• A blonde woman wearing a peach-colored short-sleeve button-up shirt, posing with her hand near her face against a plain light background.
  • Skin Concern

    acne + scarring

    Breakouts don't always end when your skin clears. Congestion, inflammation, lingering marks, and changes in texture can all become part of the same cycle, making acne feel like an ongoing concern.

  • Understanding acne + scarring

  • Breakouts begin beneath the surface. Understanding what drives congestion, inflammation, and your skin's healing response helps explain why acne develops, why it returns, and why it sometimes leaves lasting marks.

excess oil production

Excess oil can combine with dead skin cells to clog pores, creating congestion that leads to blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed breakouts.

inflammation

As pores become clogged, inflammation develops within the skin. Repeated or prolonged inflammation can increase redness, worsen breakouts, and contribute to long-term skin changes.

hormonal shifts

Hormonal changes can increase oil production and influence how skin renews itself, making breakouts more likely during certain stages of life or monthly cycles.

healing response

After a breakout heals, your skin begins repairing itself. When inflammation is prolonged, that repair process can leave behind lingering discoloration, uneven texture, or permanent scarring.

  • expert guidance

    treatment with
intention

    Understanding how acne forms and how the skin heals allows us to take a more targeted approach. Some treatments focus on clearing congestion and supporting renewal, while others work deeper to improve texture and smooth the skin over time.

    clarifying facial

    Clearer-looking skin starts with a targeted approach. This corrective treatment combines deep cleansing, extractions, blue light therapy, and a customized acne peel to target blemishes, excess oil, and congestion. Includes a take-home skincare kit ($40 value) to help maintain results between visits. Skin is left calm, clearer, and more balanced.

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    medical-grade chemical peels

    Chemical peels use targeted exfoliation to clear congestion, remove buildup within the pore, and encourage new, healthier skin to surface. This can help reduce active breakouts while also improving the appearance of discoloration left behind.

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    microneedling

    Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen production and support repair. This process helps improve overall texture and can soften the appearance of acne scarring over time.

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    laser + energy

    BroadBand Light (BBL) + Moxi Laser

    Laser and light-based treatments help improve skin clarity and texture by targeting areas of discoloration and stimulating renewal within the skin. These treatments can be particularly effective for more persistent marks and uneven texture.

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your first visit

Every medSPA treatment at milk + honey begins with a personalized consultation, so results feel intentional, aligned, and right for you.

book free consultation

  • medSPA FAQs

  • A few helpful details

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  • Four main drivers: hormonal fluctuation (very common in adult women), stress and cortisol, diet and lifestyle factors, and skincare or product habits that disrupt the skin barrier. Adult acne often looks different from teenage acne — deeper, slower-healing, more focused on the jawline and chin. Treatment plans look different too.

    Hormonal acne typically appears along the jawline, chin, and lower face. It often flares in a predictable cycle — the week before menstruation is the classic pattern. It's deeper, more inflammatory, and slower to resolve than other forms. Your provider can help map the pattern and decide whether topicals alone will be enough.

    Acne-specific facials with extractions, HydraFacial for congestion, blue light LED therapy to help target acne-causing bacteria, and VI Peel® treatments can all play a role depending on the type and severity of acne. For deeper cystic or persistent acne, your provider may recommend partnering with a dermatologist for prescription treatment before addressing lingering acne marks or scarring.

    It depends on the scar type. Microneedling — often paired with PRF — is the workhorse for atrophic and rolling scars. Chemical peels work on textured surface scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Lasers can address deeper scarring with more downtime. For individual deep scars, filler may be the right call. Most guests need a combination plan, not one treatment.

    Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the dark marks) often fades within a few months with topical brighteners and SPF. True textural scarring takes longer and requires in-office work — a series of three to six microneedling sessions, sometimes a laser series on top, sometimes filler for individual deep scars. Realistic timeline for visible change is six to twelve months.

    Salicylic acid for surface congestion. Retinoids for turnover and prevention. Azelaic acid for inflammation and post-inflammatory marks. Benzoyl peroxide for bacteria — used carefully, can be drying. Niacinamide for overall calm. Hormonal acne sometimes needs prescription support. Your provider will build the routine that fits your skin, not push the most products.

  • Qurat K. Austin, TX
  • “I've also started acne targeting facials here that have drastically improved my skin. Each specialist I've seen has done an outstanding job and has gone out of their way to provide recommendations to help me with my skin on a day-to-day level.”
  • Lauren R. Los Angeles, CA
  • “I had a BBL + Moxi and was very impressed by the knowledge, training, listening to my needs, and the thoroughness of the treatment. Multiple passes and settings were adjusted so I could get the best results.”
  • Patricia C. Austin, TX
  • “I am a 30-year veteran of all things for skincare, laser, peels, and fillers. I have lived in NYC, Chicago, and LA and these professionals know how to take care of people. We did Sculptra and a Precision Peel and set me up with a future BBL - she listened to my concerns and knew exactly what I needed.”
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  • Our Providers

    advanced practitioners
you can trust

    Our medSPA team is made up of highly trained, advanced practitioners chosen for both their clinical expertise and their thoughtful approach to care. With experience you can trust and a commitment to natural, well-considered results, you’re supported every step of the way.

    find your provider

  • The Ultimate Guide to Laser Skin Resurfacing

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reward your self-care

Save up to 20% on services while depositing monthly into your personal Wellness Bank — making premium medSPA treatments more affordable and easier to plan.

become a member

Medical services are provided inside of milk + honey spa locations by Caroline Clark, M.D. and Sanjay Sharma, M.D. in Texas, by Daniel Gould, M.D. in CA, and by Elysa Fisher, M.D. in Illinois (milk + honey provides administrative and management services). A consultation with a licensed medical professional is required prior to treatment. Results are not guaranteed and may vary by individual.