New Zealand’s easier access to acne drug has made severe skin condition disappear from view
A 2009 policy allowing GPs to prescribe isotretinoin has dramatically increased treatment rates and made severe acne far less visible in New Zealand.
Severe cystic acne, once common among New Zealand teenagers, has become increasingly rare. A 2009 healthcare policy change allowing general practitioners to prescribe isotretinoin — previously available only through dermatologists — has transformed access to the treatment. Annual prescriptions have nearly doubled since then, from around 27,000 in 2008 to over 50,000 in 2023. Dermatologists say earlier intervention is preventing scarring and improving quality of life, though acne prevalence itself remains high; it's simply being treated before severe symptoms develop.
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