Acne is one of the most common skin issues people face — but for many, it’s only half the battle. Once pimples or cysts fade, what’s often left behind are stubborn dark marks, uneven tone, texture changes, and lingering scars. For individuals with melanin-rich or ethnic skin, these post-acne marks frequently worsen after aggressive treatments, leading to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) or even deeper skin damage.
At Luxe Beauty & Wellness Spa in Mississauga, we turn to Aerolase Neo Elite as a comprehensive solution, capable of tackling both active acne and its aftermath — clearing blemishes, calming inflammation, reducing pigmentation, and improving skin tone and texture, all while prioritizing safety for darker skin tones.
The Neo Elite uses a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser with a 650-microsecond pulse technology — a specific combination that allows deep dermal penetration to target the root causes of acne while minimizing thermal stress at the surface. This makes it uniquely effective in treating acne and post-acne pigmentation on all skin types, including Fitzpatrick IV–VI, without the high risk of pigment shift common with old-school lasers.
How Neo Elite Tackles Acne — From Breakouts to Long-Term Clarity
Acne is driven by a combination of factors: overproduction of sebum, clogged pores, bacterial overgrowth (especially Cutibacterium acnes), inflammation, and sometimes changes in hormones or lifestyle. Traditional topical treatments — creams, peels, antibiotics — often address only one or two of these triggers and may take weeks or months to show results. Laser therapy historically carried risks for darker skin tones, but Neo Elite changes the landscape.
Its 650-microsecond pulses offer enough energy to:
• Reduce sebum production by heating and inhibiting sebaceous glands
• Destroy acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation
• Calm vascular components that fuel redness and irritation
• Stimulate collagen remodeling to begin healing deeper acne damage
Clinical data support Neo Elite’s effectiveness. In studies on 225 patients with mild to severe facial acne, including patients with skin of colour, treatment with the 650-microsecond 1064 nm laser led to marked improvements in acne severity, with results remaining stable at a six-month follow-up. Researchers observed a dramatic reduction in lesions, with many patients reaching a status of “almost clear.”
At Luxe, this means we are not only offering clients a chance to clear active breakouts, but also preventing future lesions — while avoiding the side effects and compliance challenges often associated with long courses of topical or oral medications.
Addressing Post-Acne Pigmentation: PIH and Pigment-Driven Marks
One of the hardest parts of dealing with acne is what comes after — dark spots, uneven tone, and pigmentation that lingers long after the blemish is gone. For many clients with darker skin, these marks are not just cosmetic — they affect confidence and self-perception.
Neo Elite offers a unique advantage because its wavelength and pulse parameters target melanin and vascular elements deep in the dermis, helping to break down excess pigment and calm inflammation without damaging the epidermis.
Unlike aggressive resurfacing lasers or chemical peels — which can risk post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin — Neo Elite’s contact-free, non-ablative delivery allows pigment correction with minimal downtime, low risk, and better tolerance. Many practitioners and patients report visible fading of dark marks, improved evenness of tone, and reduction of redness and scarring after a series of Neo Elite treatments.
Why Neo Elite Works for All Skin Types — Especially Ethnic and Melanin-Rich Skin
The key to treating acne and pigmentation safely on darker skin is minimizing thermal damage, avoiding surface trauma, and targeting pigment and inflammation at their source. Neo Elite’s 1064 nm wavelength penetrates deeply, while the 650-microsecond pulse reduces heat accumulation at the surface, helping prevent burns, pigment rebound, or post-laser complications.
Because of this, Neo Elite is considered one of the safest laser modalities for Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI. Clinics around the world have adopted it for acne clearance, pigmentation correction, rosacea, vascular issues, and general skin rejuvenation with high success rates and low adverse events.
At Luxe, we combine Neo Elite with a comprehensive skincare and aftercare plan tailored for melanin-rich skin, including gentle cleansing, barrier repair, sun protection, and pigment-sensitive skincare, to maximize results and minimize risk.
What to Expect at Luxe: Protocol, Comfort, and Results
When you book a Neo Elite acne and pigmentation treatment at Luxe Beauty & Wellness Spa, the experience is designed to be efficient, comfortable, and effective.
Your session begins with cleansing and preparation to ensure the skin is balanced. Clients usually describe the sensation as mild warmth or soft pulses rather than burning. The treatment is contact-free and gentle on the surface. Most sessions last between 50 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the delivery is non-ablative, downtime is minimal, and you can often return to normal activities right away.
Following treatment, we recommend a soothing, pigment-safe skincare regimen, broad-spectrum sunscreen, and avoidance of harsh actives or exfoliants. Over the course of several sessions, usually spaced two to four weeks apart, you should begin to see reduced breakouts, clearer tone, fading of dark marks, smoother texture, and overall improvement in skin health and appearance. Many clients see marked improvement in acne and pigmentation within three to six months, with long-term benefits in skin clarity, tone, and resilience.
Why Luxe Beauty & Wellness Spa Is the Right Choice for This Treatment
At Luxe, we specialize in treating melanin-rich and ethnic skin. We understand the unique challenges and risks older lasers pose for darker tones, and we only use advanced, clinically validated technologies like Neo Elite that are proven safe and effective across all skin types.
Our approach is holistic. We do not simply perform a laser session and send you out the door. We take time to analyze your skin condition, history of acne and pigmentation, skin sensitivity, triggers, lifestyle factors, and healing tendencies. We build a tailored plan with realistic expectations around the number of sessions, aftercare, and maintenance to maximize results while protecting skin health.
If you have struggled with acne and pigmentation, tried creams, peels, or other laser treatments that did not deliver — or worsened pigmentation — Neo Elite offers a new path. At Luxe Beauty & Wellness Spa, we are safeguarding skin tones, healing skin with precision, and building confidence through transformation.
If you are ready to reclaim clarity, even tone, and skin that feels balanced and healthy again, contact Luxe Beauty & Wellness Spa in Mississauga to book your consultation. We will guide you through every step.