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Understand
Explore acne biology, follicular changes, inflammation, hormones, genetics, lifestyle and environmental influences.
You were trained to treat skin.
Not to specialise in acne.
This certification changes that.
The Skin United Acne Specialist Certification is a dermatologist sourced, IOC accredited programme built for qualified therapists who are ready to go further. 85 units. 16 sections. 16+ hours of clinical content.
One certification that positions you as the go-to acne specialist in your area.
One certification that positions you as the go-to acne specialist in your area.
85
Learning Units
16+
Hours of Learning
Lifetime
Course Access
Accredited
Certification
Online
Self-Paced Study
Advanced acne education
Acne is complex.
Your education should
go deeper.
You qualified. You treat clients. Yet complex acne cases can still leave you feeling underprepared—not because you are not capable, but because introductory training rarely provides the depth required.
Acne can be influenced by inflammation, hormones, genetics, medication, lifestyle, environment and skin physiology. Effective acne care requires more than a product recommendation or standard facial protocol.
The Skin United Acne Specialist Certification gives qualified practitioners a structured framework for understanding acne, assessing clients and building professionally informed treatment programmes.
Move beyond treating symptoms. Understand the complete acne journey.
The specialist framework
A more complete way to approach acne care.
Develop a repeatable framework that supports clearer professional decisions from the first consultation through treatment planning and long-term client care.
Assess
Recognise acne presentations, identify severity, document progress and understand when referral may be appropriate.
Plan
Create personalised clinic and homecare programmes informed by each client’s skin, triggers, sensitivity and goals.
Specialise
Build the professional confidence and positioning required to become recognised for specialist acne care.
Complimentary course preview
Experience the course before you commit.
Download a complimentary sample unit and explore the clinical depth, educational structure and premium learning experience of the Acne Specialist Certification.
- Complimentary access
- Preview the learning format
- Explore clinical education
- No obligation to enrol
Why Skin United
Education designed to take you beyond the basics.
A specialist programme created to give qualified practitioners greater clinical understanding, consistency and professional confidence.
Develop knowledge that informs every product,
treatment and consultation decision.
Area
Typical training
Skin United
Clinical depth
Broad introductory education
85 focused clinical and business learning units
Hormonal acne
Usually covered as one broad topic
PCOS, pregnancy, contraception and menopause
Skin of colour
Often limited or not included
Fitzpatrick IV–VI, PIH and safe adaptations
Referral
Basic instruction to refer
Referral pathways and medication awareness
Psychology
Briefly acknowledged
Emotional impact, communication and BDD awareness
Professional growth
Usually not included
Specialist positioning, packaging and marketing
What you will develop
Specialist knowledge that changes how you treat and communicate.
Deeper clinical understanding
Understand the biological, hormonal, inflammatory and environmental factors involved in acne formation.
Structured consultations
Use a clearer process for analysing acne, gathering information and documenting client progress.
Personalised treatment planning
Build programmes around acne type, severity, sensitivity, lifestyle and individual client goals.
Safer treatment across skin tones
Adapt ingredient and treatment decisions while reducing the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Confident professional referral
Recognise cases that may sit outside your scope and understand when medical support may be required.
Stronger specialist positioning
Present your expertise confidently and develop a professional reputation around specialist acne care.
The course experience
Advanced education built around working professionals.
Learn online, revisit your training whenever required and build knowledge around your existing clinic schedule.
85 learning units
Clinical and professional education created for specialist acne practice.
16+ hours
On-demand education completed around your clients and professional commitments.
Accredited certification
Receive professional recognition after successfully completing the programme.
Lifetime access
Return to the education whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.
Self-paced study
Progress at a pace that works with your professional and personal schedule.
Professional community
Connect with a growing network of committed skin professionals.
CPD logging
Track continuing professional development activity through the learning platform.
Professional resources
Use practical resources designed to support consultation and treatment planning.
Created for practitioners ready to move from generalist
to specialist.
Who it is for
Professional education for those ready to specialise.
This programme is designed for qualified practitioners who already work with skin and want deeper, acne-specific knowledge.
Qualified skin and facial therapists
Practitioners who want to move beyond generic facial treatments.
Aesthetic practitioners
Professionals already treating acne clients who want a clearer framework.
Experienced practitioners
Particularly those with knowledge gaps around hormones, referral and skin of colour.
Clinic owners and teams
Clinics seeking a more consistent acne approach across their team.
Explore the education
Start with a complimentary sample unit.
See the level of clinical detail, course structure and educational quality before taking your next step.
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions.
Essential information about eligibility, access, accreditation and completion.
The programme is designed for qualified aestheticians, facial therapists and skin practitioners who already treat clients and want to specialise in acne.
The course includes more than 16 hours of learning across 85 units. It is self-paced so you can study around your existing commitments.
Yes. The programme is designed as accredited advanced professional education for qualified practitioners.
