Acne and its aftermath are really two separate problems — active breakouts, and the textural scarring some breakouts leave behind — and treating them well means addressing each on its own terms.
Active acne
For active breakouts, treatment focuses on calming inflammation and addressing the underlying causes contributing to it, which can include targeted peels, topical protocols, and skincare guidance suited to acne-prone skin specifically. Getting active acne under control first matters because most scar-focused treatments work better, and more safely, on settled skin.
Acne scarring
Once breakouts are under control, scarring is assessed by type — boxcar, rolling, and icepick scars each have a different underlying structure, and respond differently to treatment. Microneedling radiofrequency (see our Vivace MNRF page for the technology itself) is one of our primary tools for textural scarring, since it works at the depth where the scar tissue sits rather than only treating the surface.
What a plan actually looks like
Because mixed scarring — more than one scar type in the same area — is common, most plans combine techniques rather than relying on a single treatment. A proper skin assessment identifies what’s actually present before recommending your specific combination.
