Acne Awareness Month is a chance to step back and rethink how acne is approached. For many people, it is not just a skin concern. It can affect confidence, influence how comfortable you feel day to day, and even shape small decisions like whether to go makeup-free or avoid certain lighting or photos. At Secret Aesthetics, we regularly meet patients who feel stuck in a cycle. They have tried multiple products, followed advice online, and yet their skin still feels unpredictable, with breakouts returning just as things begin to improve.

The reality is that acne is complex. It behaves differently from person to person, and often changes over time. That is why a tailored, clinically guided approach is essential. At our clinic in Birmingham, we focus on treating acne based on how it presents in real life, using advanced technologies alongside bespoke prescription skincare. Central to this is targeting the root cause, not just managing the visible symptoms.

We approach acne in two clear stages: controlling active acne, and then addressing the longer-term effects such as scarring and uneven texture.

Active Acne: How to stop breakouts?

Before looking at scarring or refinement, active acne needs to be brought under control. A common mistake patients make is trying to treat everything at once. What tends to happen is that breakouts continue in the background, which prevents the skin from properly healing.

Acne is usually caused by a combination of:

• Excess oil production
• Blocked pores and congestion
• Bacterial activity
• Inflammation
• Hormonal influence

Treatment is then selected accordingly, often combining skincare with advanced in-clinic procedures for a more complete approach.

Bespoke Prescription Skincare: The starting point for every plan

Every effective acne treatment plan begins with the right skincare.

This involves a personalised approach using prescription-strength ingredients tailored to your skin. Rather than layering multiple products, the aim is to simplify and target the underlying causes of acne, whether that is oil production, inflammation, or slow cell turnover.

In practice, we adjust these formulations over time based on how the skin responds. Without this foundation, even the most advanced treatments will struggle to deliver consistent results.

AviClear: A central treatment for long-term acne control

AviClear represents one of the most significant advancements in acne treatment in recent years, and it plays a central role in how we manage acne at Secret Aesthetics.

It is a laser treatment designed to target sebaceous glands directly, reducing oil production at the source. As excess oil is one of the primary drivers of acne, this allows us to influence how the skin behaves over time, rather than simply reacting to breakouts as they appear.

The treatment is performed using controlled laser energy delivered into the skin, selectively suppressing overactive oil glands without damaging surrounding tissue. A course of treatments is usually recommended, with results developing gradually as oil production decreases.

Who it is most suitable for:

• Moderate to severe acne
• Persistent or treatment-resistant acne
• Oily, acne-prone skin

Why it stands out in practice:

• Targets the root cause of acne, not just symptoms
• Leads to fewer and less severe breakouts over time
• Helps make skin more stable and predictable

It is often the turning point for patients who feel they have tried everything. Secret Aesthetics is one of the few clinics in the UK to offer AviClear, which plays a key role in our acne treatment protocols. For many patients, it becomes the core treatment around which everything else is built.

BBL Forever Clear: Managing inflammation alongside oil control

While AviClear focuses on oil production, BBL Forever Clear is often used to calm inflammation and target active breakouts.

This treatment uses BroadBand Light to reduce acne-causing bacteria while soothing redness in the skin. It is particularly helpful for inflamed, sensitive, or reactive acne.

In practice, this treatment helps to:

• Reduce redness and inflammation
• Calm active breakouts more quickly
• Support overall skin healing

We often combine BBL Forever Clear with AviClear to address both the cause and the visible symptoms of acne at the same time. This combination tends to deliver more consistent and reliable results.

Management & Aftermath: How do you treat acne scarring and skin damage?

Once acne is under control, attention can shift to improving the skin itself. This stage is particularly important for patients who are left with scarring, uneven texture, or pigmentation.

Timing is key. We only move into this phase once breakouts are stable, which is why treatments like AviClear are so important in the earlier stages.

Secret RF: Treating deeper acne scars

Secret RF is a radiofrequency microneedling treatment designed to target the deeper layers of the skin, where more established acne scarring tends to sit.

By delivering controlled heat energy beneath the surface through fine needles, it stimulates collagen production and helps remodel scar tissue from within. This makes it particularly effective for deeper, more stubborn scars that do not respond as well to surface-level treatments.

