Guided acne control & clearing program for adults and teens
Acne is one of the most common skin concerns, affecting more than 50 million Americans and over 80% of teenagers at some point in their lives. While many people think of acne as a teenage issue, it can continue well into adulthood, especially for women, showing up in the twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond.
And acne is more than “just breakouts.” It can affect your confidence, your comfort in your own skin, and in some cases, leave behind lasting pigmentation or scarring. By the time many clients find me, they have already tried countless drugstore products, department store skincare, online acne systems, prescriptions, dermatologist visits, and harsh treatments, often with little improvement or only temporary results.
As an Acne Specialist with years of experience working with acne-prone and troubled skin, I understand how frustrating and emotional this journey can be. My goal is to help take the guesswork out of acne care and guide you toward a clearer, healthier complexion.
While there is no permanent “cure” for acne, it can be successfully managed with the right combination of professional guidance including customized home care, in-office treatments, and lifestyle support. My approach is holistic, meaning we look beyond the surface of your skin and consider your unique biology, triggers, lifestyle, habits, and overall needs.
There is no one-size-fits-all acne solution. Your acne program is customized specifically for your skin using clinical-grade Face Reality products selected for your type of acne and sensitivity level, ensuring that we make progress without compromising the health of your skin. Paired with consistent in-office treatments every two to four weeks, this approach helps speed the clearing process and keeps your skin moving in the right direction.
Throughout your program, I monitor your progress closely and make adjustments as needed so you feel supported every step of the way. Think of me as your clear-skin coach! I’m here to help educate and guide you on the path to better skin.
Before starting the acne program, it is important that you know what to expect so you can make an informed decision for yourself or your teen. This is a guided, results-focused program, and your success depends heavily on consistency, commitment, and following the plan as directed.
My acne program has a strong success rate in clearing and managing acne when clients fully participate in the process. While I will guide you every step of the way, clear skin is truly a partnership and your home care, lifestyle choices, and consistency matter.
Once your skin is clear, you will move into a maintenance phase. This means continuing with your recommended home care routine to help keep your skin clear. Some clients also choose to come in every few months for maintenance treatments which include deep cleansing, exfoliation and extractions.
A note for parents of teens:
As heartbreaking as it can be to watch your child struggle with acne, it is important to be realistic about their readiness to commit. Some teens may not yet be willing or able to follow a twice-daily routine, adjust pore-clogging products, reduce acne-triggering habits, or attend regular treatment visits. When home care is skipped or recommendations are not followed, clearing will be limited.
The program works when the plan is followed. Clients who have struggled with acne for years often say the commitment was worth it for the confidence and increased self-esteem that comes with feeling more comfortable in their skin.
In this in-depth consultation we will review your history including past treatment attempts, diet and lifestyle, current skin care and makeup products. We’ll review the program requirements and advise on the changes you need to make to start on the path to clear skin. If you choose to start the program we will create a customized treatment plan and starter kit of products (you will need to purchase separately) as well as a folder outlining the full program with a detailed daily regimen, pore clogging list, and comprehensive diet and lifestyle information.
A full consultation plus a treatment at the same visit. We’ll complete the Consultation plus an acne treatment with exfoliation and extractions to jump start clearing your skin.
*Must be off of Accutane/oral Isotretinoin for at least 90 days prior to all skin treatments. Must be off of Retinoids and Antibacterial/Antibiotics such as Retin-A/tretinoin, Differin, Tazorac, Azelex, Avita, Cleocin-T, E-mycin-T, Clindamycin for at least two weeks prior to treatments.
For clients who have completed a Consultation visit and enrolled in the program. New clients should schedule treatments every two to three weeks until skin is clear enough to allow additional weeks between appointments. We analyze your skin’s current condition and progress then perform an exfoliating treatment with extractions to remove impurities and deep clean pores. We’ll also discuss your home care regimen, current lifestyle factors and any challenges and make adjustments each visit to keep you progressing towards clear skin.
For most people, acne is an inherited condition of the pores. When someone is acne-prone, their pores shed dead skin cells much faster than normal.
A healthy pore sheds about one layer of dead skin cells per day. An acne-prone pore can shed up to five layers of dead skin cells per day. When this happens, the pore cannot keep up with clearing out the excess skin cells. This process is called retention hyperkeratosis, which means dead skin cells are shedding faster than the pore can naturally release them.
his first picture is of a normal healthy pore.
