wherever you live in Australia, with no referral needed. Your doctor looks at the type and pattern of your acne and the skin it’s occurring in, and your nurse stays with you between appointments as your skin settles.
- Private video consultation with an Australian registered doctor, 7 days a week
- No referral needed, wherever you live in Australia
- Your plan and all costs by email before you decide
- Your own nurse between appointments, with answers within 24 business hours
- One team
Caring for you
Your doctors and nurses work together, each bringing their clinical expertise to your care.
- Your nurse
Care between appointments
Your nurse stays involved between doctor appointments, helping with skincare, tolerability, questions and the day-to-day of your care.
- More than an appointment
Your whole routine
Skincare, sunscreen, daily routines and questions about in-clinic procedures can all be discussed as part of your care.
Understanding it
What is acne?
Acne is more than just breakouts. Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition involving the hair follicle and oil gland.
It can cause blackheads, whiteheads, red or inflamed pimples, pustules and deeper painful lumps. Acne can affect the face, chest, back and shoulders and may leave behind persistent redness, dark marks or scarring.
Although acne often begins during adolescence, it is far from just a teenage condition, particularly for women. Adult female acne may persist from adolescence, recur after a period of clearer skin, or develop for the first time in adulthood.
The pattern matters. Some people mainly experience congestion and blackheads. Others develop inflammatory or deeper breakouts, and hormonal and other factors can influence acne at different stages of life.
Not every breakout is acne, which is one reason medical assessment can be useful when symptoms are persistent, changing or not responding to what you have already tried.
1 in 4
Research has found clinical acne in around 1 in 4 women in their 30s, with acne continuing through the 40s and beyond.
And dealing with acne later in life can carry a particular burden. Its impact on quality of life does not necessarily correspond to how severe it looks.
Your skin
Why acne is different for everyone
Different acne needs different careOne person may have predominantly blackheads and congestion. Another may experience inflammatory pimples.
Others develop painful nodules, persistent jawline breakouts or acne affecting the chest and back. Adult female acne can also behave differently over time.
Skin type matters too. For many adults, the challenge is treating acne while also managing sensitivity, dryness, pigmentation, signs of ageing or a skin barrier that no longer tolerates the aggressive acne routines they may have used when they were younger. Older skin can be more prone to irritation from acne therapies, making treatment selection and tolerability particularly relevant.
This is why acne care shouldn’t begin with choosing a skincare product. It should begin with understanding the acne and the skin it is occurring in.
Why does acne happen?There is rarely one single cause.
Acne develops through an interaction between oil production, changes in how the cells in your pores behave, a bacterium that normally lives in your pores (Cutibacterium acnes) and inflammation. Genetics, hormones and environmental factors can also influence how acne behaves.
For adult women, the picture can be particularly complex. Hormonal fluctuations may influence acne, including around the menstrual cycle and during changing reproductive life stages. Perimenopause can introduce further changes as oestrogen declines and the relative influence of androgens changes.
But adult female acne should not automatically be reduced to “hormonal acne.” It remains a multifactorial inflammatory skin condition, and acne alone is not a reliable indicator of androgen excess. That distinction matters when deciding what to do next.
- 1Normal pore
- 2Pore becomes clogged
- 3Inflammation results
- 4Acne lesions form
Do hormones cause acne?Hormones can influence acne, but adult acne, particularly in women, is more complex than simply having ‘hormonal acne.’
Androgens can increase activity in the skin’s oil glands, and hormonal fluctuations may help explain why some women notice changes in their acne around their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and after pregnancy, or through perimenopause.
For some women, acne persists from adolescence. For others, it returns after years of clearer skin or appears for the first time in adulthood.
Importantly, developing acne in your 30s, 40s or beyond does not automatically mean you have a hormonal imbalance. Your breakout pattern, medical history, medications, life stage and other symptoms all provide useful context.
What doesn’t cause acne?Acne is not caused by dirty skin or poor hygiene.
In fact, repeatedly washing, scrubbing or exfoliating acne-prone skin can increase irritation and disrupt the skin barrier without addressing the processes that cause acne.
Acne is a complex inflammatory skin condition influenced by factors including oil production, changes within the hair follicle, inflammation, bacteria, genetics and hormones.
That means having acne at any age isn’t a sign that you aren’t cleansing properly or looking after your skin well enough. A gentle, consistent skincare routine is usually more useful than trying to scrub breakouts away.
Can I fix my acne with diet?Diet may influence acne in some people, but there is no single diet that has been shown to prevent or treat acne for everyone.
Research suggests that high-glycaemic dietary patterns may be associated with acne, while dairy, particularly cow’s milk, has also been associated with acne in some studies. However, the evidence is variable and does not mean that these foods cause acne in everyone.
