Okay, so you’ve cleared your acne (b i g win), but you’re left with the scars of inflammation past. We call this “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation”, aka acne scars. This discoloration can be located in the epidermis (the layer of the skin that we see) or the deeper, living layer of the skin called the dermis. You can perform the stretch test at home to find out which type of PIH you’re struggling with, and we will do the same in-office to assess and develop a treatment plan. Our recommendations may look like:
Medical Grade Skincare
Chemical Peel
Chemical Peel + Microneedling
We like to compare at-home medical grade skin care to the dentist. You go to the dentist twice per year for a more in-depth cleaning and assessment, but you’re at home brushing your teeth twice per day. The same goes for medical grade skincare–you do your skincare morning and night, but you come in to santāl skin for a more in-depth look at your skin, to discuss your goals, and create a treatment plan. Anything that we do in office is only enhanced by the work that you put in at home. If you’re already diligent with your skin care products, we’re SO proud of you! Still need to give those acne scars a kick in the a**? It might be time for a series of chemical peels.
Chemical Peels for Acne Scars
The purpose of chemical peels is to quite literally remove the top layer of the skin to reveal the brighter, healthier skin underneath. This is achieved by using a cocktail of “chemicals” such as alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs + BHAs), trichloroacetic acid, and retinoic acids to treat deep acne scars and hyperpigmentation. AHAs like lactic and glycolic acids target the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation located on the topmost layer of the skin. Stronger peels contain BHAs like salicylic acids that control redness and irritation, and retinoic acids that accelerate recovery time.
How to Choose Your Treatment
Book a consultation (link to consultation service page) with one of our experts. They will assess your skin, discuss your goals, and come up with a treatment plan completely customized for you.
For acne scars in general, we recommend BioRepeel. This no pain, no downtime peel penetrates deep into the skin to promote cellular turnover, and bring existing pigment to the surface of your skin. It will then eventually sloughed off to reveal healthier, brighter, more even tone. Depending on the depth of your scarring, we may recommend a series of 3-4 peels spaced 4-6 weeks apart for maximum results.
If your concern is existing scarring in addition to texture, sun damage, and uneven tone, book a BioRePeel with microneedling! This enhances the efficacy of the peel with the added benefits of traditional microneedling. This will mean minimal downtime, and you should expect slight redness for a day or two following treatment, followed by a few days of mild to moderate peeling.