Non-Comedogenic Is Not a Guarantee: A Smarter Product-Screening Guide for Acne-Prone Skin
Start with our Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker when choosing skincare, makeup, or hair products. Learn when a whole-routine acne assessment adds value.
Laser treatment is one of the most effective, safe, and customizable way to reduce the appearance of acne, post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), rosacea, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), mild acne scars. It improves skin texture and gently smooths the appearance of pores. At the Acne Clinic NYC, we offer the most advanced laser technologies — Laser Excel-V, Genesis, Aerolase, Fotona, Candela — allowing us to personalize each treatment based on scar type, skin tone, and your goals.
4–6 sessions.
20-30 minutes per session.
None to a mild warming sensation.
No downtime (except for Excel V).
1-2-6 treatments.
Cleanse, eye protection, laser treatment, moisturize, SPF.
Same or following day.
Safe for all skin tones ( for Excel V 1-3).
Facial injections, threads, or injectables done 2 weeks before the treatment.
Presence of active wounds or skin infection.
Some medication.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sunburnt skin or impaired skin barrier.
History of keloid scarring.
Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before the treatment. Avoid using active products as recommended by your acne specialist.
Cleanse gently, moisturize, and use SPF. Resume actives next day.
We recommend laser treatment because of its powerful anti-inflammatory benefits and its ability to safely target vascular concerns. Laser energy helps calm active inflammation, reduce post-acne redness (PIE), and visibly improve persistent facial redness associated with rosacea. At Acne Clinic NYC, we rely on Nd:YAG laser technology, which is the gold standard for treating vascular concerns, rosacea, and post-inflammatory erythema. It offers a non-medicated, highly effective way to reduce redness and inflammation while remaining safe and predictable for long-term skin health.
Beyond its calming effects, laser treatment also plays a key role in acne scar remodeling and texture improvement. Laser energy gently resurfaces targeted layers of the skin, helping break down rigid scar tissue and stimulate the production of new, healthy collagen. This process gradually lifts the base of newer, shallow scars, reduces scar depth, smooths uneven texture, and improves overall skin quality.
Importantly, this collagen stimulation is controlled and gentle, delivering visible results without excessive downtime. By addressing inflammation, vascular redness, and structural skin damage together, laser therapy provides balanced, long-lasting improvements with minimal disruption to your daily routine.
Unlock clear restored skin with Laser Excel-V, Laser Genesis, The Aerolase laser, Fotona laser, Candela at Acne Clinic NYC.
Results depend on the concern being treated. Improvements in inflammation, post-acne red marks, and rosacea-related redness are often noticeable early, sometimes within the first few sessions, with progressive lightening over 4–6 treatments. Changes in skin texture and acne scarring take longer, as collagen remodeling occurs gradually over 4–12 weeks. Deeper scars, especially when treated with Fotona, typically require a full treatment series to achieve the most visible improvement.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) works primarily on the surface of the skin, using broad-spectrum light that interacts with pigment in the upper layers. Because of this, IPL can be more aggressive to the skin barrier and is not suitable for all skin tones, especially deeper or tan complexions. Its effects are mostly superficial, which limits both safety and consistency of results. Laser treatments, on the other hand, use a single, precise wavelength that penetrates deeper into the skin without unnecessarily affecting the surface. This allows us to treat inflammation, redness, and acne-related concerns while preserving the skin barrier. Thanks to this controlled depth and precision, laser technology is safe and effective for almost all skin tones when properly selected.
Aerolase, Genesis, Candela and Fotona are safe for all skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–VI). Excel-V is safe for only Fitzpatrick I - III.
Milder lasers (Genesis, Aerolase) target inflammation, redness, and surface-level texture with zero downtime. Aggressive lasers (Fotona) resurface the skin more deeply, breaking up scar tissue and stimulating greater collagen production — with a few days of redness or flaking afterward. We choose the approach based on your goals and scar severity. Mild, no Excel V модно сделать более агрессивным. Advanced. Milder lasers — such as Genesis, Aerolase, and Excel V — target inflammation, redness, vascular concerns, and surface-level texture with little to no downtime. Excel V is considered a mild, well-tolerated laser, but it can also be customized to more advanced settings when deeper vascular or inflammatory issues need additional correction, while still maintaining a strong safety profile. Aggressive lasers — such as Fotona — resurface the skin more deeply, helping break up scar tissue and stimulate higher levels of collagen production. These treatments deliver stronger structural change but typically involve a few days of redness, flaking, or downtime. We select the laser type and intensity based on your skin type, goals, and the severity of scarring, ensuring the most effective results.
Absolutely. Aerolase, Laser Genesis, and Candela are excellent options for patients with active breakouts, as they help reduce inflammation, redness, and acne-causing bacteria while supporting skin healing. Excel V is primarily designed to target vascular concerns, that’s why it is not typically used during active acne flare-ups and is better suited once breakouts are under control. For deeper resurfacing treatments like Fotona, we usually recommend stabilizing active acne first to ensure safer healing and the best long-term improvement.
Founder & Clinical Director, AcneClinicNYC
Licensed Master Esthetician, Certified Acne Specialist, International Educator in Acne Treatment
Lead LE, Certified Acne Expert, International Educator
Lead LE, Certified Acne Expert and Laser Specialist
LE, Certified Acne Expert, Laser Specialist and Electrologist
LE, Certified Acne Expert and Laser Specialist
LE, Certified Acne Expert and Laser Specialist
LE, Certified Acne Expert and Laser Specialist
LE, Certified Acne Expert and Laser Specialist
Certified Acne Expert and Nutritionist
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioner
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