Are choosing QR8 Mediskin’s online skincare program to treat their acne, blackheads, congestion and enlarged pores
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If you’re like others suffering the frustration and discomfort of acne, you know that breakouts often appear at the worst possible time. Studies show that this can negatively affect your confidence , both professionally and socially.
Perhaps you’re confused by conflicting advice about treating acne – Do DIY treatments work, what skincare products to use (or not use!), and will changing my diet really help?
And, you may be tired of spending hundreds of dollars on skincare products, acne supplements, and treatments that make big promises but often produce few results.
You’re not alone. We see many acne sufferers, and they tell us their similar frustrations with treating acne. But, there is an answer. And it begins by understanding that acne is not a cosmetic condition but rather a medical skin condition, that can be treated with a medical approach.
QR8 Mediskin is a doctor-prescribed and nurse-supported skincare service designed to address your specific acne challenges with evidence-based acne treatments that are simple to use (just a few minutes each day).
Our online skincare team gets to know you and your skin (using a detailed questionnaire combined with a secure video consultation) and, if you’re suitable, prescribes a science-backed treatment from a choice of 20+ evidence-based ingredients that are targeted and blended for your specific skin condition.
As part of your treatment you also receive comprehensive skincare recommendations and ongoing support from our dermatology nurse via SMS, phone, email, and or video call.
Acne (technical name: Acne vulgaris) is a common inflammatory skin disease that affects more than 85% of teens. But it isn’t limited to teenagers – adult acne can strike at any time, especially in females, even if you didn’t have teenage acne.
Acne is not a cosmetic condition – it is a medical skin disease. More specifically, a disease of the skin’s ‘pilosebaceous units’ – the hair follicle (that exits at the skin surface via a pore) and associated sebaceous gland that produces oil. Because it’s a medical condition, it is rarely fixed with complicated (and expensive!) skincare routines or cosmetic products and treatments. You need a targeted prescription acne treatment to manage it effectively.
There is no such thing as mild acne – all acne, even if it’s a single pimple or blocked pore, can and should be treated, especially if it makes you feel self-conscious or anxious. Acne and the dark marks it leaves behind (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, PIH) can make it difficult to attend school and work, socialise with friends, and generally enjoy life. And the best treatment for acne scars is to treat your acne effectively to prevent scar formation.
There’s no simple answer because acne lesions can be anything from clogged pores (also called comedones, which can be open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads), papules (small red bumps on the skin) and pustules (like papules but filled with pus) to very large, painful, inflamed and swollen nodules and cysts (the dreaded ‘blind pimples’) – and sometimes all of these together! Redness, hyperpigmentation, scarring and pain are also common.
Read Dr Michele’s advice for dealing with the occasional blind pimple (cystic acne treatment), and the best acne spot treatments in Marie Claire Australia HERE
It all starts with a clogged pore. Acne sufferers produce excess oil (‘sebum’) and the skin cells lining their pores don’t shed properly, instead collecting in the pore. The sticky skin cells and oil mix together in the pore, creating a microscopic blockage called a microcomedone.
Acne bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes, which used to be called Propionibacterium acnes) feed on sebum, gathering in large numbers around this oily plug, signalling the body to start producing chemicals that ramp up inflammation.
The inflamed plug gradually enlarges to form a visible comedone.
Eventually the pore bursts and bacteria and oil leak into the surrounding tissue, creating even more inflammation, and causing other acne lesions like papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.
Excess sebum production (‘seborrhoea’) is driven by hormones. The hormones involved are called ‘androgens’, and include dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone.
Both males and females produce androgens, either in their adrenal glands, testes or ovaries or converted from precursor chemicals in the skin, hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. Circulating androgens bind to receptors on oil glands and stimulate them to produce excess sebum, creating the perfect conditions for acne formation.
Teenage acne is common due to the natural increase in androgen hormones during puberty, but adult acne is more common than you think – it can flare during menstruation (it’s thought that this is because less oestrogen is available to suppress androgens), and pregnancy. So adult acne treatments are also important.
Because of its hormonal basis, dermatology treatments for acne can include anti-androgen drugs such as oral contraceptives, spironolactone and cyproterone acetate (Androcur). Vitamin A can also reduce sebaceous gland activity.
