Does IPL kill acne bacteria?

We do not make that claim. We use IPL on the redness of breakouts, pair it with Frax 1550 for texture, and set the number of sessions at your consultation.

Can you treat active acne and acne scars together?

Often, yes. IPL is used on redness, and Frax 1550 on texture. We set the order at your consultation.

Can I book if I am taking Accutane?

Yes. Tell us at your consultation, because isotretinoin affects when treatment can start, and we will plan around it.

Is there downtime after acne treatment?

Expect pink skin for a few days, then a rough or slightly bronzed look as the skin renews.

Does acne treatment hurt?

IPL feels like a quick, warm snap. We apply numbing cream before Frax 1550.

Will IPL stop breakouts for good?

We cannot promise that. Acne often needs a series, results vary, and hormonal acne may need help from your doctor as well.

Can IPL Treat Acne? | Texture & Tone, Hamilton

What does IPL do for active acne?

IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It is filtered light delivered in short pulses. We use the Candela Nordlys IPL.

The light is absorbed by blood in small vessels, and the heat closes them. Your body clears the treated vessels over the following weeks.

IPL works on what you can see in the skin, but it does not change hormones or other things that can drive acne from the inside. You can read more about the device on our IPL technology page.

Why do we combine IPL with Frax 1550?

Acne often leaves two kinds of problems. One is colour: redness and red or pink marks after spots heal. The other is texture: rough patches, enlarged pores and early scarring.

IPL is used on redness, and Frax 1550 on texture. Frax 1550 is a non-ablative fractional laser: it treats thousands of microscopic columns of skin and leaves the skin between them intact.

This prompts new collagen, the protein that gives skin its structure, and results build over three to four months. Using both lets us work on redness and texture in the same course of treatment. You can learn more on our Frax 1550 page and our Acne & congestion treatment page.

How many sessions does acne usually need?

Acne treatment is done as a series rather than a single visit, with sessions spaced out over time.

The number of sessions depends on how active the acne is, how much redness there is, and how much texture we are also working on. We set the number at your consultation after we have assessed your skin. Results vary and build over the series.

What does an acne session feel like?

IPL feels like a quick, warm snap on the skin, a bit like an elastic band. Before Frax 1550 we apply numbing cream.

Afterwards, skin is pink for a few days, then can feel rough or look slightly bronzed as it renews.

Is there anything that would delay treatment?

Yes. If you have taken isotretinoin, a prescription acne medication often known by the brand name Accutane, tell us at your consultation, because it affects when treatment can start. Book a consultation anyway and we will plan around it.

If your acne seems hormonal, we may suggest speaking with your doctor about what is driving it. Treatment in the studio is meant to sit alongside that care, not replace it.

What about acne scars?

Scarring is usually a separate stage of treatment. We set the order at your consultation, once we have looked at your skin.

For acne scars, we use Frax 1550. You can read more on our Acne scars page.

Is IPL suitable for every skin tone?

We check your skin at the consultation and confirm whether each part of the treatment is suitable.

How much does acne treatment cost?

An acne treatment session is from $449. Every price is listed on our prices page.

Every treatment starts with the 30-minute one-on-one consultation. We assess your skin and tell you how many sessions you will need and the price.

We are in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, and convenient for Burlington, Grimsby, Ancaster and Dundas.

Can IPL treat acne?