My son has had cystic acne since he was a teenager. Had all the treatments including dermabrasion. He has excessive oily skin and scar tissue. This is located only on both cheeks. It also has a putrid smell and leaks continuously. He is very depressed and will not socialise outside of work.

See the answer and more

All About Acne

When you've got acne, all you want to do is get rid of it.

The good news is that you can!

Safe, effective treatments are out there, but sometimes it can be a little tricky working out what's going to work for you. So why not get the real experts to help?

All About Acne is written by a team of leading Australian health and medical professionals from around the country – dermatologists as well as a cosmetic medicine practitioner, GP, pharmacist and obstetrician / gynaecologist - who have all volunteered their time to this resource.

Scars




	Early, effective treatment of moderate to severe acne can prevent scarring. Anyone with scarring should see a GP who may then refer you to a dermatologist or cosmetic medicine practitioner.
	More about scars

Treatments




	Any acne treatment may take up to eight weeks to have a noticeable effect. With hundreds of products to choose from start by speaking to a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist for their advice.
	More about treatments

Types of Acne




	A GP or dermatologist can usually tell what type of acne you have by simply observing the number, type and depth of the acne spots. Acne is graded as mild, moderate or severe and adult acne also exists.
	More about acne types

Causes




	Acne happens when the oil glands (pores) in the skin become blocked. Hormones make the oil glands produce more oil (sebum) and if a pore is blocked, a build-up occurs to create a pimple.
	More about causes

19/12/2011

New research from the US suggests that oral antibiotics used to treat acne in university students may be associated with an increased risk of sore throats.

19/10/2011

Dodging the worst of the typical western diet - especially processed and refined foods - can help control the obesity epidemic and may provide some help with acne.

04/08/2011

Azelaic acid gel may be effective in treating dark skinned people with mild to moderate acne. It may also be helpful in reducing moderate to severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

13/07/2011

Teenagers believe their appearance is the single most important issue in their lives yet the majority of young people with acne do not seek a doctor’s advice for this common and treatable medical condition.