My skin struggles trace back to 2010. I had just graduated from secondary school with 10 GCSEs and a fresh face unscathed by spots, oily T-zones or any other skin woe associated with the hormonal fluctuations of teenhood. That all changed at college, when A-level induced stress left me riddled with cystic acne. Armed with little-to-no knowledge of how to treat it, I resorted to cutting out dairy, processed foods, sugar and ordered skincare from the US because a clear-skinned YouTuber told me to (mostly all in vain by the way). My hopelessness reached its peak when my GP said acne was 'normal' and I should come back when my skin gets worse. Spoiler: it did. That was until I finally met with a dermatologist years down the line who introduced me to Treclin, a prescription-only topical acne treatment that combines antibiotic clindamycin and vitamin A-derived retinoid tretinoin, which started to clear up the problem.
Fast forward to 2025, I have hormonal acne that comes with its fair share of good and bad days (and I've discovered all of the best make-up products for acne-prone skin), but I often think about where my skin would be today if I had had the right tools as a totally lost acne-prone teen. Thankfully, Boots' new initiative is seeking to address the problem head on. Intent on becoming the one-stop solution for accessible skin health, Boots has launched dermatology training for its pharmacists and pharmacy teams based in over 150 nationwide stores, who will now be able to provide free, in-store support on common skin conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis and even scalp health. All you need to do in walk-in.
Approved by the British Association of Dermatologists, the nine module training programme (which spans everything from skin microbiome to pigmentation) has been developed with the L’Oréal Groupe's research and expertise as well as 20-year strong clinical insights provided by consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, to arm Boots' Pharmacy Team with a well-rounded understanding of how best to guide customers on their skin concerns. Importantly, the training course includes pathologies across type 4 and 6 skin types, meaning there is less chance of misdiagnosing skin conditions experienced by those with medium to deep skin tones.
'There is an unmet need for this,' says Dr. Hextall, 'People may visit the pharmacy, GP or dermatologist along their skin journey but as a dermatologist when someone sits in front of me I often think, "if only their first point of contact was A, B and C they wouldn't be here now and their problem wouldn't have gotten worse". It's all about making sure all touch points on the patient's journey are excellent. And how do you do that? You deliver education.'
Boots is quickly positioning itself as that reliable first point of contact, where skin solutions can be found all under one roof. Jamie Kerruish, healthcare director at Boots, says, 'There is a clear need for accessible support for skin concerns and conditions, which is why we are so proud to be launching new technology and upskilling our pharmacy team members in stores. Combined with our huge skincare product range and beauty expertise, we can be the first port of call for all those with a skin concern, making it really easy for people to get quick advice and helping to relieve pressures on GP surgeries across the country.'
In fact, according to research from No7, almost all (97%) women in the UK say they have experienced at least one skin issue, while data from NHS England in 2022 found skin conditions are the most common reason for people visiting GPs, accounting for one in four new consultations in England and Wales.
The new offering comes alongside the launch of an AI-powered skin tool, the Boots Online Doctor SmartSkin Checker, which can screen for over 70 skin conditions with a quick image upload of problem areas. Available through the Boots Online Doctor, the tool can help to identify up to five skin conditions customers could be experiencing and there is a 95% likelihood that one of those is correct, which can then provide the basis of a treatment plan with the help of expert-led in-store guidance.
As one of the first to try out the new initiative, which has been rolled out this week, I took my case of adult acne to the shop floor at Boots Westfield London. There, a pharmacist asked a series of questions about my current skincare routine and lifestyle choices before pointing me in the direction of the kinds of products that can help: a gentle cleanser, oil-free formulas and a new tube of Treclin, which can be prescribed by Boots Online Doctor. No hefty fees, no waiting lists, Boots is revolutionising the way we approach skin health for good.
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).