Acne doesn’t just affect your face – it can appear on your chest and back
(and sometimes your upper arms) as these areas have loads
of sebaceous glands.
Acne isn’t caused by a lack of hygiene or ‘dirty’ skin – so no amount of cleansing, scrubbing or exfoliating will get rid of it. In fact, this can inflame skin and make everything worse! Acne is simply a medical condition, that needs a medical solution.
Read more about some common acne myths HERE.
There is still no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that diet causes acne. High-glycaemic foods and dairy can trigger breakouts for some (but not all!) people who are already predisposed to acne. Read more about skin health & acne HERE. If you’re going to seek advice about diet and acne, make sure it’s evidence-based advice from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian.
And ignore advice from ‘experts’ on social media trying to sell you supplements – they don’t work!
Remember that you just have a medical skin condition that can be managed with simple medical treatment – you’re not doing anything wrong!
PIH is a reaction to injury or inflammation that causes the skin to produce increased melanin pigment. It is more common in those with deeper skin tones. The most common cause of PIH is pimples, but it also can result from inflammatory skin conditions, burns, a reaction to skincare products, medications, or treatments, or any skin injury (like picking at zits!).
PIH appears as dark spots/patches in the same area as the healed injury. These marks can take several months or years to resolve – up to 5 years in some cases. PIH can get darker and persist in the skin for longer when exposed to sunlight (so don’t forget your sunscreen!).
Our doctors can customize a treatment cream to fade PIH at the same time you are treating your acne breakouts. You can discuss this during your 1:1 video consult with our experienced doctors
Although antibiotics can be successfully used in acne treatment creams, common anti-acne antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin result in high rates of antibiotic resistance in acne bacteria (without also using something like benzoyl peroxide for example). Antibiotic-resistant acne bacteria can also persist on your skin long after you finish using the antibiotic cream. And having antibiotic-resistant bacteria on your face means your acne treatment can be less effective. The resistant bacteria can also be transferred to close contacts!
Instead of topical antibiotics, our doctors use prescription-strength azelaic acid (15%-20%) if required to kill acne bacteria. Azelaic acid isn’t an antibiotic (so resistance has not been reported) but research shows that 20% Azelaic acid applied twice daily for 12 weeks is comparable to 1% topical clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide in reducing acne lesions. And it’s good news if you’re pregnant – Azelaic acid is a pregnancy class B drug (no evidence of risk in studies).
Sometimes, our doctors may recommend a very short course of oral antibiotics in combination with a topical retinoid. Our doctors choose antibiotics known to result in the lowest rate of antibiotic resistance in acne patients, and they will only be used if absolutely necessary.
Click HERE to read what our founder, Dr Michele Squire, told Mamamia Australia about expensive skincare (all our patients receive personalized 1:1 advice from our Skincare Support Team about inexpensive skincare products to support their acne treatment product.
It’s part of our all-inclusive cost – read more in our FAQ.
We discussed this with dermatologist, Dr Natalia Spierings in our Instagram Live Skin Sessions Series.
Click HERE to watch.
Our treatments include a combination of acne-busting ingredients designed just for you:
* We even have pregnancy-safe options to tackle pregnancy breakouts if you’re suitable for a prescription after assessment by a doctor!
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Tell us about your health and the challenges you’re having with your skin. Snap 3 photos of your skin following our simple instructions HERE
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Schedule a Secure Video Consultation with one of our Aussie Doctors to diagnose your skin. Consults available 7 days a week, 7am-9pm.
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If you’re suitable for treatment, your very own custom treatment will be made-to-order just for you, and shipped within a week.
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Receive your personal skincare routine and recommendations from our expert nurses and dermal therapists, get access to our exclusive Support Hub and evidence-based resources and virtual events, join in live discussions, and receive ongoing personal support via SMS, phone, email, or video call during your 3-month treatment cycle.
Thousands of customers are thrilled to finally discover skincare that works. Some even say using QR8 Mediskin has eliminated the need for expensive salon treatments, and uncomfortable laser therapies. Here are some of the untouched before-and-after images we’ve received from our incredible community.
