Acne is one of the commonest skin diseases that community physicians and dermatologists have to treat. Confirming the diagnosis is rarely a problem and given the wide spectrum of treatment options there really is no reason why most patients with acne cannot be helped enormously. However, the vast number of therapeutic options now available can pose difficulties for the prescribing clinician in deciding which is the preferred treatment. The purpose of "Fast Facts: Acne" is to highlight several features of the disease including aetiology and clinical presentation whilst also reviewing the treatments available along with their respective modes of action and potential adverse effects.