Acne doesn't just affect teenagers. Plenty of adults deal with breakouts well into their 20s, 30s, and beyond, and for a lot of people, the usual skincare routine of cleansers, spot treatments, and prescription creams only gets them so far. If you've tried the standard approach and you're still dealing with active or cystic breakouts, laser treatment might be worth understanding as your next step. At Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery, our Medical Aesthetician offers complimentary consultations to help build a treatment plan suited to your specific skin.
Why Acne Can Be Hard to Treat with Skincare Alone
Acne isn't caused by just one thing, it's usually a combination of excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, often driven by hormones that topical products can't fully control. Skincare actives like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide work at the surface and within the pore, which helps, but they don't always reach deep enough to calm an overactive oil gland or a stubborn, inflamed breakout. That's often where cystic acne in particular gets frustrating, it responds slowly to topical treatment alone, and can leave scarring behind if the inflammation isn't addressed directly.
How Laser Acne Treatments Work
Our Laser Acne Treatment combines three laser modalities in one session, each targeting a different part of what causes acne:
- Reduces inflammation: calms the redness and swelling that come with active breakouts
- Kills acne causing bacteria: targets the bacteria at the root of active acne
- Calms overactive sebaceous gland activity: helps regulate the excess oil production that leads to clogged pores
- Promotes healing through natural collagen production: supports the skin's own repair process after treatment
Rather than just managing the surface, this approach addresses several of the underlying drivers of acne at once.
What to Expect with Our Laser Acne Treatment
This is a no downtime for our laser acne treatment, so there's no recovery period keeping you out of your normal routine. Some minimal redness is expected, but it typically settles within about two hours of treatment. Four or more sessions are generally required to see full results, since acne responds best to a consistent, repeated approach rather than a single visit.
Am I a Good Candidate for the Laser Acne Treament
Laser acne treatment tends to make the biggest difference for:
- Active acne: ongoing, inflamed breakouts that haven't responded well to skincare alone
- Cystic acne: deep, painful breakouts that carry a higher risk of scarring
- Advanced congestion: stubborn, widespread clogged pores and buildup
These are the kinds of breakouts most likely to leave lasting marks if left untreated. If you've been managing mild, occasional breakouts with skincare and it's been working, you may not need this level of treatment. But for more persistent or inflamed acne, it's a strong option worth exploring.
Combining Laser Acne Treatments with Skincare
Laser treatment isn't meant to replace your skincare routine, it works alongside it. Many patients continue using targeted skincare products in between sessions to help maintain results and support their skin's healing process. If you're not sure what to add to your routine, our skincare shop carries a wide range of products to help support clearer, healthier skin between treatments, and our Medical Aesthetician can point you toward the right options during your consultation.
Every patient's skin is different, which is why we offer a complimentary consultation with our Medical Aesthetician before recommending any treatment plan. If persistent or cystic acne has been hard to manage on your own, book a consult with us at Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery and we'll help you figure out the right path forward.