What is acne?

t is increasingly difficult to get an appointment with your GP, especially for conditions which are perceived to be less important, such as, spots.  

 

We understand that acne can have a devastating effect on your self-esteem. At our clinic, you will see a specialist GP who will take your acne seriously, discuss with you the best way of managing your acne.  We are not a beauty clinic – we will not be offering expensive endorsed moisturisers.  Our GPs will prescribe the most suitable evidence-based treatments. 

 

We know that private medical care can be expensive and so we keep our prices as low as possible and suggest cost effective treatments. For example, we can liaise with your GP to provide NHS prescriptions for most acne treatments. This is usually much cheaper than private prescriptions.  If you do need a private prescription; unlike most clinics, we do not charge for issuing it during your consultation. You will find many clinics add this as a cost, even though it takes only a few minutes to print out the prescription for you during a consultation.  

 

We offer a whole range of treatments for acne. Different treatments work better for different people. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer as to why some acne responds better to some drugs than others, and how this varies by individual. Therefore it is so important to find a GP who really understand acne and can work with you to find the treatment best suited to you. Your initial appointment is 30 minutes, allowing plenty of time to discuss the various treatment options and to ask questions. To book an appointment please select ‘skin diagnosis and treatment appointment’ on our booking page.  If you have tried previous acne treatments we strongly advise you to bring a list along to your appointment so you can discuss these with your doctor. 

Treatment options

There are a huge number of treatment options available to you. It is important to choose something that suits you, you acne type and your lifestyle. We know the impacts of acne go far beyond a reflection in a mirror, this is why we ensure we find a solution for you.  We will consider all aspects of the acne when finding suitable treatment options, and this includes the impact the acne is having on your mental well being and self-esteem. 

We do offer Roaccutane treatments for those who have already explored other options.  

Skin condition services

Acne treatments

We appreciate how acne can affect people’s lives, and believe that no-one should just put up with it. Our specialists are here to offer assessment and a choice of personalised treatment options.

Roaccutane

Where appropriate, Oxona can prescribe Roaccutane (Isotretinoin) for severe acne. Our doctors are qualified to assess whether the medication is right for you, and to provide the specialist monitoring required for Roaccutane treatment.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a long-term condition affecting the cheeks, chin and nose.  it can be confused with acne so seeing a specialist helps to make sure you get the right treatment. 

Dermatitis/ Eczema

Dermatitis and Eczema names are used interchangeably to describe itchy inflamed skin caused by irritating substances, or less commonly allergies to chemicals, such as, hairsprays, perfumes, soaps and jewelleries. 

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin disease affecting 1 in 50 people. It occurs equally in men and women. It can appear at any age.  There is no definite cure, but lots of actions to take to help minimise the symptoms of your condition. 

Lichen Planus

In dermatology, the word ‘lichen’ means small bumps on the skin and ‘planus’ means flat, so the names comes from the description of the rash’s appearance. Lichen Planus is a fairly common itchy, non-infectious rash, usually occurring in adults between the ages of 40-60. 

Pruritis

Pruritis (itching) refers to a sensation of the skin which causes a desire to scratch.  Although common, it can be a very distressing symptom of skin disease, systemic illness or psychological disorder.  It is important to try to find a cause and mitigate symptoms. 

Scabies

Scabies is a common and very itchy skin rash caused by a tiny mite. It affects people of all ages, but is most common in the young and elderly. 

Urticaria

Urticaria presents with a highly itchy raised skin reaction known as weals (or hives or nettle rash) that may be round or ring-shaped, and may join together. 

Contact us

Saturday dermatology appointments available in Oxford on 23rd March.