Medical disclaimer

Not medical advice

The content on AcneRid — including articles, tools, quiz results, emails and videos — is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified health professional. Using this site does not create a doctor–patient or other professional relationship between you and AcneRid or anyone who writes for or reviews our content.

Always seek the advice of a dermatologist, doctor, pharmacist or other qualified clinician with any questions about your skin or a medical condition, and before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read on this site.

Our tools can’t diagnose you

Our quiz and checkers apply general rules drawn from published guidance to the answers you give. They can’t see your skin, don’t know your full medical history, and can be wrong. Treat their results as a starting point for your own research or a conversation with a clinician — not as a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

Please see a clinician in person if…

• you have deep, painful lumps (nodules or cysts), or acne that is leaving scars or dark marks;
• your acne hasn’t improved after two to three months of consistent over-the-counter treatment;
• you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive — some acne medicines can harm a developing baby;
• you are under 18 — a parent or guardian should be involved in treatment decisions;
• acne appeared suddenly in adulthood, or comes with irregular periods, excess hair growth or other new symptoms;
• you’re not sure it’s acne (for example facial flushing, redness or itching);
• acne is affecting your mood, sleep or daily life.

Over-the-counter and prescription medicines

Over-the-counter acne products are medicines. Read and follow the Drug Facts label, including warnings and directions, and ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines or have a health condition. Information about prescription medicines — including isotretinoin — is provided for general understanding only; only a licensed prescriber can decide whether a prescription medicine is right for you.

Accuracy and timeliness

We work hard to keep our content accurate and up to date, cite our sources, and show each page’s medical review status. But medical knowledge, product formulas, prices, regulations and recall information change, and we can make mistakes. Check the date on each page, and check official sources such as the FDA for the latest safety information. If you spot an error, please tell us.

Third-party products, services and links

We link to other websites, retailers and online health services. We don’t control them and aren’t responsible for their content, products, clinical care or privacy practices. Mentioning a product or service is not a guarantee that it is safe or effective for you, and no product or service can be guaranteed to clear acne.

Results vary

Acne responds differently from person to person. Timelines we mention are typical ranges drawn from published guidance, not promises. Any experiences or examples we describe are not typical results unless we say so.