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Acne Treatments in Vancouver

Personalized Care for Breakouts & Acne-Prone Skin

Acne is not limited to the teenage years, and it does not always look the same. From clogged pores and occasional breakouts to deep, painful blemishes, it can affect the face, chest, shoulders and back. Excess oil, dead skin cells, bacteria and inflammation all play a role. Acne is not caused by poor hygiene, and its contributing factors vary from person to person. At our Vancouver clinics, we take a personalized approach to managing acne. We assess your skin, the types of breakouts you experience and what may be contributing to them. Our team then helps you explore treatments that can reduce the appearance of blemishes, improve the look of skin texture and support your skin over time.

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Med Spa

Dermapure North Vancouver Westview

104-2609, Westview Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7M 4M2

Med Spa

Dermapure Vancouver Davie

803, Davie Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B7

Med Spa

Project Skin MD Vancouver Granville

1495 W 11th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6H 1K9

Med Spa

Dermapure Vancouver Kerrisdale

3568, West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6N 3E6

Med Spa

Project Skin MD Richmond

6551 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6Y 2B6

How to Treat Acne

Managing acne involves more than treating individual pimples. Depending on your skin and the severity of your breakouts, a personalized plan may combine three complementary approaches: consistent skincare at home, medical support when appropriate and professional treatments in clinic.

A Consistent Skincare Routine

Acne-prone skin needs gentle care, not aggressive cleansing. Washing twice daily with a mild cleanser helps remove excess oil and impurities without disrupting the skin barrier. Choose non-comedogenic moisturizers and sunscreens, and apply broad-spectrum sun protection every day, even during Vancouver's cloudy weather, to help prevent lingering dark marks from becoming more noticeable. Avoid harsh scrubs and picking at blemishes, which can increase inflammation and the risk of scarring.

Medical Treatment When Needed

When acne is persistent, widespread or deeply inflamed, skincare alone may not be enough. Prescription treatments, topical or oral, may be considered following a medical assessment. The appropriate option depends on the type and severity of acne, your medical history and individual needs. A physician or qualified healthcare professional can determine whether prescription treatment should be part of your care plan.

Professional In-Clinic Treatments

Professional treatments can complement daily skincare by addressing clogged pores, uneven texture and certain visible signs of acne. Clinical facials may include carefully performed extractions, while chemical peels help loosen the buildup of dead skin cells that contributes to blocked pores. The choice of treatment depends on your skin's condition, sensitivity and the severity of your breakouts. These procedures support a broader care plan but do not replace medical treatment for severe acne.

Bela MD Vancouver

BELA MD is a multi-step medical-grade skincare protocol available our clinics in Vancouver that combines diamond-tip microdermabrasion, hydrogen water infusion, electrical pulse stimulation and electroporation to cleanse, exfoliate and infuse the skin in a single session. Each step is designed to work together to address concerns such as dehydration, uneven tone, congestion, fine lines and dull texture. It is commonly performed on the face, neck and décolleté, and the protocol is tailored using targeted serum formulas selected for each patient's skin type and concerns.

Clarity Peel Vancouver

The SkinCeuticals Clarity Peel is a multi-step professional skincare treatment performed by our trained skin experts at our clinics in Vancouver. It combines a gentle chemical peel, mechanical exfoliation and the application of targeted SkinCeuticals serums to deeply cleanse the skin, support sebum balance and improve overall texture.

Hydrafacial Vancouver

HydraFacial is a medical-grade skincare treatment offered at our clinics in Vancouver. It combines patented Vortex-Fusion technology with a HydroPeel tip designed to gently cleanse, exfoliate, extract impurities and infuse targeted active ingredients into the skin in a single session.

Dermapure Signature Peel Vancouver

The glycolic acid peel is a professional chemical exfoliation treatment offered at our clinics in Vancouver. Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that gently lifts the outermost layer of the skin to support cell turnover, improve texture and reveal a fresher complexion underneath.

Intense Pulsed Light Vancouver

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a non-invasive light-based treatment offered at our clinics in Vancouver. It delivers controlled pulses of broad-spectrum light targeted at specific structures in the skin, such as melanin and superficial blood vessels, creating a controlled thermal effect while preserving the surrounding tissue.

Photorejuvenation Vancouver

Photorejuvenation is a non-invasive light-based treatment offered at our clinics in Vancouver. It uses pulses of intense light delivered at selected wavelengths to target colour contrasts in the skin, such as pigment spots and superficial vascular irregularities, with the goal of supporting a more even, refined complexion.

