If you’ve gotten your active acne under control, congrats – you’ve finished the hard part. Now comes the equally important part: treating the marks acne leaves behind. Here’s the order of operations.
Step 1: Calm the inflammation (months 1-2)
Even after acne stops, inflammation lingers under the skin. Treatment should focus on calming first, scarring later.
- Aerolase NeoSkin facials – The 1064nm Nd:YAG calms active inflammation and kills lingering P. acnes bacteria. 4 sessions, 3 weeks apart. Aerolase NeoSkin.
- Topical niacinamide – Reduces redness, regulates sebum, supports barrier.
- Strict SPF. Anything from active acne to PIH gets worse with UV.
Step 2: Address post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (months 2-4)
The dark spots left after pimples (PIH) are usually the FIRST thing patients want to treat. They actually respond fastest, so this is satisfying work.
- Vitamin C serum daily – Brightens and prevents new PIH. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is the gold standard.
- Chemical peels. NOON 20 or NOON 30 peels every 4 weeks, 3-4 sessions. Noon Peels.
- Aerolase for stubborn PIH – Continues to break up melanin clumps.
Step 3: Treat textural scarring (months 4-9)
Acne scars come in 3 main types. Each has different best treatment:
- Rolling scars (soft, wavy depressions): Microneedling 4-6 sessions, OR Morpheus 8 2-3 sessions.
- Boxcar scars (wider, flat-bottomed pits): Morpheus 8 is more effective than microneedling alone.
- Ice pick scars (narrow, deep): Morpheus 8 + TCA CROSS technique (a specific spot-treatment approach).
Step 4: Resurface and refine (months 6-12)
Now that the deep work is done, fine-tune the surface texture.
- Microneedling maintenance every 8-12 weeks.
- Custom facials with chemical exfoliation.
- Continued retinol use at home.
- Hydration-focused care – acne-prone skin is often dehydrated even when oily.
What NOT to do
- Don’t pick. Each pick is another 3-6 months of healing.
- Don’t over-exfoliate. Daily acid use damages the barrier and triggers more inflammation.
- Don’t skip SPF. Even one sunburn during treatment phase can undo months of work.
- Don’t expect miracles in 4 weeks. This is a 6-12 month commitment to see lasting change.
Realistic timeline for what you’ll see
| Concern | Realistic improvement timeline |
|---|---|
| Active acne | 2-3 months |
| PIH (dark spots) | 3-6 months for 70-80% fade |
| Rolling scars | 6-9 months for 50-60% improvement |
| Boxcar scars | 9-12 months for 40-50% improvement |
| Ice pick scars | 12+ months for partial improvement |
Budget estimate
A complete 12-month acne scar protocol at Bar Beauty Medical Toronto typically runs $2,500-$4,500 depending on severity. We always quote upfront.
Book a complimentary skin consultation at Bar Beauty Medical Toronto. We’ll build your custom 12-month plan.