Acne Treatment

Comprehensive acne management at NSC, from comedonal and mild inflammatory acne to severe nodular and cystic presentations, including medical therapy, topical prescriptions, chemical peels, laser procedures, and isotretinoin management.

Acne is one of the most commonly treated conditions at the National Skin Centre, and NSC's dermatologists manage all severity grades — from mild comedonal and papulopustular acne to severe nodular, cystic, or scarring presentations that have not responded to general practice management. Treatment at NSC is evidence-based and guideline-driven. For mild-to-moderate acne, first-line options include topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics, and combination formulations. For moderate-to-severe inflammatory acne, oral antibiotics are often prescribed in combination with topical agents, with regular review to monitor efficacy and antibiotic stewardship. For patients with severe or recalcitrant acne, NSC's dermatologists can prescribe oral isotretinoin (Roaccutane) — a powerful retinoid that induces long-term remission in many patients. Isotretinoin treatment at NSC includes structured monitoring with liver function and lipid panel blood tests and regular clinical review, consistent with international treatment protocols. Beyond medical therapy, NSC's procedure suites offer clinical-grade chemical peels (salicylic acid, glycolic acid) for acne reduction and comedone extraction under controlled conditions. Laser treatments — including fractional laser and pulsed-dye laser — are available for inflammatory acne and acne scarring through NSC's Mandalay Clinic Laser Suites. For acne scarring, NSC offers fractional laser resurfacing, subcision, punch excision, and filler augmentation as components of a scar rehabilitation programme. The choice of modality is guided by scar morphology (atrophic vs hypertrophic, ice-pick vs rolling vs boxcar) and skin type. Patients with acne at NSC are typically seen in the General Dermatology Clinic, with severe or complex cases referred to subspecialty services.