We often introduce Secret RF once active acne is fully under control. Over a course of treatments, the skin gradually becomes firmer, smoother, and more even in texture.

Best suited for:

• Deeper or more stubborn acne scars
• Skin that has lost firmness following acne

Dermapen Microneedling: Improving surface texture

For more superficial concerns, Dermapen microneedling is used to refine and improve overall skin quality.

This treatment works by creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin, which trigger the body’s natural healing response and stimulate collagen production. Over time, this leads to smoother, more even skin with improved texture.

In practice, Dermapen is often used as part of a broader treatment plan. For milder scarring, it can be very effective on its own. For more complex cases, we may combine it with treatments like Secret RF or laser to target different depths within the skin. It is also a useful option for maintaining results once more intensive treatments have been completed, helping to keep the skin looking smooth and refined.

HALO Laser: Addressing tone and texture together

HALO is a hybrid fractional laser that works on both the surface and deeper layers of the skin, making it particularly versatile.

From extensive experience, we know that acne leaves behind a combination of concerns, including uneven texture, pigmentation, and a lack of overall skin clarity. HALO is designed to address these simultaneously, rather than treating each issue separately.

By delivering two wavelengths of laser energy, it resurfaces the skin while also stimulating deeper regeneration. Patients notice improvements not only in scarring, but also in skin tone, brightness, and overall quality.

ProFractional Laser: Targeted resurfacing

For more defined or localised scars, ProFractional laser allows for a more precise and targeted approach.

The laser creates controlled micro-channels in the skin, stimulating collagen production and encouraging the skin to repair itself. Over time, this leads to a noticeable softening of scars and an improvement in skin texture.

We often use ProFractional as part of a combination approach, especially when working alongside treatments like Subcision or microneedling for more complex scarring patterns.

Subcision: Releasing deeper, tethered scars

Some acne scars are not just surface irregularities. They are caused by fibrous bands beneath the skin that pull the surface downwards, creating a tethered or indented appearance.

Subcision is designed to address this directly. A fine needle is used beneath the skin to release these bands, allowing the skin to lift and smooth out. Once the scar is released, treatments such as microneedling or laser can further improve the surface and texture.

For patients with deeper, indented scars, this combination approach often delivers the most noticeable improvement.

Sciton BBL and Chemical Peels: Refinement and maintenance

Once the skin has been treated more intensively, the focus shifts towards refinement and long-term maintenance.

Sciton is often used to reduce any remaining redness and improve overall skin tone. This is particularly helpful for patients who are left with post-inflammatory redness after acne has cleared.

Chemical peels, on the other hand, help maintain skin clarity and smoothness. By encouraging regular cell turnover, they keep pores clear, improve texture, and support the results achieved with more advanced treatments.

These treatments are important for preserving results and helping to prevent future breakouts or skin congestion. Together, they ensure that improvements are not only achieved, but sustained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AviClear?

AviClear is a laser treatment that reduces oil production by targeting sebaceous glands. It treats acne at the source rather than just managing symptoms.

How long does AviClear take to work?

Most patients see improvement within a few weeks, with continued results over several months as the skin becomes more balanced.

Is AviClear suitable for everyone?

It is most effective for persistent, oily, or treatment-resistant acne. Suitability is assessed during consultation.

Can acne scars be treated?

Yes. Once acne is controlled, treatments like microneedling, RF, and laser can significantly improve scarring.

Can acne scars be completely removed?

They can be improved, but complete removal depends on the type and severity.

Why treat acne before scarring?

If acne is still active, new breakouts will continue to cause damage. Control first, then treat scars.

How many treatments will I need?

Most patients need a course of treatments over several months, tailored to their skin.

Taking the next step

If your acne feels persistent or resistant to treatment, it may be time to consider a more advanced and structured approach.

At Secret Aesthetics in Birmingham, we specialise in advanced acne treatments, with a particular focus on AviClear as one of the few clinics in the UK to offer and clinically integrate this technology. By combining this with bespoke prescription skincare and complementary treatments such as BBL and laser, we are able to treat acne at its source and guide the skin through a structured, long-term transformation.

Book a consultation to receive a personalised treatment plan designed around your skin, your concerns, and your long-term goals.