Pimples & acne
How to treat pimples at home, and when to see an online dermatologist
Updated 12 October 2026
Mild acne (blackheads, whiteheads and a few small red pimples) usually settles with a simple routine used every day for eight to twelve weeks.
Deep, painful lumps, or acne that leaves pits or dark marks, needs prescription treatment. The sooner it is treated, the less it scars.
The routine
- Morning: salicylic or oil-control face wash, a light moisturiser, gel sunscreen.
- Night: the same face wash, then a treatment: niacinamide, salicylic acid, or an adapalene gel your doctor suggests.
- Once a week at most: a clay mask if you like one. Skip scrubs.
What makes acne worse
- Popping or squeezing pimples. This is what turns a pimple into a mark or a scar.
- Scrubs, lemon, toothpaste and baking soda on the face.
- Heavy oils and creams, including hair oil that runs onto the forehead.
- Steroid creams bought without a prescription. They clear the skin for a week and then cause worse acne.
- Switching products every few days. Give each one eight weeks.
Acne in women: when to check hormones
Acne along the jaw and chin that flares before periods, with irregular cycles, excess facial hair or weight gain, can be a sign of PCOS. A hormone blood test and a doctor's review help here; creams alone often do not.
