ADVANCED TREATMENT · SKIN RITUAL
Aerolase for
acne scarring
$550 per session | 10% off bundles of 4+
Aerolase Neo Elite laser targets the three main types of post-acne marking — dark pigmentation, red marks, and the collagen loss that causes textural scarring. Safe for all skin tones. No downtime.
RED SCARS
PIGMENTED SCARS
INDENTED SCARS
When a breakout clears, it often leaves something behind. The blemish is gone - but the skin is marked. Sometimes that mark is dark pigmentation. Sometimes it's a pink or red patch. Sometimes it's a physical depression or texture change in the skin. Often it's a combination of all three.
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These are distinct conditions, each with a different cause and a different treatment response. Understanding which type of scarring you have - and why - is the foundation of treating it effectively. At Skin Ritual, we assess your scarring before recommending a protocol, and tailor the treatment approach to what your skin actually needs.
WHAT IT IS
What is acne scarring?
Post-acne scarring refers to the marks and changes that remain on the skin after an acne breakout has resolved. There are three main types: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which appears as dark or brown marks; post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), which appears as pink or red marks; and atrophic scarring, which refers to physical depressions or texture changes caused by collagen loss during the healing process.
Aerolase Neo Elite laser is effective for treating PIH and PIE, and can also support collagen stimulation in atrophic scarring - particularly when combined with SkinPen microneedling. Treatment is available at Skin Ritual in Newmarket, Auckland, at $550 per session.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCARRING
Not all post-acne marks are the same.
PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation)
PIH appears as dark, brown, or discoloured marks on the skin following a breakout. It is caused by an overproduction of melanin during the skin's healing response - the skin produces too much pigment in the affected area, leaving a dark mark after the acne resolves.
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PIH is more common in medium to deeper skin tones but can affect any skin type. It is not a true scar - it is a pigmentation issue, and it can be treated effectively with laser. It typically fades over time on its own, but treatment significantly accelerates that process.
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Aerolase targets the excess melanin in the skin, breaking it down so the body can clear it naturally. Results are progressive and build over a course of sessions.
PIE (Post-Inflammatory Erythema)
PIE appears as pink, red, or purple marks on the skin following a breakout. It is caused by dilated or damaged blood vessels in the dermis - the inflammation of an acne lesion disrupts the capillaries in the surrounding skin, leaving a vascular mark after the acne resolves.
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PIE is more common in fair or vascular-prone skin types. Like PIH, it is not a true scar - it is a vascular issue, and it responds well to laser treatment targeting blood vessels.
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Aerolase absorbs into the haemoglobin in the damaged capillaries, causing them to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body - reducing the pink or red colour progressively over a course of sessions.
ATROPHIC SCARRING
Atrophic, aka indented acne scars
Atrophic scars are physical depressions in the skin - the pitted, uneven texture that results when the skin loses collagen during the healing process. Unlike PIH and PIE, atrophic scars are structural changes to the skin, not pigmentation or vascular issues.
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Aerolase supports the treatment of atrophic scarring by stimulating collagen production in the dermis - which can improve the appearance of surface texture over a course of treatments. However, for meaningful improvement of atrophic scars, the most effective approach is SkinPen microneedling - either as a standalone treatment, or in combination with Aerolase.
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The combination of Aerolase and SkinPen is the most comprehensive approach available for post-acne scarring - Aerolase addresses the pigmentation and redness while SkinPen drives collagen remodelling at the structural level. It is also the most significant investment. Your therapist will discuss which approach is most appropriate for your skin at your consultation.
WHO IT HELPS
Aerolase is ideal for...
01
DARK MARKS AFTER BREAKOUTS (PIH)
Brown or discoloured patches that linger after acne resolves. Aerolase laser targets excess melanin.
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ALL SKIN TONES
Aerolase is safe for all skin tones, including medium to deep skin tones where traditional lasers carry a risk of worsening pigmentation.
02
RED OR PINK MARKS AFTER BREAKOUTS (PIE)
Vascular redness left behind after inflammation. Responds well to Aerolase's haemoglobin-targeting mechanism.
04
ZERO DOWNTIME
Aerolase produces no visible recovery period. You can return to your normal routine immediately after treatment, in contrast to other scar revision treatments.
HOW IT WORKS
The science behind Aerolase
1
Laser delivery
The Aerolase Neo Elite delivers 1064nm laser energy into the skin at an ultra-fast 650-microsecond pulse duration. This speed is critical - it allows the laser to target the pigment or vasculature precisely without generating the heat buildup that causes side effects in traditional lasers.
2
Pigment and vascular clearance
For PIH: laser energy is absorbed by excess melanin, breaking down pigment clusters so the body can clear them naturally over the weeks following treatment. For PIE: laser energy is absorbed by haemoglobin in the dilated capillaries, causing them to collapse and be reabsorbed.
3
Progressive improvement
Results develop progressively over the days and weeks following each session as the body clears treated pigment and vessels. A course of 4-6 sessions is typically recommended, spaced according to your therapist's assessment.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
What you can expect from the Aerolase treatment
Results depend on skin type, skin concern, and consistency with your prescribed homecare. These are the outcomes most clients experience when they follow the skin therapist guidance.
Fading dark marks
PIH fades progressively over a course of sessions as treated melanin is cleared by the body.
Collagen stimulation
Laser energy stimulates new collagen production, contributing to gradual improvement in skin texture and firmness.
Reduced redness
PIE clears as treated capillaries collapse and are reabsorbed - skin tone becomes more even and less red
Safe for all skin tones
No risk of worsening pigmentation or post-treatment discolouration, even in medium to deep skin tones.
Improved skin clarity
Overall skin clarity and evenness improves as both pigmentation and redness reduce over time.
No downtime
Return to your normal routine immediately. No peeling, no redness, no recovery period required.
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"Great clinic with highly personalised and attentive service. Tanya has been my skin therapist for the last 12+ months and she is amazing at what she does! V knowledgeable and isn’t out to sell you things you don’t need. I definitely look forward to my monthly appointments and since going to Skin Ritual I’ve been able to follow a super low maintenance skincare regime and leave the rest to the experts :)"
- Mariam T, Skin Ritual Client
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
READY TO START?
Book your treatment today
Post-acne scarring is treatable - the right approach depends on understanding exactly what type of scarring you have. Book a consultation at Skin Ritual and leave with a clear protocol for your skin.
09 558 1714 · info@skinritual.co.nz · 3C Short Street, Newmarket