Priorities
Acne and breakouts
Active breakouts, blackheads, congestion, and inflamed skin.
Treatments from $275
The short version
Acne ranges from blackheads, whiteheads, and small red bumps to deeper, painful cysts. It commonly appears across the nose, forehead, chin, and jawline, and it affects teenagers and adults alike, often after drugstore washes have stopped making a difference.
Some acne responds well to med spa treatment, and some needs a dermatologist first. Telling the two apart is the first step at your consult.
Why it happens
How a breakout starts
Acne begins in the pore. Hormones called androgens make oil glands larger and busier, and when that extra oil mixes with dead skin cells, the pore clogs. What happens next decides whether you get a blackhead, a red bump or a deep, painful cyst.
Oil and dead cells clog the pore
A clogged pore open at the surface becomes a blackhead. Closed over, it becomes a whitehead.
Inflammation turns it red
When the clog irritates the skin around it, the pore swells into a red, tender bump or a pustule.
Deep breakouts need a dermatologist
Cysts and nodules form deep below the surface. They need prescription treatment, and they're the breakouts most likely to scar.
Sources: AAD, what causes acne
Your options
How we'd approach it
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Step 1We'd start with
HydraFacial
From $299
About HydraFacialFor congestion, blackheads, and small breakouts, we typically start with a HydraFacial with our medical esthetician. It clears pores with suction, exfoliates gently, and adds a salicylic booster, with no downtime. Monthly sessions for three to six months give the best results.
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Step 2If you need a little more
A VI Peel series
From $275
About A VI Peel seriesIf your breakouts are stubborn or leaving marks behind, a VI Peel series can go deeper. Expect three to five days of visible flaking after each peel, so we'll schedule the series around any events you have coming up.
Side by side
Your options side by side
For congestion and small breakouts, here's how the options compare. Cystic acne starts with a dermatologist.
We'd start with
HydraFacial
From $299
- Best for
- Congestion, blackheads and small breakouts
- Appointment
- 30 to 45 minutes, no numbing
- Downtime
- None, pink for an hour or two
- First results
- Immediately
- Sessions
- One, then every 4 to 6 weeks
If you need a little more
VI Peel series
From $275
- Best for
- Stubborn breakouts and the marks they leave
- Appointment
- 20 to 45 minutes
- Downtime
- Light: flaking 3 to 7 days. Medium: 7 to 14 days
- First results
- Once the flaking clears, about a week
- Sessions
- Light: 3 to 5, every 2 to 5 weeks. Medium: one, repeated in 3 to 6 months
Microneedling
From $347
- Best for
- Pitted scars, once breakouts are under control
- Appointment
- 45 to 60 minutes, numbing included
- Downtime
- Pink for 24 to 48 hours, light flaking by day 3 to 5
- First results
- Hydration and glow within days
- Sessions
- 1 for glow, 3 to 6 for lines and scars
Prices are starting prices from our menu. Your provider will confirm the plan and total cost at your consult. Individual results vary.
What to expect
What to expect with a HydraFacial series
Your skin looks clearer and brighter the same day. Congestion improves over a series of monthly sessions.
Day 0
Bright and hydrated
Bright, hydrated, and slightly pink for an hour. Makeup is fine.
Days 1 to 7
Smoother skin
Skin stays smoother and more hydrated. Some people see a light purge as pores finish clearing.
Weeks 2 to 4
Fades toward baseline
The effect gradually fades toward baseline. A good time to book your next one if you’re on a routine.
Month 3+
Consistent with routine
With monthly visits, blackheads and flaking stay down and skin looks consistently better between visits.
Timeline for HydraFacial, from our treatment page. Individual results vary.
Our reasoning
How we decide
First, we’ll look at the type of breakouts you have. Blackheads, whiteheads, and small red bumps are what a HydraFacial is good at. In an open-label study, six HydraFacial Clarifying treatments every two weeks raised the share of people with clear or almost clear acne from 20 percent to 65 percent, per the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Those results came after six sessions, which is why we like to plan HydraFacials as a series.
Deep, painful cysts and nodules are a different condition. The American Academy of Dermatology lists acne among the things a chemical peel can treat, but only “some types,” not cysts. Cystic acne needs prescription treatment, and a facial can aggravate it. If that sounds like your skin, we’ll refer you to a dermatologist before booking any treatment.
Once breakouts are under control, we can treat the marks they’ve left. Brown or red spots respond to a VI Peel series, and pitted scars respond to microneedling.
Your questions, answered
Can a HydraFacial make acne worse?
Sometimes, for a few days. Clearing congested pores can bring a few spots to the surface in the first week, which is expected. It shouldn't cause a real flare. If your skin is inflamed or cystic on the day of your visit, we'll skip the peel step or reschedule.
Can my teenager get a HydraFacial?
Please call us first, since treatment for anyone under 18 depends on age and requires a parent's consent. Teen acne is often congestion plus oil, and a monthly HydraFacial with a good sunscreen and a gentle cleanser at home is a reasonable plan. If there are cysts, a dermatologist should see them first.
How often do I need to come in?
For active congestion, we'd suggest every four weeks for three to six months, then every four to six weeks to maintain your results. The acne study used every two weeks for six sessions, which is more than most people book. Our HydraFacial cadence guide lays out a typical schedule over a year.
What causes adult acne?
Hormones are a big part of it. Androgens make oil glands produce more oil, which can clog pores at any age, and changes around your cycle, stress and some skin and hair products can make breakouts worse. If your acne is deep or painful, a dermatologist should see it first.
Should I pop my pimples before a facial?
Please don't. Picking pushes inflammation deeper and raises the chance of marks and scars. Come in as you are, and we'll clear congestion gently during your treatment.
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