10 Best Acne Spot Treatments 2022 | UK Dermatologist Reviewed

Felipe Partarrieu is a final year dermatology resident, who is GMC registered with a full license to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skincare, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.

1. Dermalogica - MediBac Clearing Overnight Clearing Gel for £46.00
2. Zisticka - Killa Spot and Blemish Clarifying Patch for £26.99
3. Clean & Clear - Advanced Spot Gel for £4.00 
4. REN Clean Skincare - ClearCalm Non-Drying Spot Treatment for £15.30 
5. Origins - Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel for £16.00 

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of Acne Spot Treatments available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Prioritise Key Ingredients To Treat Blackheads or Inflammation 
2. Decide Between Day Or Night Acne Treatments
3. Opt for Acne Patches If You Are Prone To Picking At Your Spots 

• Beta-hydroxy acid (BHA): commonly known as salicylic acid, is a powerful exfoliant. If you are trying to clear a whitehead or blackhead, you will definitely want to reach for something containing this ingredient.

• Salicylic acid: is oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate deep into the pores. Once there, it will soften and dissolve keratin plugs and any old skin cells that trap dirt and cause zits. 

One of the things that will draw the most attention to a spot is the inflammation that can occur around it. When the skin is irritated, the area can become red, almost creating a 'bullseye' effect around your blemish! 

If you are particularly concerned about inflammation, we strongly advise looking for products that contain niacinamide. Often found in anti-ageing products to minimise the appearance of wrinkles, niacinamide also helps to reduce redness making your spot appear much less apparent. 

Admittedly, sulfur has fallen out of popularity in recent years, partly due to the fact that it has a somewhat unpleasant fragrance. However, this does not negate its effectiveness as an acne treatment.

If you can withstand the scent, sulfur has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that can help with reducing zits. It is also keratolytic, just like salicylic acid, so it will be able to break down the build up of keratin to prevent zits from forming or your pores getting larger!

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, commonly known as witch hazel, comes from a small tree native to North America. Witch hazel has some interesting properties that it shares in common with another tree-derived ingredient, tea tree oil. 

Both tea tree oil and witch hazel have powerful anti-inflammatory properties which aid in reducing redness and are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Also helping to prevent the build-up of dirt on the skin's surface.

To keep your skin calm, how about a facial steamer?

Although it is incredibly tempting to try and dry out your zit as quickly as possible, one of the benefits of using a specifically designed acne treatment in the place of a DIY solution is that you can ensure that you are still being kind to your skin.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, we recommend keeping an eye out for the moisturising agents glycerin and propylene glycol. These ingredients are humectants, meaning that they will help maintain and restore moisture to the skin, preventing it from becoming irritated. 

We have comprehensive guides on the best face washes for acne and face masks for acne, too!

Topical acne treatments come in a few different formulas, such as gels, lotions, and creams. The type you choose will depend on your preferred application method.

• Lotions: have a liquid consistency and can be applied lightly either directly onto the target area, or all over the face. These are best for applying at night to work on your acne while you sleep, though we recommend using them together with your usual face cream as they can be quite drying. 

• Creams: have a heavier viscosity than lotions and tend to have higher levels of active ingredients. These are better for daytime use or applying underneath makeup as they create a barrier on top of the skin to protect against pollution and environmental irritation.

• Gels: we recommend for intensive acne treatments. They can be harder to cover with makeup, but will provide the best barrier, keeping out nasties and locking in ingredients to target that zit!

Acne stickers or patches are a wonderful choice for people who just can't resist picking at their zits. Picking can be detrimental to your acne recovery as your hands introduce more bacteria to the area. By applying an acne sticker patch after you have cleansed the area, you'll be less tempted to pick as your fingers will no longer have easy access to the spot.

Most acne stickers are transparent and fairly simple to cover with make up. However, there is a huge difference between hydrocolloids and targeted acne patches, so it's important you know the difference before buying.

Hydrocolloids were introduced to the skincare market via the medical field. They are designed to draw out moisture from a specific area, which is great for removing pus and sebum. For more intensive spot treatment, we recommend getting a targeted acne patch. These have micro darts that gently penetrate under the surface of the skin to deliver acne-healing ingredients, like salicylic acid, directly to the source.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

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Written and researched by Hannah Kato