Blog
Jun 2026
Acne Awareness Month: Could Alma Be the Missing Piece in Your Acne Treatment Plan?
For many people, acne is not just a teenage concern. We regularly see adults in clinic who are still experiencing breakouts in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond, often alongside the lasting effects that acne leaves behind.
While active acne can be frustrating enough, the marks, redness, pigmentation and scarring that remain afterwards can sometimes have an even greater impact on confidence.
Acne Awareness Month is an ideal time to look beyond skincare products and explore the treatment options available today. One of the most versatile technologies we use at Dr Liesel Holler Medical Aesthetics is the Alma Harmony XL Pro, a platform that allows us to treat active acne, post-inflammatory pigmentation, redness, textural concerns and acne scarring using different treatment modalities tailored to the individual.
The key word there is tailored. Acne can present very differently from person to person, which is why successful treatment usually starts with understanding exactly what is driving the problem.
Why does acne often persist despite good skincare?
One of the most common conversations we have in clinic begins with a patient saying:
“I’ve tried everything.”
They have invested in skincare, followed advice online, changed products multiple times and often spent years trying to manage breakouts themselves.
The challenge is that acne is rarely caused by a single factor. Hormones, genetics, inflammation, excess oil production, skin barrier dysfunction and lifestyle factors can all play a role. Some patients experience predominantly inflammatory acne, while others are more concerned about congestion, pigmentation or the scars left behind after previous breakouts.
This is why treatment selection matters. For milder cases, we would usually start by reviewing skincare, identifying potential triggers and supporting overall skin health. However, when acne becomes persistent or begins leaving marks and scars, technology-based treatments often become an important part of the treatment plan.
What is the Alma Harmony XL Pro?
The Alma Harmony XL Pro is a multi-platform laser and light system designed to address a wide range of skin concerns, including acne, acne scarring, pigmentation, redness and signs of skin ageing.
What makes the platform particularly useful is its versatility. Rather than relying on a single technology, different handpieces can be used depending on the patient’s skin condition, skin type and treatment goals.
At Dr Liesel Holler Medical Aesthetics, the Alma Harmony XL Pro allows us to create more personalised treatment plans because we can address multiple aspects of acne simultaneously rather than focusing on only one concern.
Can Alma treat active acne?
One of the treatment options within the Alma platform is ClearSkin, a targeted acne treatment designed to reduce active breakouts, calm inflammation and improve post-acne scarring by working beneath the surface of the skin.
Active acne is often driven by ongoing inflammation within the skin. When treating active acne, our goal is not simply to dry out the skin or temporarily suppress symptoms. Rather, we want to help reduce inflammation, improve the skin environment and minimise the likelihood of future breakouts.
In clinic we often see patients who are caught in a cycle where breakouts lead to picking, picking leads to inflammation, and inflammation leads to pigmentation and scarring. Breaking that cycle early can make a significant difference to long-term skin health.
What about acne scars?
Acne scars are one of the most common reasons patients seek treatment long after their active acne has improved.
Unlike pigmentation or redness, true acne scars involve structural changes within the skin. This means topical products alone are often unable to produce meaningful improvement.
The type of scar also matters. Some scars are shallow and textural, while others are deeper and more tethered beneath the skin.
For patients with acne scarring, one of the Alma treatment options we commonly consider is iPixel. iPixel is a fractional resurfacing laser designed to improve acne scarring, uneven texture and skin quality by stimulating controlled skin renewal and collagen production.
By creating controlled micro-injury within the skin, the treatment encourages the body’s natural repair processes. Over time, this helps remodel existing scar tissue and improve overall skin texture.
In more advanced cases, we would normally look at combining treatments rather than relying on a single approach.
Why combination treatments often produce the best results
One of the biggest shifts within aesthetic medicine over the last few years has been the move towards regenerative treatment plans.
Rather than focusing on one isolated concern, we increasingly combine treatments that support the skin’s ability to repair and regenerate itself.
For acne scarring, this can be particularly valuable.
Depending on the severity of the scarring and the condition of the skin, treatment plans may combine Alma technologies with regenerative treatments such as:
Each works slightly differently and may be recommended at different stages of treatment.
MCT Exosomes and PRP focus on supporting cellular repair and regeneration, while microneedling can stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture. PRP is also used for acne scarring and recessed marks where tissue regeneration is beneficial.
Rexonage®3 takes a different approach by promoting regeneration while supporting the skin’s natural healing processes. The treatment has become increasingly popular for post-acne repair and scarring because it focuses on improving skin quality without creating additional inflammation.
Can Alma help with acne marks and pigmentation?
Pigmentation appears as brown, red or purple marks left behind after a breakout has healed. Although frustrating, these marks are generally easier to treat than true scars.
Within the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform, treatments such as ClearLift and BBL DyeVL can be used to improve pigmentation, redness and overall skin tone. This is often where treatment plans become highly personalised. Some patients primarily need help controlling active acne. Others have relatively clear skin but remain bothered by redness, pigmentation or uneven texture.
Understanding which issue is causing the greatest concern helps guide treatment selection.
Why professional assessment matters
Acne is one of the most common skin concerns we treat, but it is also one of the most misunderstood.
Two patients can present with what appears to be similar acne and require completely different treatment plans. This is why consultation remains such an important part of the process.
At Dr Liesel Holler Medical Aesthetics, treatment recommendations are based on a thorough assessment of the skin, your concerns and your long-term goals. Rather than pushing a single treatment, the focus is always on finding the safest and most effective approach for your individual skin.
FAQs
Is Alma Harmony XL Pro suitable for active acne?
Yes. The ClearSkin treatment within the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform is specifically designed to help reduce active acne, calm inflammation and improve post-acne concerns.
Can Alma remove acne scars completely?
No treatment can guarantee complete scar removal. However, treatments such as iPixel and Rexonage can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars, texture and skin quality.
What is the difference between acne scars and acne marks?
Acne marks are usually pigmentation or redness left after a breakout. Acne scars involve structural changes within the skin and often require collagen-stimulating treatments to improve.
Can Alma be combined with microneedling or PRP?
Yes. Combination treatments are often recommended because they can address multiple aspects of skin repair and regeneration simultaneously.
Is Alma suitable for adult acne?
Yes. We frequently treat adult acne patients who are experiencing hormonal breakouts, persistent inflammation or post-acne pigmentation.
How soon will I see results?
Some patients notice improvements within a few weeks, while collagen remodelling and scar improvement can continue developing over several months.
Taking the Next Step
If Acne Awareness Month has prompted you to finally address persistent acne, acne scarring or post-acne pigmentation, a professional consultation can help clarify which treatment options are most appropriate for your skin.
Dr Liesel Holler Medical Aesthetics offers personalised acne and skin rejuvenation treatments from our Chislehurst clinic in Bromley and Harley Street location in London. Whether your concern is active acne, lingering redness, pigmentation or established acne scarring, we can create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your skin and your goals.
Book a consultation today to discover how Alma Harmony XL Pro and our regenerative treatment options could help you achieve clearer, healthier-looking skin.
