Designed around YOUR skin
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Acne can be frustrating, and it often seems to flare at the worst possible time. For many people, it affects more than just their skin, impacting confidence at work, socially, and day to day.
You may feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice: what products to use (or avoid), whether diet changes matter, and what actually helps long term.
And you may be tired of spending money on products and supplements that promise a lot, but don’t deliver the results you were hoping for.
Qr8 MediSkin is a doctor-led, nurse-supported telehealth service for the medical assessment of acne and related concerns. Where clinically appropriate, your care may include a personalised prescription option, with clear guidance and ongoing clinical support.
Acne care can feel complicated. We aim to make it feel clearer.
Before (from your questionnaire and photos) AND during your consultation, your doctor will:
You’ll also have access to our dermatology nurses for:
Our online skincare team take the time to understand your skin through a detailed questionnaire, photo review and secure video consultation. If prescription treatment is appropriate, your doctor may prescribe a personalised topical formulation selected from a choice of 20+ evidence-based ingredients.
You’ll also receive supporting skincare recommendations and unlimited access to our dermatology nurse via email or video, so you feel confident using your plan day-to-day.
Acne is more than just breakouts. Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition involving the hair follicle and oil gland.
It can cause blackheads, whiteheads, red or inflamed pimples, pustules and deeper painful lumps. Acne can affect the face, chest, back and shoulders and may leave behind persistent redness, dark marks or scarring.
Although acne often begins during adolescence, it is far from just a teenage condition, particularly for women. Research has found clinical acne in around 1 in 4 women in their 30s, with acne continuing through the 40s and beyond. Adult female acne may persist from adolescence, recur after a period of clearer skin, or develop for the first time in adulthood.
And dealing with acne later in life can carry a particular burden. Research suggests that the impact of acne on quality of life does not necessarily correspond to how severe it looks, and older adults may experience greater effects than younger people with comparable clinical severity.
The pattern matters. Some people mainly experience congestion and blackheads. Others develop inflammatory or deeper breakouts, and hormonal and other factors can influence acne at different stages of life.
Not every breakout is acne, which is one reason medical assessment can be useful when symptoms are persistent, changing or not responding to what you have already tried.
One person may have predominantly blackheads and congestion. Another may experience inflammatory pimples. Others develop painful nodules, persistent jawline breakouts or acne affecting the chest and back.
Adult female acne can also behave differently over time.
Skin type matters too.
For many adults, the challenge is treating acne while also managing sensitivity, dryness, pigmentation, signs of ageing or a skin barrier that no longer tolerates the aggressive acne routines they may have used when they were younger. Older skin can be more prone to irritation from acne therapies, making treatment selection and tolerability particularly relevant.
This is why acne care shouldn’t begin with choosing a skincare product. It should begin with understanding the acne and the skin it is occurring in.
There is rarely one single cause.
Acne develops through an interaction between oil production, changes in how the cells in your pores behave, a bacterium that normally lives in your pores (Cutibacterium acnes) and inflammation. Genetics, hormones and environmental factors can also influence how acne behaves.
For adult women, the picture can be particularly complex. Hormonal fluctuations may influence acne, including around the menstrual cycle and during changing reproductive life stages.
Perimenopause can introduce further changes as oestrogen declines and the relative influence of androgens changes.
But adult female acne should not automatically be reduced to “hormonal acne.” It remains a multifactorial inflammatory skin condition, and acne alone is not a reliable indicator of androgen excess.
That distinction matters when deciding what to do next.
Hormones can influence acne, but adult acne, particularly in women, is more complex than simply having ‘hormonal acne.’
Androgens can increase activity in the skin’s oil glands, and hormonal fluctuations may help explain why some women notice changes in their acne around their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and after pregnancy, or through perimenopause.
For some women, acne persists from adolescence. For others, it returns after years of clearer skin or appears for the first time in adulthood.
Importantly, developing acne in your 30s, 40s or beyond does not automatically mean you have a hormonal imbalance. Your breakout pattern, medical history, medications, life stage and other symptoms all provide useful context.
Your skin at 45 may be behaving very differently from your skin at 18, and your acne care should take that into account.
Acne doesn’t only affect the face. It can also develop on the chest, back and shoulders, where there are high concentrations of oil glands.
Body acne can include blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed pimples and deeper, painful breakouts. Because these areas are harder to see and reach, acne can sometimes become quite established before it is addressed.
Sweat, friction and occlusive clothing may aggravate breakouts for some people, but chest and back acne is not simply caused by being sweaty or unclean.
Persistent or deeper body acne is also more likely to leave pigmentation or scarring, making it important to consider alongside facial acne rather than as a separate problem.
Acne is not caused by dirty skin or poor hygiene.
In fact, repeatedly washing, scrubbing or exfoliating acne-prone skin can increase irritation and disrupt the skin barrier without addressing the processes that cause acne.
Acne is a complex inflammatory skin condition influenced by factors including oil production, changes within the hair follicle, inflammation, bacteria, genetics and hormones.
That means having acne at any age isn’t a sign that you aren’t cleansing properly or looking after your skin well enough.
A gentle, consistent skincare routine is usually more useful than trying to scrub breakouts away.
Diet may influence acne in some people, but there is no single diet that has been shown to prevent or treat acne for everyone.
Research suggests that high-glycaemic dietary patterns may be associated with acne, while dairy, particularly cow’s milk, has also been associated with acne in some studies. However, the evidence is variable and does not mean that these foods cause acne in everyone.
If you notice a consistent relationship between particular foods and your breakouts, it is worth discussing with your doctor. But restrictive diets are rarely a good place to start.
Acne is a medical condition, and you shouldn’t have to overhaul your entire diet to treat it.
