Taula de Continguts
- What aesthetic medicine can do for acne, and what it cannot
- What we look at in the consultation when the reason is acne
- Each type of lesion, a different approach
- In-clinic treatments: peels and HydraFacial
- Laser and light for acne: ClearSkin and AFT
- Tailored skincare: the home routine that supports the plan
- Marks and scars: a separate plan
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Frequently asked questions
An aesthetic consultation for acne in Madrid is there to assess what type of acne you have and to decide, with medical judgement, whether a plan of in-clinic treatments, laser and tailored skincare fits your case, or whether you first need a different kind of care. At Santé Madrid we start with a free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach and, when the acne is inflammatory, widespread or leaves marks, it is advisable for the medical team to assess it. In this guide we explain what aesthetic medicine can offer for acne, what it cannot do, which options exist and how a realistic plan for your skin is built.
Key points
- Aesthetic medicine can help with clogged pores, excess oil, the appearance of skin with mild or moderate acne and the marks left afterwards.
- Dermatological treatment with prescription medication is not part of what we do: if your acne needs it, we recommend seeing your doctor or a dermatologist.
- In the treatment room we work with peels and HydraFacial; for laser, with the ClearSkin and AFT heads of the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform.
- Your home routine is the basis of the plan and is adapted to your skin, not to a trend.
- Treatments are decided and performed by the medical team after an assessment, and results vary from one skin to another.
What aesthetic medicine can do for acne, and what it cannot
Acne is not one single thing. There is skin with blackheads and clogged pores, skin with small inflamed spots and skin with deep, painful lesions that last for weeks. There are also people who no longer have breakouts but still have reddish patches, dark marks or scars. Each of these situations calls for a different approach, which is why the first question in the consultation is not which treatment you want, but what is happening in your skin.
Aesthetic medicine works mainly on what can be seen and felt: it cleanses and exfoliates the surface, helps to clear the pores, can contribute to controlling oil and can improve the appearance of the skin when acne is mild or moderate. It also has tools for the marks acne leaves once it is under control.
What we do not provide is dermatological treatment with prescription medication for acne. If your acne is severe, scars easily or does not improve with aesthetic management, the right step is a consultation with a dermatologist. Saying so early saves time and money, and means that, if it makes sense later on, we can combine aesthetic care with whatever your specialist recommends.
What we look at in the consultation when the reason is acne
In an acne consultation we focus on specific details. The first is the type of lesion: skin with comedones is not the same as skin with pustules or nodules. The second is the area: forehead, cheeks, jawline or chin. The third is how it has developed: how long you have had breakouts, whether they come and go, whether they get worse at certain times and whether they have left marks.
We also ask about your current routine, because a lot of acne-prone skin arrives irritated from using too many products at once or from over-exfoliating. We go over the skincare you use, whether you wear make-up every day, how you protect yourself from the sun and whether you take any medication or have any medical condition we should know about.
With that information the next step is decided. If your case fits aesthetic management, the Beauty Coach guides you and the medical team assesses the treatments. If there are signs that call for a different kind of assessment, we tell you clearly.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, mention it from the start: some treatments and active ingredients are postponed or replaced.
Each type of lesion, a different approach
This table summarises how each situation is usually approached. It is a general guide: the specific plan is always decided after assessing your skin, and the same person can have several types of lesion at once.
| What we see | What is usually considered | Who assesses it |
|---|---|---|
| Blackheads, clogged pores and excess oil | Adjusted home routine, superficial peels or HydraFacial | Beauty Coach and medical team |
| Mild or moderate inflamed spots | Home routine, in-clinic treatments and assessment for laser | Medical team |
| Nodules, cysts or acne that leaves scars | Consultation with a dermatologist before any aesthetic treatment | Your doctor or a dermatologist |
| Reddish or dark marks and scars from past acne | A specific plan for marks, once active acne is under control | Medical team |
The last row matters: treating marks while new spots keep appearing usually gives less benefit, because new marks keep forming. That is why, in many cases, the plan has two phases: first controlling the breakouts and then working on what they have left behind. The medical team decides when to move from one phase to the next in each case.
In-clinic treatments: peels and HydraFacial
Chemical peels have been used for years on acne-prone skin. A bibliographic review of organic acids in peels for acne notes that acids such as salicylic, glycolic or lactic acid are used for their exfoliating and sebum-regulating effect, and concludes that peels with these acids are effective and safe options for acne-prone skin. The same review acknowledges that there is no consensus on which acid or which concentration works better, and that the choice should be adapted to each person (Măgerușan and colleagues, 2023). That is why the type of peel and its strength are chosen after seeing your skin.
HydraFacial is the other usual in-clinic option. It combines cleansing and a gentle peel, extraction by suction and hydration. An open-label study of 20 adults with mild or moderate acne applied six sessions of a HydraFacial protocol with cleansing and peeling, suction and blue LED light, and reported an improvement in the appearance of the skin (Storgard and colleagues, 2022). It is a small study, without a control group, without blinding and with the manufacturer's involvement, so the evidence is limited. At Santé Madrid we work with the Signature, Deluxe and Platinum protocols and with boosters, and the team chooses the right one for your skin. If you would like to know more, you will find the details on our HydraFacial page.