As these dead skin cells build up inside the pore, they become sticky and begin to form a plug. This tiny plug is called a microcomedone, and it is the beginning stage of almost all acne.
Hormonal fluctuations can also trigger the skin to produce more oil. Oil production itself is not always a problem, but when excess dead skin cells are already clogging the pore, that oil becomes trapped. This creates the ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive.
This is an important distinction: bacteria is not usually the original cause of acne. It is part of what happens after the pore becomes clogged.
From there, acne can develop in different ways.
If the clogged pore does not become inflamed, it may become a closed comedone, commonly known as a whitehead. This is a non-inflamed bump that sits under the surface of the skin.
If the pore remains open, the plug may become an open comedone, commonly known as a blackhead. The dark color of a blackhead is not dirt. It happens when the material inside the pore is exposed to oxygen and oxidizes.
As oil and dead skin cells continue to build up, they can create pressure inside the pore. If that pressure becomes too much, the wall of the pore can rupture, allowing the contents to leak into the surrounding skin. This triggers inflammation and creates the red, tender bump we recognize as a pimple. The medical term for this is an inflammatory papule.
A pustule is similar to a papule, but it contains pus. This happens when the immune system responds to the inflammation and white blood cells collect inside the pore.
Deeper, more painful inflamed lesions can also form. These are known as nodules or cysts. Nodules are firm, inflamed lesions that develop deeper within the skin, while cysts are deeper, pus-filled lesions that can be very tender. Both can be more difficult to treat and are more likely to leave scarring or lingering marks if not managed properly.
The key takeaway is this: acne is primarily a pore-clogging condition that begins with excess dead skin cell buildup. Most forms of acne start with microcomedones before they ever become visible breakouts.
That is why the right home care routine is so important. Effective acne management focuses on keeping the pores clear, reducing buildup, supporting healthy cell turnover, and preventing microcomedones from forming in the first place.
In-office treatments help to speed the clearing process, but what you do at home every day is what creates lasting change. With the right products, consistency, lifestyle support, and professional guidance, acne can be managed and your skin can become clearer, calmer, and healthier over time.
Isla Esthetics is not a medical clinic, and we do not have physicians or nurses on staff. Services are provided by a Licensed Master Esthetician licensed by the State of Washington, with specialized training and experience in acne-prone skin.
While medical care has an important place, this acne program offers a different kind of support: more time, more education, more consistency, and a highly personalized approach to helping you manage your skin.
At Isla Esthetics, we are able to spend more time with you, listen carefully to your concerns, and evaluate your skin at each visit. I look at how your skin is responding, how your home care is working, and whether any adjustments are needed along the way.
My approach is rooted in education, consistency, and guidance. You are not handed a product and left to figure it out on your own. Instead, you are coached through each step of the process, from understanding your acne triggers to building a home care routine that supports your skin without unnecessary irritation.
I stay current with acne education, pore-clogging ingredients, professional treatment options, and effective non-prescription acne products. My goal is to help you get clear using a thoughtful, customized program that does not rely on prescription medications.
I also understand how emotional acne can be. Clients often come to me feeling frustrated, discouraged, or overwhelmed by everything they have already tried. You can expect compassion, honesty, straightforward guidance, and a close working relationship throughout your acne journey.
Most importantly, my system is designed to help you get clear while keeping your skin as healthy and balanced as possible. Clearing acne does not have to mean constantly living with painfully dry, irritated, or inflamed skin. With the right support, your skin can improve in a way that feels manageable, sustainable, and supported.
Your acne consultation is where we take a deeper look at your skin, your history, and the factors that may be contributing to your breakouts. This appointment allows me to create a customized acne plan designed specifically for your skin.
During your consultation, we will:
If your consultation includes a treatment the same day, your acne treatment may include deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions as needed, and calming repair support for the skin.
Before you leave, we will schedule your next treatment appointments so we can keep your progress consistent.
The initial consultation and acne treatment appointment is typically scheduled for approximately 90 minutes. Follow-up acne appointments are usually scheduled for about 45 minutes. As your skin begins to clear and fewer extractions are needed, your appointments may become shorter.
At each acne treatment, we begin by evaluating your skin’s current condition, progress, sensitivity, and what your skin needs that day. From there, your treatment is customized to support clearing while keeping your skin as calm and balanced as possible.
