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Acne

Acne develops when oil and dead skin cells clog hair follicles, creating whiteheads, blackheads and sometimes deeper, tender nodules. Most common in teenagers, it also affects many adults, particularly along the jaw and chin. Across Southeast and East Asia the combination of heat and humidity makes blocked pores a year-round problem.

Medicines used to treat Acne

Yasmin

Drospirenone, Ethinylestradiol

3/0.03mg

Indicated for hormonal contraception, formulated to inhibit ovulation and to support the management of acne by stabilizing androgen levels in women.

From$1.33/ tabletView

Terramycin

Oxytetracycline

250mg

Formulated to treat bacterial infections, utilized to support the eradication of pathogenic microorganisms.

From$0.40/ tabletView

Minocin

Minocycline

50 · 100mg

Designed to alleviate acne symptoms, utilized to support skin health.

From$2.63/ tabletView

Tazorac

Tazarotene

1 · 5%

Formulated to manage acne vulgaris and designed to alleviate skin inflammation and promote cell turnover in psoriasis.

From$30.46/ tubeView

Retin-a Cream

Tretinoin

0.025 · 0.05%

Formulated to alleviate acne vulgaris and designed to support skin texture improvement.

From$12.35/ tubeView

A-ret

Tretinoin

0.1%

Formulated for acne vulgaris utilized to alleviate inflammatory lesions.

From$17.00/ tubeView

Aczone

Dapsone

100mg

Indicated for acne vulgaris utilized to target inflammatory skin lesions.

From$0.05/ tabletView

Adapalen

Adapalene

15g

Indicated to address acne vulgaris to alleviate skin inflammation.

From$14.71/ tubeView

Isotroin

Isotretinoin

10 · 20mg

Developed to mitigate severe acne, utilized to target sebum production and support long-term skin health.

From$1.17/ tabletView

Renova

Tretinoin

0.025 · 0.05 · 0.1%

Formulated to address skin texture, this product is utilized to mitigate signs of photoageing and support a healthy complexion in clinical settings.

From$8.50/ tubeView

Azelex

Azelaic Acid

20%

Intended to address inflammatory skin lesions and to support clearer skin texture.

From$18.13/ tubeView

What is actually driving it

Three factors converge: excess sebum, a blocked follicle and the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. Hormones amplify all three, which is why breakouts often track the menstrual cycle or periods of high stress. Contrary to a persistent myth, oily food and poor hygiene are not direct causes, and vigorous scrubbing irritates the skin barrier without clearing pores.

How acne is treated

Treatment is matched to severity. Topical tretinoin is a mainstay for mild to moderate acne, speeding cell turnover so pores stay clear. Inflamed acne often requires an oral antibiotic from the antibiotics category, with doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline all commonly used. For women whose acne has a hormonal pattern, a combined pill containing drospirenone and ethinylestradiol can reduce breakouts significantly. All acne treatments need six to eight weeks to show full results, so consistency matters more than frequent product changes. The full skin care range on ZoneMD covers topical and systemic options.

Marks versus scars

In darker skin tones, which are prevalent across South and Southeast Asia, healed acne spots frequently leave brown or reddish patches rather than true scars. These are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks. Treating acne early and wearing daily broad-spectrum SPF are the most effective ways to limit how dark and long-lasting those marks become.