ACNE • DARK MARKS • ACNE SCARS
Acne & Acne Scar Treatment in Nairobi
Clear the breakouts. Treat what they leave behind.
Acne can leave more than active breakouts. Persistent pigmentation, redness, uneven texture and true acne scars may remain long after the acne itself has settled.
At Vital Skin Kenya, we first identify what we're treating—active acne, post-acne marks, acne scarring, or a combination—before creating your treatment plan.
Know what you are Treating
ACNE, DARK MARKS, ACNE SCARS:
They aren't the same thing!
POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION
Dark marks left behind after inflammation or injury to the skin, commonly following acne.
ACNE SCARRING
Patchy pigmentation often appearing across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip and influenced by multiple factors including hormones and sun exposure.
ACTIVE ACNE
Arears where the acne is actively going on.
POST-INFLAMMATORY ERYTHEMA (PIE)
Red, pink or reddish-purple marks that remain after acne or inflammation has healed, caused by changes to small blood vessels near the skin’s surface.
Correct identification matters.
Dark marks can fade without ever treating the skin in the long run. True acne scars involve structural changes in the skin and usually require a different treatment strategy.
NOT ALL ACNE SCARS ARE THE SAME
Your scar type determines your treatment
ICE PICKS SCARS
Deep, narrow scars that extend into the skin and resemble small punctures.
BOXCAR SCARS
Patchy pigmentation often appearing across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip and influenced by multiple factors including hormones and sun exposure.
ROLLING SCARS
Broad, shallow depressions that create an uneven or wave-like appearance across the skin.
Many clients have more than one scar type, which is why combination treatment may be necessary.
THE VITAL SKIN APPROACH
We don't start by attacking the scars
01 — CONTROL
Address active acne and ongoing inflammation first. Continually forming new breakouts means continually creating new marks and potentially new scars.
02 — CORRECT
Once acne is sufficiently controlled, we can begin targeting persistent PIH, PIE and uneven tone where appropriate.
03 — REMODEL
Structural acne scars require treatments designed to stimulate controlled skin repair and collagen remodelling.
04 — MAINTAIN
Homecare, sun protection and ongoing acne management help protect your progress and reduce new post-acne marks.
ACNE SCAR TREATMENTS
Treatments selected for your skin and scar type
ADVANCED MICRONEEDLING
Controlled micro-injury stimulates the skin's natural repair response and collagen production, helping improve selected atrophic acne scars, texture and overall skin quality.
TCA CROSS PEEL
A highly targeted technique in which TCA is carefully applied directly into selected depressed acne scars to stimulate remodelling from within.
Particularly relevant for ice-pick and selected narrow/deeper scars.
COMBINATION TREATMENT
One treatment doesn't have to do everything.
A client with active acne, PIH and ice-pick scars has three different concerns occurring at the same time.
Trying to solve all three with one procedure is usually unrealistic.
Your treatment plan may therefore progress through different treatments as your skin change.
Our service flow would be:
CONTROL ACNE
↓
REDUCE POST-ACNE MARKS
↓
TARGET STRUCTURAL SCARRING
↓
MAINTAIN RESULTS
CO2 LASER
Fractional CO₂ laser creates controlled microscopic treatment zones in the skin, stimulating collagen remodelling and renewal. It may be used to improve atrophic acne scars, uneven texture and overall skin quality, particularly where more intensive resurfacing is appropriate.
ACNE SCAR TREATMENTS
Acne scar improvement takes time.
Results vary depending on scar type, depth, treatment selection, skin response and consistency. Significant acne scarring commonly requires a series of treatments rather than a single session.
FAQ
Can acne scars be completely removed?
Usually, the realistic goal is significant improvement rather than complete removal. Treatment aims to soften scar depth, improve texture and make scars less noticeable.
Should I treat my acne or my scars first?
Active inflammatory acne usually needs to be controlled before intensive scar-remodelling treatments begin.
How many acne scar treatments will I need?
It depends on the type and depth of your scars, treatment selected and your individual response. Acne scar correction is generally a treatment series rather than a one-session procedure.
Does microneedling treat all acne scars?
No. Different scar structures respond differently. Deeper or narrow scars may benefit from more targeted approaches or combination treatment.
What is TCA CROSS?
TCA CROSS is a targeted technique where a high-strength acid is carefully placed into selected depressed acne scars to trigger controlled repair and remodelling.
Can dark skin be treated for acne scars?
Yes, but treatment selection, intensity, preparation and aftercare are particularly important because melanated skin can be more prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation following irritation or injury.
Still dealing with what acne left behind?
You don't need to know whether it's pigmentation, PIE or true scarring before you book. That's our job.
We'll assess your active acne, marks, scar patterns and treatment history before recommending the appropriate next step.
Vital Skin Kenya
Diamond Plaza, Parklands, Nairobi