Depending on your skin, we may perform a very mild chemical peel or use a gentle enzyme with steam to exfoliate the skin and help soften clogged, sluggish pores. These treatments are generally well tolerated and are not intended to cause heavy visible peeling. In some cases, you may experience very mild flaking or dryness afterward.
After exfoliation, we perform extractions to clear existing acne impactions from the pores. For most clients, extractions are very tolerable, though they can feel slightly uncomfortable at times. Your comfort is always kept in mind, and we will check in with you throughout the treatment.
Extractions are an important part of the clearing process because they help remove the current congestion already present in the skin. Your home care products then work to help prevent new clogged pores and breakouts from forming.
It is important to understand that acne can take up to 90 days to form and reach the surface. Because of this, you may still experience breakouts during the first few months of the program. This is sometimes referred to as “purging,” but it is often simply old congestion making its way to the surface. During your regular treatments, we continue clearing these impactions while your home care routine helps stop new ones from developing.
Once we begin breaking the cycle of old acne surfacing and new acne forming, the skin starts to clear more consistently. From there, we can shift focus toward concerns such as leftover dark marks, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, and acne scarring.
Most clients experience some redness for a few hours after extractions, which is completely normal. For this reason, I recommend avoiding acne treatments within 24 hours of a special event, photos, or an occasion where you want your skin to look its calmest.
Yes. Using the recommended home care products is an essential part of the acne program.
There are many skincare, makeup, hair care, and body care products on the market that contain pore-clogging ingredients, and formulas can change at any time. Because acne is already challenging enough to manage, we want to eliminate as many outside variables as possible.
For the best results, you will be asked to use only the products recommended for your acne program. This allows us to know exactly what is being used on your skin and helps us determine whether your routine needs to be adjusted as your skin progresses. If outside products are being used, it becomes much harder to know whether they may be contributing to breakouts, irritation, or delayed results.
Acne management requires consistency. You will need to continue using acne-safe products to keep your skin clear until your skin naturally stops producing acne, and unfortunately, there is no way to predict exactly when that will happen.
Some people eventually outgrow acne or experience improvement due to changes in hormones, stress, lifestyle, or other internal factors. Until then, the goal is to manage acne with the right products, professional guidance, and a routine that helps keep your pores clear and your skin as healthy as possible.
Purchasing skincare through your local Esthetician gives you something online shopping cannot: professional guidance, customization, and ongoing support.
When you buy products online, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by reviews, trends, influencer recommendations, and “viral” products that may not actually be right for your skin. What works beautifully for one person may trigger breakouts, irritation, dryness, or inflammation for someone else.
When you purchase products through Isla Esthetics, your routine is chosen specifically for your skin type, skin goals, acne type, sensitivity level, and current treatment plan. You are not guessing – you are using products selected with intention and monitored as your skin changes.
Another important reason to purchase from your esthetician is product integrity. Professional skincare products sold through authorized providers are more likely to be fresh, properly stored, and authentic. Products found on third-party marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart, Tiktok Shop etc) may be expired, diverted, improperly stored, counterfeit, or no longer supported by the manufacturer.
Buying from your Esthetician also means you have someone to turn to if your skin changes, if you are unsure how to use something, or if your routine needs to be adjusted. Skincare is not one-size-fits-all, and your products should evolve with your skin.
Your purchase also supports a local small business and a real person in your community – not a warehouse or random online reseller. More importantly, it keeps your skincare connected to your professional treatment plan, helping you get better results from both your home care and your in-studio services.
The goal is not to sell you more products. The goal is to make sure you are using the right products, in the right way, at the right time – so your skin has the best chance to become clear, healthy, balanced, and supported.
For clients who live close enough to the studio, in-person acne treatments are highly recommended. Regular in-office treatments are the fastest and most effective way to support the clearing process because they allow us to perform professional exfoliation, extractions, and skin evaluations while closely monitoring how your home care routine is working.
These appointments also give us the opportunity to make timely adjustments to your products and treatment plan, helping you stay on track and progress as efficiently as possible.
Virtual acne support may be available for clients who are unable to come into the studio regularly, such as those who have moved away, gone off to college, or need continued support to maintain their results. In these cases, we schedule a phone call or Zoom consultation, review follow-up photos, and ask for regular updates so we can continue guiding your home care routine.
Recommended skincare products can be shipped directly to you, allowing you to stay consistent with your acne program even from a distance.
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