Laser and light for acne: ClearSkin and AFT
At Santé Madrid we have the Alma Harmony XL Pro laser platform, and for acne there are two heads worth knowing about. The manufacturer describes ClearSkin as a non-ablative 1540 nm Er:Glass laser that treats active acne and acne scars. It also describes its AFT pulsed-light applicators as optimised for several indications, acne among them (Alma Lasers, Harmony XL Pro).
On the 1540 nm laser with integrated suction and cooling, a prospective study of 12 patients with mild or moderate acne reported improvement in all of them after four to six sessions two weeks apart, with transient redness as the only adverse effect observed (Politi and colleagues, 2015). These are interesting data, but they come from a very small group without a control group, so they do not allow us to promise a specific result.
In practice, laser does not replace your home routine and is not suitable for every case. The medical team assesses your skin type, the phase of your acne and whether you are taking anything that makes your skin more sensitive before proposing it, and adjusts the number of sessions to how you progress. You can find more information on our acne laser page. Results vary from one skin to another.
Tailored skincare: the home routine that supports the plan
What you do every day at home counts as much as what is done in the treatment room. A well-chosen routine helps keep pores clear and skin calm between sessions; a poorly chosen one can irritate the skin and undo part of the work.
At Santé Madrid we work with the cosmeceutical lines SkinCeuticals, ZO, ASM and Biotricología, and we choose products according to your skin, your tolerance and what is being done in the clinic. There is no universal routine for acne, but there are some principles that tend to come up again and again:
- Gentle cleansing, without scrubbing or chasing that tight-skin feeling.
- Light hydration, oily skin included.
- Daily sun protection, especially if you use exfoliating actives or are following a laser plan.
- Introducing new actives one at a time and gradually.
- Not picking at spots, because it can leave marks.
Your surroundings count too. In Madrid, dry air and winter heating can dry out the skin, and some people respond by washing it more or using harsher products, which tends to make irritation worse. In summer, sun exposure makes protection even more necessary if you are following a plan with peels or laser. We adjust the routine to these times of year.
Marks and scars: a separate plan
When acne calms down, many people realise that what bothers them most is no longer the spots, but what they have left behind. It helps to distinguish between reddish or pigmented marks, which affect the colour of the skin, and scars, which change its texture. They are not treated the same way and they do not evolve the same way.
For the after-effects of acne, the Santé Madrid catalogue includes options such as peels, microneedling, polynucleotides for scars and several laser treatments, including ablative resurfacing and CO2 laser. The manufacturer of ClearSkin also describes it for acne scars. Which option makes sense depends on the type of mark or scar, your skin type and how much recovery time you can accommodate.
That is why this plan is designed separately and, in most cases, once breakouts are under control. Scars commonly need a combined and patient approach, and results vary from one skin to another. The medical team will explain realistically what you can expect before you start.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00; the clinic is closed on Sundays.
The process starts with a free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, where we review your skin, your breakouts, your routine and what concerns you. If the acne is inflammatory, if there are marks or scars, or if any medication or medical condition calls for it, it is advisable to assess it in a medical consultation, which costs €50.
From there, the Santé Madrid medical team proposes a phased plan: what to do at home, which in-clinic or laser treatments make sense and in what order, and when to review your progress. If during the assessment we see that your acne needs prescription dermatological treatment, we will tell you and recommend that you see your doctor or a dermatologist. We would rather explain what is reasonable to expect in your case than promise results.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the acne consultation cost?
The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free. If your case needs a medical assessment, the medical consultation costs €50.
Can you prescribe medication for acne?
No. Dermatological treatment with prescription medication for acne is not part of what we do. If your case needs it, we recommend seeing your doctor or a dermatologist.
Does laser get rid of acne for good?
We cannot promise that. The manufacturer describes ClearSkin for active acne and there are small studies with favourable results, but the response varies from one skin to another and the plan usually includes a home routine and reviews.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the type of acne, your skin and how you respond. The studies cited used series of several sessions, but in your case the number is set after the assessment and adjusted as you progress.
Can I have a facial cleanse if I have active spots?
It depends on how much inflammation there is. With mild breakouts the treatment can usually be adapted; with very inflamed lesions, the medical team assesses it first and it may be better to wait.
What skincare should I use for acne?
There is no universal routine. We work with SkinCeuticals, ZO, ASM and Biotricología, and we choose products according to your skin, your tolerance and the treatments you are having in the clinic.
Can I treat marks while I still have breakouts?
Controlling breakouts usually comes first, because new spots leave new marks. The medical team decides in each case when to start the plan for marks and scars.
If acne worries you and you do not know where to start, a consultation at Santé Madrid will help you understand what type of acne you have, what aesthetic medicine can do for you and when it is better to see a dermatologist. We will explain it calmly and without promises.