If you notice a consistent relationship between particular foods and your breakouts, it is worth discussing with your doctor. But restrictive diets are rarely a good place to start. Acne is a medical condition, and you shouldn’t have to overhaul your entire diet to treat it.
Your skin at 45 may be behaving very differently from your skin at 18, and your acne care should take that into account.
Body acne
Don’t forget chest and back acne (‘backne’)
Acne doesn’t only affect the face. It can also develop on the chest, back and shoulders, where there are high concentrations of oil glands.
Body acne can include blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed pimples and deeper, painful breakouts. Because these areas are harder to see and reach, acne can sometimes become quite established before it is addressed.
Sweat, friction and occlusive clothing may aggravate breakouts for some people, but chest and back acne is not simply caused by being sweaty or unclean.
Persistent or deeper body acne is also more likely to leave pigmentation or scarring, making it important to consider alongside facial acne rather than as a separate problem.
After the breakout
Sometimes the breakout isn’t the worst part
Even after an acne lesion has healed, it can leave a visible mark behind.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Brown or darker areas of pigmentation after inflammation. Can be particularly persistent in deeper skin tones.
Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE)
Pink, red or purple marks, caused by changes in the small blood vessels following inflammation.
Scarring
Acne can also cause permanent scarring, particularly when breakouts are deeper or more inflammatory.
These are different problems and may require different approaches. At Qr8, we can assess active acne and some of the pigmentation or redness it leaves behind, and discuss which concerns may be appropriate for online medical care and which may be better managed with other treatment options.
Understanding whether you’re dealing with active acne, post-acne marks, scarring, or a combination of these is the first step.
Treatment
How is acne treated?
Your treatment, your skinAcne treatment depends on the type of acne you have, how severe it is, where it occurs, your skin, your medical history and what you’ve already tried.
For some people, appropriate skincare and over-the-counter options may be enough. For others, medical treatment may be appropriate following assessment by a doctor.
Treatment also needs to consider what matters beyond the active breakouts, including sensitivity, pigmentation, redness and the risk of scarring.
For adult women, life stage can be particularly relevant. Acne may change with hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy planning, pregnancy, breastfeeding or perimenopause, and these circumstances can influence which options are appropriate.
At Qr8, you don’t need to work out which treatment you need before you book. Your doctor assesses what’s happening with your skin and discusses appropriate options for you. Your nurse helps you implement these recommendations.
Antibiotics and acne: what to knowTopical antibiotics can be used in acne care, but they’re not always the best long-term option.
Common topical acne antibiotics can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria may persist on the skin after treatment ends, which can make future acne management more challenging. Resistance can also spread to other bacteria and, in some situations, to close contacts.
Because of this, our doctors aim to avoid routine topical and oral antibiotic use.
In some cases, a short course of oral medication may be considered to help manage inflammation, but only after a medical assessment, and only when it’s clinically appropriate for you.
Acne treatment and purgingYou may have heard of ‘skin purging’: a temporary increase in breakouts that can sometimes occur after introducing certain acne treatments.
The reassuring part is that most people do not experience significant purging. And if you do notice more breakouts after starting a treatment, it doesn’t automatically mean that purging is the cause.
Acne naturally fluctuates, and new breakouts can also occur because of irritation, changes in skincare or simply the underlying acne itself. Worsening skin isn’t something you should automatically push through.
This is also why intensive support during the early stages of acne treatment matters. Purging can happen, but it isn’t inevitable, and you won’t be left to manage it on your own.
Are there other benefits to medically managing acne?Yes. Acne care isn’t only about reducing active breakouts.
A medical plan can also consider the marks and skin changes acne leaves behind, including persistent redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where clinically appropriate. (Read more about pigmentation and uneven skin tone, and how post-acne marks differ from melasma.)
This can be particularly relevant in adult acne, where concerns about pigmentation, uneven skin tone and other age-related skin changes may exist alongside breakouts.
At Qr8, your doctor assesses the whole clinical picture, rather than treating every skin concern as a separate problem.
Skincare
Do I need to worry about skincare blocking my pores?
‘Non-comedogenic’ can sound reassuring, but it isn’t a guarantee that a product won’t contribute to congestion or irritation for your skin.
Whether a product suits acne-prone skin depends on the whole formulation, how you use it, what else is in your routine and how your individual skin responds.
At Qr8, we look at everything you’re putting on your skin, not just medical treatments. Your nursing team can help simplify your routine, remove unnecessary products and find supporting skincare that works with your skin rather than against it.
Do I need to spend a lot on skincare?
No. More products don’t necessarily mean better acne care. For most people, the foundations are relatively simple:
- A gentle cleanser
- An appropriate moisturiser
- Daily sunscreen
Your Qr8 nurse reviews the skincare you already use and helps you decide what to keep, stop or change, with recommendations tailored to your skin and budget. You shouldn’t need a bathroom cabinet full of products to support your acne care.
