The Truth About Curing Acne: What You Need to Know

Reviewed by Aesthetic Dr. Hala Mahfoud, Md, MRCOG, DipGum, MFSRH

Written by Ali Rislan, BSc.

Is there a cure for acne, one of the most common skin conditions in the world? Or is it just another skincare myth that keeps people spending money on miracle products that don’t work?

If you’ve ever searched for how to cure acne or the best acne cure, you’ve probably seen:

• "This cleanser cures acne forever"

• "Use this serum to permanently get rid of your acne"

• "New skin treatment cures acne"

  
  

But here’s the truth you deserve to hear: there is no permanent cure for acne.

That might sound discouraging, but knowing and understanding this is the first step to clear and calm skin. Now you can avoid wasting your money and hope on false promises.

By the end of this article you'll learn more about acne, why there's currently no cure for it, and what you can do instead.

Summary (TL;DR)

• There's no cure for acne as it is a multifactorial condition. This means there are many causes and contributors, and no one treatment or product can manage them all.

• You should focus on controlling acne, rather than trying to cure it. A good skincare routine can be sufficient for some people, but most will need regular professional treatment.

• Your acne treatment plan should be bespoke, unique to you. Deep cleansing, professional peels, facials like HydraFacial, and laser treatment are our top picks.

• A homecare routine alongside a skin treatment plan is the gold standard. Even simple habits like cleansing 2x a day and avoiding acne triggers can help a lot.

• You'll likely need maintenance once your acne is under control. You won't need treatment as often, but maybe every 3-4 months.

  
  

Why There’s No Cure for Acne

Acne isn’t a single problem with a single solution, which is a significant factor as to why there's no cure. Instead acne is a skin condition influenced by multiple factors, including:

• Excess oil production, or even sometimes dry skin.

• Dead skin cells blocking pores

• Acne-causing bacteria (C. acnes)

• Inflammation in the skin

• Hormonal changes or imbalances

  
  

So, your skin type, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle can contribute to acne, which you can learn more about here. That's why there’s no universal acne cure that works for everyone, or that guarantees you’ll never break out again.

Even if your skin clears completely, the same triggers can cause acne to return. This can be sometimes months or even years later, but it will likely happen eventually.

How to Manage Acne Effectively

While there’s no cure, acne can be managed and controlled with the right approach. The key is to find the right treatment options for your skin. Not everybody's skin is the same, so there's no one-size-fits-all acne treatment plan.

The right plan for your skin helps you to prevent acne breakouts, and they won't be as bad if you do break out.

Professional Acne Treatments in London

At Dr Hala Medical Aesthetics, we recommend a personalised plan. Some people may need treatments to control sebum production. Some people may need to moisturize and hydrate their skin. Others might need stronger interventions like laser resurfacing to balance their skin.

One thing that is common across all treatment plans is the Deep Cleansing facial. The Deep Cleansing is an effective treatment for acne, and should always make the backbone of your treatment plan.

Get Your Acne Treatment Plan

1. HydraFacial for acne-prone skin – Deeply cleanses, exfoliates, and removes pore congestion. The salicylic and glycolic acid here is great for regulating oil production, and reducing pore congestion.

2. Chemical peels or herbal peels for acne – Smooths texture, reduces inflammation, and fades post-acne marks.

3. The Green Peel is a favourite of ours for acne control and management! These are also great for keeping your skin clear and calm for longer after a Deep Cleansing.

4. Laser treatments for acne – This can be a little complicated, as there are different lasers with different benefits. ClearSkin for example has antibacterial and acne calming effects. Laser resurfacing can help to balance the skin and "shrink" your pores.

5. Oral antibiotics & topical antibiotics. While not something that we offer, antibiotics can be helpful in some cases of acne. But keep in mind that you should only take antibiotics that a doctor has specifically prescribed for you.

Homecare for Acne Management

Use non-comedogenic, acne-friendly skincare. Ingredients like salicylic acid and azelaic acid can be great here for preventing pore congestion, and reducing breakouts. Topical retinoids can be good for acne too, but they can also irritate the skin, so use them under guidance.

Follow a consistent cleansing and exfoliation routine, but don't overdo it. It's important to cleanse and exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and dirt, to reduce pore congestion. But cleansing and exfoliating your skin too much can irritate it and cause further breakouts and discomfort. Cleanse morning and evening before applying your actives, and exfoliate twice a week.

Avoid harsh, overly stripping products that can damage your skin barrier. This is why it's important to be careful with strong products like retinols. If you're not sure what to use for your skin, you can always book a free consultation with Dr Hala here.

Try reducing certain foods that can trigger breakouts. This can include dairy, sugary foods, spicy food, and greasy food. While these foods don't cause acne, they can definitely trigger breakouts.

Try wearing breathable clothes if you have body acne, and don't wear the same clothes for more than one day.

The Importance of Maintenance

One of the biggest acne treatment myths is that once your skin clears, you can stop treatment. We'd love for that to be the reality, truthfully, but unfortunately it is not.

Most people with acne-prone skin need long-term maintenance to keep breakouts away. It's like brushing your teeth, you'll need to keep brushing them regularly to keep them clean.

This likely means professional treatments every few months, and a daily home skincare routine designed for your skin.

The Honest Bottom Line

Unfortunately acne isn’t something you cure, it’s something you manage with regular effort. While that sounds like bad news, now that you know it you can stop chasing miracle fixes that leave you disappointed.

It can be difficult to find a solution if you’re struggling with acne. This is especially true with all the conflicting advice out there. You can cut through the noise with a skin consultation with Dr Hala, starting with a skin analysis to learn more about your skin.

From there, you'll be guided you through your bespoke acne management plan.

Book your free skin consultation today with Dr Hala and start managing your acne effectively and consistently.

Book Acne Consultation