Acne
What Drives Acne
Acne is driven by a combination of factors: excess sebum production, follicular congestion, bacterial overgrowth (C. acnes), inflammation, and skin barrier status. Teen acne and adult acne often have different underlying drivers. Hormonal acne in adults follows different patterns than comedonal congestion in teens. Barrier damage from harsh or aggressive routines is one of the most common things we see walk through the door: the instinct to strip and dry oily, breakout-prone skin usually makes it worse.
Post-acne marks and scarring are a separate concern layered on top. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is pigment deposited after inflammation resolves. Textural scarring is structural. They require different approaches, and addressing them before active breakouts are controlled is the wrong order.
512 Skincare
Find what’s driving it before you treat it.
How We Approach It
We start by understanding what is driving your breakouts: habits, products, prior treatments, hormonal patterns, and how your skin has responded to what you have already tried.
For active acne, the Acne Facial is the starting point: extractions, targeted exfoliation, and calming support. We assess your home routine and make corrections. Products from over-the-counter lines are rarely strong enough to address active acne at the level needed. Cosmeceutical-grade options are part of it.
As breakouts stabilize, we address post-acne marks and texture. Microneedling stimulates collagen and elastin at the dermal level, addressing both the structural component of scarring and the PIH that sits on top of it. PDRN added to a microneedling session supports barrier repair, which matters especially for skin that has been over-treated or sensitized. Chemical peels accelerate cell turnover and brighten post-acne discoloration. For deeper scarring or persistent uneven tone, laser options are available once skin is stable enough.
No two protocols look the same. Sensitivity, barrier status, and how your skin responds to each session all factor into how we progress.
How we work
Prescriptive, not transactional.
What We Treat
Active breakouts and congestion
Teen and adult acne.
Persistent adult acne
Sensitivity and barrier damage from harsh routines
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Post-acne texture and scarring
Treatments We Use for Acne
Acne Facial
Targeted extractions, chemical exfoliation, and calming support. Planned as part of a series, not a one-time fix.
Microneedling (Collagen Pen)
Addresses post-acne texture and scarring at the dermal level. Introduced once active breakouts are under control.
Microneedling with PDRN
Adds barrier repair and recovery support alongside collagen stimulation. Particularly useful for sensitized or over-treated skin.
Chemical Peels (Tier 1-3)
Accelerates cell turnover, reduces congestion, and lifts post-acne discoloration. We sequence them based on your skin's readiness.
BBL Laser (Sciton)
Targets the bacterial component of inflammatory acne alongside vascular redness and early PIH. Scheduled outside peak sun-exposure months.
Profractional Resurfacing Laser (Sciton)
For deeper acne scarring where structural remodeling is needed. Introduced at the appropriate stage.
What to Expect
Progress is not linear. Some clients see significant improvement in breakout frequency within the first few sessions. Texture and post-acne marks take longer: collagen remodeling happens over weeks, and results across a series build on each other.
After microneedling: redness for 24 - 36 hours, possible flaking in the days that follow. Let it shed on its own. Introducing actives too soon or picking at flakes risks new PIH. We walk you through aftercare before you leave and are available through the healing process.
Home care is not optional. What you do between sessions maintains the barrier, manages congestion, and protects results. We make specific product recommendations based on your skin, not a general protocol.
Is This for You?
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