Acne Treatment — DermaPen and Excimer Laser

A two-phase acne treatment protocol combining DermaPen microneedling (with optional PRP) and XTRAC 308 nm excimer laser in five-week cycles — targeting both active acne inflammation and post-acne skin quality. The DermaPen physically disrupts congested follicles and initiates a healing and skin-renewal response; the excimer laser reduces inflammation and skin bacteria, supporting ongoing clearance between microneedling sessions. For mild or early acne, HydraFacial — with its chemical peel and antibacterial hydration steps — may be recommended as a standalone option. Suitable for adolescents and adults.

Acne vulgaris involves four interacting pathological processes: follicular hyperkeratinisation (the plug), colonisation by Cutibacterium acnes, excess sebum production and the resultant inflammatory cascade. Effective treatment typically needs to address at least two or three of these simultaneously, which is why single-modality approaches often provide only partial response. At Derma Medical Clinic the structured acne treatment protocol uses DermaPen and XTRAC excimer laser in a sequenced, cycling approach. The DermaPen component at acne-appropriate depths (0.5–1.5 mm) opens the follicle, disrupts the hyperkeratinised plug, and creates a controlled micro-injury response that shifts the follicle environment from an infection-prone blocked state towards active healing. Applied with an acne-specific mesoglide serum — typically containing salicylic acid, beta-glucan or an antimicrobial complex — during the session, the treatment simultaneously addresses bacteria within the open micro-channels and delivers anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating actives deeper than surface application permits. Optional PRP can be added for patients with significant post-acne pigmentation or scarring who benefit from the growth-factor regenerative component. Two weeks after each DermaPen session, the XTRAC 308 nm excimer laser component begins: two weeks of laser sessions (three times per week) deliver UV energy that generates reactive oxygen species within C. acnes bacterial cells, producing photodynamic antibacterial effects, and simultaneously suppresses the inflammatory T-lymphocyte activity driving papule and pustule formation. For patients with inflammatory acne, the combination of these two mechanisms — direct bacterial destruction and T-cell-mediated inflammation suppression — is more effective than either modality alone. For patients with mild acne — early-stage blackhead-dominated or mildly inflammatory presentations — the clinic may recommend HydraFacial as a standalone starting point. The HydraFacial six-step protocol includes salicylic-acid chemical peel extraction for pore clearing and blue-LED phototherapy for antibacterial photodynamic action; multiple sessions over two to three months can significantly improve mild acne without the recovery associated with DermaPen. The physician assesses which approach is appropriate at the initial consultation based on acne type, severity and patient history.