How Do Professional Acne Treatments Work?
Your skincare routine is the first line of defense against breakouts. Over-the-counter products can help, especially if you combine them with acne-friendly habits, but they only work on the surface of your skin. Their benefits may be limited if your acne is stubborn, severe, hormonally driven or related to a medical condition.
Professional treatments are capable of going further into your skin to target the root causes of acne. Acne forms when oil, dead skin cells and bacteria build up inside your pores. Professional acne treatments can:
- Remove pore-clogging buildup at a deeper level
- Reduce acne-causing bacteria
- Calm redness and inflammation
- Regulate oil production
- Stimulate your skin’s natural healing processes
Many of our patients see the best results when we combine two or more approaches. In addition, we recommend medical-grade skincare products you can use at home to complement and support your professional treatments.
What Acne Treatments Are Available at LIVskin in Minnetonka and Excelsior?
LIVskin offers a variety of nonsurgical procedures that can help clear acne and create a healthy, beautiful complexion. Your treatment options depend on which location you visit:
Clinical Acne Facial
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
A clinical acne facial is not the same thing as the spa facial you might book during a weekend getaway. This is a results-driven treatment designed specifically for acne-prone skin. Your Advanced Practice Aesthetician will perform thorough extractions to clear clogged pores and apply ingredients to calm inflammation and help prevent future breakouts. It is a gentle starting point if you are new to professional acne treatments or a good option for maintenance between more intensive treatments.
Hydrafacial™
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
Hydrafacial™ uses patented Vortex-Fusion technology to cleanse, extract and hydrate. For acne-prone skin, the treatment is an effective way to clear congested pores without the irritation that manual extractions can sometimes cause. Your Advanced Practice Aesthetician will customize the serums used during your Hydrafacial™ to target excess oil production and acne-causing bacteria.
VI Peel Purify
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
VI Peel Purify is a medical-grade chemical peel formulated for active acne and acne-prone skin. Its blend of salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, kojic acid and hydrocortisone kills acne-causing bacteria, reduces inflammation, clears blocked pores and brightens the skin. This is a medium-depth peel that’s suitable for all skin tones. Expect several days of visible peeling in the week post-treatment.
VI Peel Purify Precision Plus
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
If your acne is leaving dark spots or discoloration behind (a condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH), VI Peel Purify Precision Plus adds a targeted booster to the standard Purify formula. This combination treats active breakouts and the pigmentation damage they leave behind at the same time, which makes it one of the more comprehensive peel options for acne patients.
BBL Forever Clear™
Available in: Minnetonka
BBL Forever Clear™ is a light-based acne treatment that uses three different wavelengths to target acne from multiple angles. Blue light kills the bacteria responsible for inflammatory breakouts. Yellow light reduces redness and inflammation. Infrared light stimulates the skin’s natural healing process. The treatment requires no downtime and is gentle enough for regular use as part of an ongoing acne management plan.
ClearSilk®
Available in: Minnetonka
ClearSilk® is a non-ablative laser treatment that heats the deeper layers of the skin to reduce inflammation, shrink pore size and promote a more even skin tone. It can target active acne breakouts while also improving the overall quality and texture of your skin. ClearSilk® requires no downtime and can treat all skin tones at all times of year.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Professional Acne Treatment?
If your breakouts are not responding to over-the-counter products, or if your acne is affecting your confidence and quality of life, it may be time to explore your options for professional treatment. Most of the patients we see for acne treatment at LIVskin fall into one or more of a few categories:
- They have been dealing with breakouts for months or years
- They are dealing with hormonal acne that flares on a cycle
- Their skin is congested and prone to clogged pores
- They have started noticing dark spots and scarring in addition to active acne
There is no minimum level of severity required to come in. Some patients book a consultation when their acne is mild but frustrating. Others come to us after battling more aggressive breakouts with no success. Our Advanced Practice Aestheticians will tailor your treatment to wherever you are in your skincare journey.
Are There Options for Treating Acne Scars at LIVskin in Minnetonka and Excelsior?
If it is severe or left untreated, acne can result in permanent indentations and textural marks on the skin. Though various creams, ointments, gels and remedies claim to reduce the appearance of acne scarring, professional treatment is generally the most reliable and effective solution. Your acne scar treatment options at LIVskin include:
SkinPen® Microneedling
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
SkinPen® microneedling creates tiny injuries in the skin that trigger your body’s natural wound healing response. Over a series of treatments, this process remodels the tissue beneath acne scars, gradually smoothing out depressions and improving overall skin texture. SkinPen® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of acne scars and is one of the most well-studied microneedling devices in the world.
Dermal Filler
Available in: Minnetonka, Excelsior
Certain types of acne scars create pits or wavy indentations in the skin. For these scars, dermal filler can provide immediate improvement by restoring volume in the depressed area. Our Nurse Injection Specialists can assess whether filler is appropriate for your scars during a consultation.
MOXI®
Available in: Minnetonka
MOXI® is a gentle fractional laser designed for lighter resurfacing and pigmentation correction. For acne scar patients, it can reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and improve mild textural concerns with minimal downtime.
HALO®
Available in: Minnetonka
HALO® is a hybrid fractional laser that combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths. It offers deeper resurfacing than MOXI®, making it a better fit for patients with more significant acne scarring who are willing to accept a few days of social downtime in exchange for more dramatic results.
The cost of your acne treatment depends on the treatment type and the number of sessions in your plan. During your consultation, we will walk you through the full pricing for your recommended plan. There may be specials or packages available.
It depends on the type and severity of your acne and the treatment modality your Advanced Practice Aesthetician recommends. Some patients notice improvement after a single session, while others need a series of treatments over several months to achieve their goals.
Many of our acne treatments are safe for a range of skin types and tones, though some modalities require adjustments for darker skin or more sensitive skin types. This is one of the reasons we require a consultation before your treatment begins. Your Advanced Practice Aesthetician will determine which treatments are appropriate and safe for you.
Preparation and aftercare vary by treatment. In general, you should avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids, excessive sun exposure and waxing in the treatment area for several days before your appointment. Your Advanced Practice Aesthetician will give you specific post-treatment instructions, which typically include sun protection and a gentle skincare routine.
It’s possible in many cases. Some treatments, like VI Peel Purify Precision Plus, are designed to address both active breakouts and the pigmentation they leave behind. Depending on the state of your skin, your Advanced Practice Aesthetician may recommend sequencing treatments so that your active acne is under control before moving to scar-focused modalities.