Gone are the days of throwing our strongest, most abrasive topicals at our lesions in an attempt to flatten blemishes and dispel discoloration. More general skin care trends like personalized and minimally-invasive solutions are shaping approaches to acne as well. Here's what you need to know about acne in 2025.
Personalized Solutions
It's no longer a one-regimen-fits-all world. To treat acne, you need to treat the individual according to their skin type, severity and underlying causes. A personalized approach to acne should include an assessment of the client to understand their skin profile and lifestyle. Depending on the client, you might need to refer, work with or in a way that's aligned with the instructions of a dermatologist. Once a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan have been discussed, you can decide on products. Many estheticians like Clear Point as a solution that won't strip the skin barrier while still delivering clinical-grade results.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Growing in popularity, especially in medspa-heavy areas, are the use of lasers, exosome therapy and microneedling to treat acne given their effectiveness and minimal downtime. In stimulating collagen and elastin production, microneedling and RF microneedling can be great for treating acne scars and improving the skin's texture—just make sure you check your state's regulations first to see what might require a medical practitioner.
Lasers
Advancements in lasers, like fractional lasers, can treat acne and scarring with less discomfort and a faster healing time. While traditional lasers remove the entire epidermis and a portion of the dermis, treatment zones for fractional lasers are microscopic and leave the rest of the skin untouched.
LED Therapy
Red and blue light therapy continues to be in high demand to treat acne, with innovation granting us the ability to customize wavelengths. A dual-wave approach allows practitioners to deal with bacteria while treating inflammation. The rise of at-home devices also opens up a world of retailing possibilities when it comes to treating milder cases, and can be easily incorporated into existing home care routines.
Consumers are looking for acne solutions that are just right for their skin care journey, and the desire for fast results hasn't gone anywhere. The rise of the medspa industry and the appeal of using the skin's natural processes to facilitate better skin with minimal downtime are driving people to look past the traditional facial for answers.
