Acne Creams and Gels in Pakistan
Three prescription treatments approved for acne, sealed and in date. Order on WhatsApp and pay cash on delivery, anywhere in Pakistan.
Acne creams in stock
Skinoren
Azelaic acid 20% cream, OBS Pharma
Prescription required
10g
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 807
Order on WhatsAppSkin A
Tretinoin 0.05% cream, Atco Laboratories
We dispense on prescription
Caution: Not for use in pregnancy, or when planning a pregnancy.
10g
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 185
Order on WhatsAppAdapco Gel
Adapalene 0.1% gel, Atco Laboratories
We dispense on prescription
Caution: Not for use in pregnancy, or when planning a pregnancy.
15g
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 299
Order on WhatsApp
What these acne treatments are approved for
All three are approved for acne, and for nothing else, in the product information we checked. We dispense all three on prescription.
- Skinoren is a cream made by OBS Pharma. Its approved use is acne: the UK product information lists “Topical treatment of acne vulgaris”, and the US and German product information say the same.
- Skin A is a cream made by Atco Laboratories. Its medicine’s approved use is acne: the US Retin-A label indicates it for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
- Adapco Gel is a gel made by Atco Laboratories. Its medicine’s approved use is acne in every country we checked: the UK product information lists mild to moderate acne of the face, chest or back.
None is approved for whitening, dark marks or acne scars. Each product page sets out what it is, its side effects and what to check before you use it.
Pregnancy: they differ
This is the biggest difference between them.
Skin A must not be used in pregnancy or when planning a pregnancy: the EU and UK contraindicate it. Adapco Gel’s medicine is contraindicated in pregnancy and when planning one in the UK, France, Germany and Canada, though not in the US (the Adapco Gel page sets out each position). No regulator we checked forbids Skinoren in pregnancy; the UK, German and US product information ask for caution. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, tell your doctor before using any of them. Skinoren and Skin A’s positions, with their sources, are side by side on the Skinoren page.
How to check you have a genuine pack
Check every pack before it goes on your skin.
- The box and the tube’s own seal are both intact.
- Batch number and expiry date are printed clearly and match on box and tube. Stickers over them are a warning sign.
- The carton carries a DRAP registration number. Check it against the records below.
- Skinoren’s carton should say azelaic acid: DRAP’s registry also lists an export-only “Skinoren Cream” that contains a different medicine.
- Buy from a licensed pharmacy that sources from authorised distributors, not market stalls or social media.
We check the batch and expiry on every item, and our pharmacist checks every prescription before a medicine is dispensed. With cash on delivery, you can check the box yourself before you pay.
DRAP registration
- Skinoren Cream (012722), OBS Pharma (Pvt) Ltd. DRAP’s registry shows: Reviewed, “Not Verified”.
- Skinoren Cream (017022-EX), Atco Laboratories Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: no status shown, “Not Verified”.
- Skin A Cream (037470), Atco Laboratories Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
- Adapco Gel (050525), Atco Laboratories Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
DRAP publishes no definition of this verification flag, so we can’t tell you what it means. DRAP describes its registered products index as a provisional list that “cannot be used as a reference for any purpose”. Checked against the registry between and .
Frequently asked questions
Which cream is best for acne in Pakistan?
There isn’t one best cream: which suits you is your doctor’s call. All three acne treatments we stock are approved for acne: Skinoren in the UK, Germany and the US; Skin A’s medicine on the US label; Adapco Gel’s medicine in the US, UK, France, Germany, Ireland and Canada. We dispense all three on prescription, and they differ most in pregnancy.
Is acne cream good for pimples?
Pimples are what acne is: all three acne treatments we stock are approved for acne vulgaris, the common form of acne with blackheads, whiteheads and red spots. They treat acne over weeks rather than clearing a single pimple overnight, and we dispense all three on a doctor’s prescription.
What clears up acne quickly?
No acne cream we stock works quickly. The UK product information for Skinoren says a distinct improvement generally shows after about 4 weeks. For Skin A, the US Retin-A label says results should be noticed after 2 to 3 weeks, but more than 6 weeks may be needed, and acne can look worse in the early weeks before it improves. For Adapco Gel, the French, German and Canadian labels give 4 to 8 weeks, and the US label says up to 3 months.
What is the best cream for acne scarring?
None of the acne treatments we stock is approved for acne scars: all three are approved for acne itself. For scarring, see a dermatologist, who can explain which treatments suit your scars.