Your enrolment includes lifetime access, allowing you to revisit the education whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.
After completing the required learning and assessments, you will receive a certification recognising your completion.
Yes. Use any Download Free Sample Unit button on this page to register for a complimentary course preview.
The Problem
You qualified. You treat clients. Still, complex acne cases walk in and you feel underprepared. Not because you weren’t good enough, but because your training didn’t go far enough.
Most acne training covers the basics: cleansers, exfoliant, refer the client on. It doesn’t cover the hormonal cascade behind adult cystic acne. It doesn’t cover how acne presents on deeper Fitzpatrick skin tones. It doesn’t give you a clinical framework for root-cause diagnosis, or the credentials to back up the results you’re already capable of getting.
So, clients plateau. Trust can erode. They leave for a dermatologist. You’re left wondering what you possibly could have missed.
There is something you missed. It’s not your fault, and it’s fixable.
Most acne training covers the basics: cleansers, exfoliant, refer the client on. It doesn’t cover the hormonal cascade behind adult cystic acne. It doesn’t cover how acne presents on deeper Fitzpatrick skin tones. It doesn’t give you a clinical framework for root-cause diagnosis, or the credentials to back up the results you’re already capable of getting.
So, clients plateau. Trust can erode. They leave for a dermatologist. You’re left wondering what you possibly could have missed.
There is something you missed. It’s not your fault, and it’s fixable.
Why Skin United
This is not a surface-level acne course. Here is how it compares.
Typical Competitor
Skin United
Learning Units
45 units across 11 broad sections
85 units across 16 dedicated sections
Video Content
40 lessons
16+ hours of clinical content
Clinical Source
Not stated
Dermatologist-authored book
Hormonal Depth
One broad module
8 dedicated units: PCOS, thyroid, pregnancy, perimenopause, post-menopause, contraceptive pill
Skin of Colour
Not covered
Full dedicated section: Fitzpatrick IV–VI, PIH, safe ingredient selection
Isotretinoin
Not covered
Dedicated unit: referral pathways, contraindications, co-management
Psychology of Acne
Brief mention
3 units including BDD awareness and communication frameworks
Oral Medications
Not visible
Full section: antibiotics, spironolactone, combined pill, isotretinoin
AI Diagnostics
No
Skin United platform integration
Business Training
Not included
Full section on pricing, packaging and marketing as an acne specialist
What You Receive
This is not a surface-level acne course. Here is how it compares.
85 Clinical & Business Units
85 units of clinical and business training delivered across 16 dedicated sections.
16+ Hours of Learning
Approximately 16 hours and 36 minutes of on-demand video content.
Dermatologist-Sourced Content
Clinical education built from dermatologist-sourced acne expertise.
Lifetime Access
Permanent access to all units, resources and future curriculum updates.
IOC Accredited
Industry-recognised certification accredited through the IOC.
Foiled Certificate & Badge
Printed foiled certificate and Skin Specialist badge for Platinum tier students.
Premium Welcome Pack
Chocolate, notepad, pen, highlighters and blue light glasses included with Platinum tier.
Skin United Headband
Branded Skin United headband included with your training experience.
Professional Community
Access to the Skin United platform and growing professional network.
Built-In CPD Logging
Track and manage your continuing professional development directly inside the platform.
AI Diagnostics Integration
AI-powered skin diagnostics tools for enhanced consultation workflows.
What’s Inside: 16 Sections, 85 Units
Comprehensive. Evidence-Based. Career Transforming
✦ Pricing & Enrollment
Standalone
Flexible payment options available.
Founding Member Offer
The first 10 students receive 50% off. Once all founding member places are filled, standard pricing will apply.
✓
IOC Accredited Certification
✓
Lifetime Access
✓
85 Learning Units
✓
16 Dedicated Sections
Save 50%
£298.50
£597
Founding Member Price
Available to the first 10 students only.
Enroll Now →
IOC Accredited Certification
Lifetime Access
85 Units
16 Sections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the course for?
The course is for qualified aestheticians and skin therapists who are already treating clients and want to specialise in acne. It is not for beginners or consumers. If you hold a skin or facial therapy qualification and want to go deeper, this is built for you.
How long does the course take?
The course contains approximately 16 hours and 36 minutes of content across 85 units. You work through the course at your own pace with lifetime access.
Is it accredited?
Yes. The Acne Specialist Certification is CPD and IOC accredited and recognised across the industry.
How does the certificate work?
On completion, you receive an accredited digital certification, and for Platinum tier and above, a foiled, printed certificate with a Skin Specialist badge.
What finance options are available?
Klarna, Clearpay, PayitMonthly interest free for up to 12 months, or contact us directly for an in-house plan.
When does the course open?
The course is open from 12 June 2026.
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Become The Skin Expert Clients Trust
16 Modules. Lifetime Access. Accredited. Built For Results