Practical Algorithm for Acne Treatment Integrating Skincare and Energy-Based Devices

February 2026 | Volume 25 | Issue 2 | 111 | Copyright © February 2026


Published online January 31, 2026

Jill S. Waibel MD FACS FAADa, Glynis Ablon MDb, Anneke Andriessen PhDc, Vanja Adzovic PharmDd, Vivian Bucay MDe, Zoe Draelos MDf, Julie Harper MDg, Peter Bjerring MDh, Patricia Brieva PhDi, Ryan De Cruz MDj, Jihee Kim MD PhDk, Ted Lain MDl, Miguel Sanchez Viera MDm, Chen Feng Zhang MDn

aDepartment of Dermatology, Baptist Hospital; Miami Cancer Institute’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Clinic;
University of Miami, Miami, FL
bAblon Skin Institute & Research Center; University of California, Los Angeles, CA
cRadboud UMC Nijmegen; Andriessen Consultants, Malden, The Netherlands; dBlue Quill Communications, Toronto, Canada;
eBucay Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics; University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX;
fDepartment of Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC; gDermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham, Birmingham, AL;
hDepartment of Dermatology, Molholm Hospital; Department of Dermatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark;
iSkinCeuticals, New York, NY, USA; jDepartment of Dermatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
kDepartment of Dermatology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0047-5941; lSanova Dermatology, Austin, TX; mInstituto Dermatologia Integral,
Barcelona, Spain; nDepartment of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Abstract
Background: Energy-based devices (EBDs) are increasingly used to manage acne and its sequelae. While literature supports the use of appropriate skin care for acne, few studies address how to effectively integrate skincare with EBDs.
Methods: Six dermatologists from North America, participated in a live meeting to develop an acne treatment algorithm integrating skincare and EBDs. Six additional advisors contributed through a pre-meeting survey (along with 94 other physicians). The eleven dermatologists (authors) from Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America participated in algorithm development and manuscript review.
Results: The proposed algorithm describes how to integrate skin care with the use of EBDs in clinical practice.
Conclusions: This algorithm provides an approach for managing acne and best practices for integrating skin care with EBDs when treating acne and acne sequelae.

 

INTRODUCTION

Despite the growing use of energy-based devices (EBDs) in dermatology, there remains a lack of structured guidance for clinicians on combining EBDs with skin care in acne and post-acne sequelae management. Pre- and post-procedural skin care is particularly relevant when EBDs are used, as appropriate skin care may enhance treatment efficacy, minimize side effects, and improve patient adherence, especially in patients with acne and subsequent sequelae.1-5 This paper presents a practical algorithm to support clinicians who use EBDs in delivering patient-centered care by integrating appropriate skin care with EBDs for acne and acne sequelae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This project aimed to develop a practical algorithm to provide clinicians with skincare recommendations for acne treatment and maintenance with EBDs. This approach may prevent disease progression, treat acne-related sequelae, and improve patient outcomes.

Structured Literature Search
This project started with conducting a survey (N=100), selecting the expert panel, and conducting a structured literature review. The structured literature search looked for English-language studies, consensus papers, and other reviews of current best practices focusing on EBDs for acne treatment and maintenance with integrated skin care. Papers included were published between January 2010 to October 2024. Searches were limited to PubMed, with Google Scholar as a secondary source (Figure 1).

While published acne guidelines and algorithms provide information on prescription and non-prescription treatment, few acne guidelines include recommendations for EBDs.6-8 The literature search found many publications on laser and light-based therapies for acne treatment but limited information on EBDs combined with skin care for acne patients.

The Panel
The panel comprised 12 advisors (authors). The advisors

Keywords: Acne, EBD, skincare, algorithm, lasers, integration., acne
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