Hormonal acne — breakouts triggered by androgen and estrogen fluctuations — causes deep, painful blemishes primarily on the lower face and jaw, and often leaves behind rolling, boxcar, or icepick scars that require professional treatment to improve.
Hormonal acne doesn't follow the same rules as teenage acne. It tends to appear on the lower face and jawline, flares predictably around the menstrual cycle or during hormonal transitions (perimenopause, post-pregnancy, stress), and produces the kind of deep, cystic blemishes that leave lasting marks. Adults dealing with hormonal breakouts often feel frustrated because standard skincare doesn't address the root cause.
At Summer House Medspa, we address hormonal acne from multiple angles: controlling active breakouts, reducing inflammation, and treating the textural scarring that previous breakouts have left behind. Acne scars are among the most studied concerns in aesthetic medicine — modern treatments can achieve significant improvement in scar depth and texture, with results that continue building for months after treatment.
Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries that trigger deep collagen remodeling, improving the depth and appearance of rolling and boxcar scars. Combined with PRP (platelet-rich plasma), healing is accelerated and skin quality improves more dramatically.
Medical-grade peels reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from healed acne, smooth early textural changes, and help control active breakouts by regulating cell turnover. A series of mild-to-medium peels is often used alongside other treatments.
Fractional laser treatment ablates the top layer of scarred skin while stimulating deep collagen production — one of the most effective tools for significant acne scarring, particularly icepick and deep boxcar scars.
A physician-directed skincare regimen including retinoids, prescription brighteners, and targeted anti-inflammatory ingredients provides the ongoing management layer that makes in-office treatments work better and last longer.
We treat active acne and scarring in parallel when possible. Controlling breakouts prevents new scars from forming while existing scars are being treated — creating a clear trajectory toward better skin. For clients with both concerns, we often start with a chemical peel series to manage active acne and surface pigmentation while planning a microneedling or laser protocol for deeper scar revision.
Acne scar improvement is a process, not an event. Scars that have been present for years typically take 3–6 sessions and 6–12 months to show their best results. We'll give you a realistic timeline based on your scar type and depth, and track progress with photos so you can see the improvements accumulating over time.
Many scars can see genuine structural improvement — not just visual masking. Rolling and boxcar scars respond particularly well to microneedling and fractional laser, with 40–70% improvement in scar depth being a realistic outcome after a full treatment series. Ice pick scars are the most resistant to non-surgical treatment. We'll assess your scar types in consultation and give you honest expectations.
Not necessarily. Many of our treatments — chemical peels and medical skincare — help control active acne while also beginning to improve scarring and hyperpigmentation. We can work on both simultaneously. Microneedling and laser are typically reserved for when breakouts are reasonably controlled, but that doesn't mean waiting a year to start treatment.
Book a skin assessment to evaluate your acne and scarring and develop a clear treatment plan.
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