How it works
Your acne care in three simple steps
-
Step one
Detailed questionnaire & photos
Complete a detailed health questionnaire and send us photographs of your skin. This gives your clinical team important information before you meet.
-
Step two
Meet your doctor
See an Australian registered doctor by private video consultation, 7 days a week, 7am to 9pm. They’ll review your history and photographs and talk with you about what may be appropriate.
-
Step three
Care between appointments
Your nurses help with your skincare routine, answer questions and keep up with how things are going. Email us. Call us. Book a video call.
FAQs
Your biggest questions, answered
Is adult acne normal?
Yes. Acne is common well beyond adolescence, particularly in women. It may persist from the teenage years, return after a period of clearer skin, or appear for the first time in adulthood. Research has found clinical acne in around 1 in 4 women in their 30s, with acne continuing through the 40s and beyond.
Why am I suddenly getting acne in my 30s or 40s?
There may not be one single reason.
Adult acne is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, oil-gland activity, inflammation, hormonal fluctuations, medications and other individual factors.
For women, changing reproductive life stages can also influence how acne behaves. New acne in adulthood doesn’t automatically mean you have a hormonal imbalance. Read more about hormonal acne in adult women.
Can perimenopause and menopause affect acne?
Yes, it can.
Hormonal changes during perimenopause can influence the skin and may contribute to acne developing, returning or changing in some women.
At the same time, the skin itself may be becoming drier, more sensitive or less tolerant of the acne products you previously used, so managing acne at this stage of life can require a different approach from managing it at 18.
Does makeup cause acne?
Not necessarily.
Having acne doesn’t mean you need to stop wearing makeup, sunscreen or skincare. Some products may contribute to congestion or irritation for some people, but labels such as ‘non-comedogenic’ don’t guarantee that a product will suit every acne-prone skin.
It may also have nothing to do with your acne. That’s why getting the right advice matters.
How long does acne take to improve?
There is no single timeframe that applies to everyone.
It depends on the type and severity of your acne, what may be contributing to it, the management approach and how your skin responds.
Acne also naturally fluctuates, so meaningful change is generally assessed over time rather than from individual good or bad skin days.
Can acne be managed online?
Many acne concerns can be assessed and managed through telehealth.
At Qr8, your doctor uses your medical history, photographs and a real-time video consultation to assess your skin and discuss appropriate options.
If your concern requires investigation, examination or care that cannot appropriately be provided online, your doctor will discuss what you should do next.
Do I need to know what type of acne I have before booking?
No.
In fact, not every acne-like breakout is acne. Other skin conditions can sometimes cause similar-looking bumps or breakouts.
Two common look-alikes are rosacea and perioral dermatitis, which need a different approach. You don’t need to diagnose yourself before seeking an assessment.
How much does it cost?
Your initial video consultation with one of our registered doctors is $55 AUD.
Following your consultation, your doctor will email a personalised care plan where clinically appropriate, with all relevant costs clearly outlined before you choose to proceed. Fees vary according to your care and include clinical support throughout. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Afterpay and direct debit.
We are a private billing service and Medicare rebates are not available. Depending on your cover, you may be able to claim some costs through your private health insurer. Receipts are available on request.
Resources
All articles
+ Read more
Skincare
Are those really blackheads? Understanding pores
+ Read more
Acne
Is the ‘retinoid purge’ real?
+ Read more
Acne
Does endometriosis cause acne?
+ Read more
Acne
Can GLP-1 weight-loss medicines trigger acne?
+ Read more
Acne · Rosacea
Are your supplements helping or causing your acne or rosacea?
+ Read more
Perioral dermatitis
Perioral and periorificial dermatitis
References
- Chaowattanapanit S, Silpa-Archa N, Kohli I, Lim HW, Hamzavi I. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a comprehensive overview: treatment options and prevention. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017. PMID: 28917452.
- Habeshian KA, Cohen BA. Current issues in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Pediatrics. 2020;145(Suppl 2):S225-S230. PMID: 32358215.
- Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, du Plessis J, Gerber M. Treatment modalities for acne. Molecules. 2016.
- Schaller M, Sebastian M, Ress C, Seidel D, Hennig M. A multicentre, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of two topical treatments in mild-to-moderate acne.
- Heng AHS, Chew FT. Systematic review of the epidemiology of acne vulgaris. Sci Rep. 2020. PMID: 32238884.
- Lain E, Andriessen AE. Choosing the right partner: complementing prescription acne medication with over-the-counter cleansers and moisturizers. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020. PMID: 33196748.
- Gollnick HP, Bettoli V, Lambert J, et al. A consensus-based practical and daily guide for the treatment of acne patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016. PMID: 27177989.
Your acne care starts here
Take the next step toward understanding your skin and your options with doctor-led care, online.