Even after an acne lesion has healed, it can leave a visible mark behind.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) causes brown or darker areas of pigmentation after inflammation and can be particularly persistent in deeper skin tones.
Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) appears as pink, red or purple marks and is caused by changes in the small blood vessels following inflammation.
Acne can also cause permanent scarring, particularly when breakouts are deeper or more inflammatory.
These are different problems and may require different approaches. At Qr8, we can assess active acne and some of the pigmentation or redness it leaves behind, and discuss which concerns may be appropriate for online medical care and which may be better managed with other treatment options.
Understanding whether you’re dealing with active acne, post-acne marks, scarring, or a combination of these is the first step.
Topical antibiotics can be used in acne care, but they’re not always the best long-term option. Common topical acne antibiotics such as clindamycin and erythromycin can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria may persist on the skin after treatment ends, which can make future acne management more challenging. Resistance can also spread to other bacteria and, in some situations, to close contacts.
Because of this, our doctors aim to avoid routine topical and oral antibiotic use.
In some cases, a short course of oral medication may be considered to help manage inflammation, but only after a medical assessment, and only when it’s clinically appropriate for you.
No. More products don’t necessarily mean better acne care.
For most people, the foundations are relatively simple: a gentle cleanser, an appropriate moisturiser and daily sunscreen, alongside any treatment recommended by your doctor.
This can be particularly important for adults managing acne alongside dryness, sensitivity, pigmentation or changing skin needs. A complicated routine, especially one containing multiple active ingredients, can increase irritation without necessarily improving your acne.
Your Qr8 nurse reviews the skincare you already use and helps you decide what to keep, stop or change, with recommendations tailored to your skin and budget.
You shouldn’t need a bathroom cabinet full of products to support your acne care.
Yes. Acne care isn’t only about reducing active breakouts.
A medical plan can also consider the marks and skin changes acne leaves behind, including persistent redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where clinically appropriate.
This can be particularly relevant in adult acne, where concerns about pigmentation, uneven skin tone and other age-related skin changes may exist alongside breakouts.
At Qr8, your doctor assesses the whole clinical picture, rather than treating every skin concern as a separate problem.
If prescription treatment is appropriate for you, your doctor may prescribe a personalised topical formulation using one or more evidence-based ingredients, selected for your skin type and goals.
Not every ingredient, or every strength, is right for every person. Your doctor will explain what’s suitable for you and why.
Ingredients that may be included in acne plans include:
* Pregnancy-safe options may be available if clinically appropriate, following medical assessment.
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Complete a detailed health questionnaire and send us photographs of your skin.
This gives your clinical team important information before you meet.
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See an Australian registered doctor by private video consultation.
They’ll review your history and photographs, assess your concerns and talk with you about what may be appropriate.
Consults available 7 days a week, 7am-9pm.
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If treatment is clinically appropriate, your doctor will discuss suitable options with you.
Your nurse will provide a detailed Skin Plan with the supporting skincare and daily routine if you decide to proceed.
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This is where your nurses come in.
They help you with your skincare or haircare routine, answer questions and keep up with how things are going.
Email us. Call us. Book a video call.
You don’t have to save every question for your next doctor’s appointment.
Acne can respond differently for each person. Below are unretouched before-and-after images shared by patients who have received care through Qr8 MediSkin.
Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. Prescription care is provided only after medical assessment, where clinically appropriate.
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Dr Michele Squire is a PhD scientist, former healthcare executive and Registered Nurse.
She founded Qr8 in 2019 because caring for skin and hair takes more than an appointment.
It takes medical expertise, good skincare and people paying attention to what happens over time.
Qr8 was built to bring those things together.
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Dr Anastasia understands that everyone’s experience in their own body is unique. Wherever a patient is on their journey towards getting to know and take care of their hair and skin health, she meets them with empathy and support. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, including going to the gym, hiking, travelling, and spending time in nature.
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Dr Bec loves making a real difference in her patients’ lives. An LGBTQ+ ally with experience in trans-affirming care, she enjoys creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time in nature with her partner and dogs.
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Dr Sheila is compassionate and collaborative, and passionate about empowering patients to understand and feel in control of their health. With a focus on education, collaboration, and open communication, she creates a supportive environment where patients can make informed decisions at every stage of their health journey.
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Dr Mali graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in 2014 from the Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, prior to becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) with a special interest in dermatology, skin cancer medicine, and aesthetic medicine. She strongly believes that every patient deserves to feel heard and understood. Dr Mali’s approach focuses on listening carefully, understanding each person’s goals, and developing an individualised treatment plan that combines the best available evidence, combined with compassionate care.
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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 Yeshika focuses 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 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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With over 11 years of dermatology experience, Kristen is a cornerstone of the Qr8 MediSkin Skincare Support Team. Whether you’re navigating new treatments or fine-tuning your daily routine, she’s here to offer expert guidance, tailored recommendations, and genuine care. Think of her as your personal skincare guardian angel – she’s always ready to help you feel confident in your skin!
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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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Qr8 MediSkin has provided online medical care for skin and hair concerns across Australia since 2019.
Doctors and nurses working together to understand what’s happening and care for you over time.
Phone: +61 (0)7 3325-9700
Address: Yuggera Country 39 Collingwood St, Albion, QLD, 4010
Your doctors and nurses work together, each bringing their clinical expertise to your care.
Your nurse stays with you between appointments, answering questions and helping you with the day-to-day of your care.
Your team knows your history and keeps up with how things are going, so you don't have to start again each time you need us.
Since 2019, Qr8 MediSkin has provided online medical care for skin and hair concerns across Australia.
Doctors and nurses working together to care for you, both during and between appointments.
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[email protected]
Phone: +61 (0)7 3325-9700
Address: Yuggera Country 39 Collingwood St,
Albion, QLD, 4010