Custom Chemical Peel Vancouver

Available in Vancouver, the Custom Chemical Peel is a professional exfoliation treatment that works on the outermost layer of the skin of the face, neck and décolleté. Its solution can include beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), which dissolve the bonds holding dead cells together and, being oil-soluble, can penetrate pores. As these cells shed, the skin’s natural renewal is supported, helping the surface look smoother and more even.

Custom Facial Vancouver

Available in Vancouver, the Custom Facial is a professional treatment for the face, neck and décolleté that adapts to your skin rather than following a fixed routine. Each session combines deep cleansing, exfoliation, masking and hydration, with every step chosen according to the skin’s condition that day. Targeted serums are then applied with a gua sha massage technique, which promotes local circulation.

Mesotherapy Vancouver

Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive injectable treatment that delivers micro-droplets of hyaluronic acid enriched with biostimulating ingredients into the superficial layers of the skin. It is designed to support hydration, firmness and radiance rather than to add volume or change facial contours, and is most commonly used on the face, neck and hands.

JetPeel Vancouver

Inspired by innovations in the aerospace industry, JetPeel technology uses high-velocity jet streams to deliver active ingredients deep into the skin without needles, irritation, or downtime. This advanced system transforms compressed air and liquid serums into fine, mist-like jets that travel over 200 m/s across the skin’s surface.

Regenerative Facial Vancouver

When your skin starts to feel dull, tired or less firm, it may be a sign that its natural renewal process is slowing down. Daily stress, lack of sleep, environmental exposure and the early signs of aging can all lead to a gradual loss of radiance, tone and elasticity—often before deeper wrinkles begin to appear. The Regenerative Facial is designed to support the skin during this transitional phase, before more visible changes take hold.

Understanding the Different Types of Acne

Acne develops when hair follicles become clogged with excess sebum, the skin's natural oil, and dead skin cells. This can lead to different types of blemishes, depending on how deeply the blockage develops and whether inflammation is present. Several forms can appear at the same time, which is why identifying your acne type helps guide the approach to care.

Comedonal Acne

Comedonal acne is mainly characterized by clogged pores without significant inflammation. Blackheads, also called open comedones, form when oil and dead skin cells trapped inside a pore are exposed to air and darken through oxidation, not dirt. Whiteheads, or closed comedones, develop when the pore remains covered by skin, creating small, flesh-coloured bumps. This type of acne is particularly common on the forehead, nose and chin.

Inflammatory Acne

Inflammatory acne develops when clogged pores trigger an inflammatory response involving bacteria naturally present on the skin. It can appear as papules, small raised bumps without visible pus, or pustules, which have a white or yellow centre. These breakouts may feel tender and can leave lingering redness or dark marks after healing.

Nodular Acne

Nodular acne causes large, firm and often painful bumps that develop deep beneath the skin's surface. Unlike superficial blemishes, nodules can persist for weeks and carry a greater risk of scarring. Because they involve deeper inflammation, medical assessment and appropriate treatment should come before aesthetic procedures. Once active acne is controlled, additional treatments may be considered to address any remaining marks or scars.

Cystic Acne

Cystic acne involves deep, swollen and painful lesions that may contain pus. It is among the more severe forms of acne and can occur alongside nodules. These breakouts carry a higher risk of permanent scarring and generally require specialized medical management. Aesthetic treatments may be considered later, once the active inflammation has been brought under control.

Adult & Hormonal Acne

Acne can continue into adulthood or develop for the first time later in life. Hormonal fluctuations can influence oil production and contribute to recurring breakouts, often around the chin, jawline and lower face. Adult acne also affects men, and shaving friction can irritate follicles and aggravate breakouts.

Because adult skin may be more sensitive to aggressive treatments, a gentle and consistent approach is important. The location of breakouts alone is not enough to determine whether hormones are the cause.

Beyond Breakouts: Marks & Scars

Even after acne clears, it can leave visible changes behind. Red or purplish marks may come from small blood vessels that remain dilated after a breakout, while brown spots develop from excess pigment. Unlike these flat marks, true acne scars change the skin's texture, leaving depressions of varying depth or raised areas. Because post-acne pigmentation and scarring develop differently, they may require different treatments. Controlling active acne first helps reduce the risk of new marks and scars before addressing those already present.

Start Your Journey to Clearer-Looking Skin

Finding the right approach to acne begins with understanding your skin. During your consultation in Vancouver, our experienced team takes the time to assess your breakouts, discuss your concerns and identify the options that may be appropriate for you. From clogged pores and recurring adult acne to persistent inflammation, your care plan is designed around your skin's needs, with guidance for both in-clinic treatments and daily skincare.

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Acne Treatments in Vancouver

Personalized Care for Breakouts & Acne-Prone Skin