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Dr Michele Squire, PhD scientist and former healthcare executive and Registered Nurse, recognised the crucial synergy between medicine, science and skincare in treating chronic skin concerns. In 2019, she established Qr8 (pronounced ‘curate’), a ground-breaking venture aimed at offering video telehealth-delivered medical consultations and uncomplicated skincare guidance rooted in scientific evidence. By promoting evidence-based medicine and combining it with the kind of expert support known to significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients, Qr8 empowers patients to make informed decisions about their skin and get results.
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Having experienced acne in her late teens and twenties, Dr Ambi can relate to patients experiencing chronic skin conditions. She finds it incredibly rewarding when patients are satisfied with the care they have received, and also loves to see the happiness that comes when her patients receive good results.
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Dr Yeshika focusses on what the patient is trying to achieve and adapts their treatment according to their individual lifestyles. She loves to see long-term and returning patients who are happy with their results, and she finds this to be the most rewarding part of her practice.
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Dr Alicia understands that treating skin can be both transformative and life-changing. When skin conditions are impacting a person’s daily life, she finds it rewarding to see the enormous difference that successful treatment can make to a patient’s confidence and wellbeing. She also like to empower patients by giving them the tools to manage their skin conditions long term.
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Dr Jeremy is holistic, thorough, and willing to take the necessary time and care to ensure his patients are empowered to take charge of their health. He specifically enjoys seeing patients enjoy positive results and become empowered to make better decisions for their skin and wellbeing.
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Dr Sharon enjoys building long-term relationships with her patients and seeing the positive impact of their skin transformation and over-all well-being through personalised care and targeted skin treatment plans. She also loves making her patients feel comfortable during consultation, and leave feeling confident in their ability to look after their skin with the right professional guidance and advice. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, interior design and floristry.
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Dr Kathy combines science and evidence-based practice with a warm and compassionate approach to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. She enjoys seeing the holistic benefits for patients that come with achieving great skin health and providing patients with the knowledge and tools to empower them to maintain great skin for life.
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I enjoy truly listening to a patient’s concerns and creating a relaxing environment where they feel heard and valued. My kind & approachable nature allows me to build strong relationships and trust, while my eagerness to help and offer support ensures each patient receives personalized and compassionate care tailored to their needs.
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Dr Sarah has a warm and empathetic approach to her practice and listens deeply to ensure that she can work with patients to get to the root of the problem and arrive at an effective solution together. She finds being trusted with her patient’s stories and seeing how simple changes can make a world of difference to be the most rewarding part of her practice.
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Dr Maanasa enjoys being able to support patients on their clinical journey and build meaningful theraputic relationships with them. She is personable, friendly and approachable, and provides a judgment-free zone for patient interaction and support.
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Nurse Natasha works closely with Nurse Kristen to help patients receive the highest calibre of support possible. If you have questions, she is your go-to alongside Nurse Kristen!
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Kristen is an integral part of our Qr8 MediSkin Skincare Support Team. If you have questions, need skincare product recommendations, or help setting up a simple but personalised skincare routine to support your prescription treatment, Kristen is your skincare guardian angel.
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I have been a pharmacist for 14 years, owned and worked in a variety of Pharmacies including NCC for the last 10 years. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife, 4 kids & dog and also swim, bike and running. I find compounding pharmacy a rewarding profession because of NCC’s ability to customise medicine for any type of patient. I often find ourselves solving challenges which standard medicine couldn’t and the gratitude from Patients is very humbling.
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You’ve heard the science that enables QR8 Mediskin to work so well. You’ve seen the difference in real customers. Isn’t it time to try QR8 Mediskin for yourself? Click the button below to get started.
created by real doctors, scientists, and pharmacists
personally recommended for you, with no guesswork or confusion
with trained experts you can actually
see and talk to
Qr8 MediSkin was launched in 2019 as the go-to service for fully customised prescription skincare, with personalised support provided by our experienced Skincare Support Team. Our formulations are designed by doctors, scientists and pharmacists to meet your exact needs.
[email protected]
Phone: +61 (0)7 3325-9700
Address: Yuggera Country 39 Collingwood St,
Albion, QLD, 4010
