— Acne Care
Treat the Acne.
Protect the Skin.
Address the Scars.
A comprehensive, physician-directed approach combining medical evaluation, prescription acne treatment when appropriate, advanced Stellar M22 IPL technology, and ResurFX fractional laser treatment for acne scarring.
Real results from IPL for acne, with less redness and fewer breakouts. Individual treatment plans vary. Not every treatment is appropriate for every patient.
Harvard Medical School Graduate
25+ Years of Patient Care
Practicing Physician & Pediatrician
NASA-Trained Flight Surgeon
— Why Level Up is Different
Acne treatment should begin with a diagnosis, not a package.
Acne is not one disease and it is not one-size-fits-all. Your plan should reflect the type and severity of acne, your skin type, pigmentation, medications, lifestyle, and your risk for permanent scarring.
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01
MEDICAL EVALUATION
Your care is directed by a practicing physician with decades of experience caring for children, adolescents and adults—not simply by the device available in the room. -
02
PRESCRIPTION TREATMENT WHEN NEEDED
Topical and oral prescription therapies can be incorporated when medically appropriate, alongside a personalized skincare regimen and procedural treatment.
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03
TECHNOLOGY FOR ACNE & ITS AFTERMATH
Advanced light and fractional laser technologies allow us to address selected inflammatory acne, lingering redness or discoloration, uneven texture, and established acne scars.
A More Complete Approach
“Our goal is not simply to chase the next breakout. It is to control the acne early, protect the skin, and reduce the chance that today’s inflammation becomes tomorrow’s scar.”
Active acne
Physician evaluation, prescription therapy when appropriate, medical-grade skincare, and light-based treatment for selected patients.
Redness & post-inflammatory discoloration
Treatment can be tailored to persistent marks after acne according to skin type, pigment risk, and the nature of the discoloration.
Acne scars & texture
Once active acne is controlled, ResurFX 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser treatment can be used to improve the appearance of selected acne scars and uneven skin texture.
— Real Patient Progress
Let the results tell the story.
Patient prior to treatment.
Patient after 1 month and 2 IPL treatments.
Patient after 5 months and 5 IPL treatments.
— For Patients Asking About Accutane® / Isotretinoin
Looking for options before isotretinoin?
Not every patient with acne requires isotretinoin—and not every patient or parent is ready to consider systemic therapy.
For appropriate patients, Dr. Valle can develop a physician-directed plan using evidence-based topical or oral medication, skincare, and advanced light-based treatment. Stellar M22 IPL with a dual-band acne filter has published clinical evidence supporting improvement in inflammatory acne in selected patients.
For severe, scarring, or treatment-resistant acne, isotretinoin remains an important and highly effective medical option. Our goal is not to eliminate an appropriate treatment—it is to determine which treatment, or combination of treatments, makes sense for the individual patient.
THE DIFFERENCE
Medication when it is needed. Technology when it adds value. A physician guiding the entire plan.
Individualized evaluation of acne type and severity
Prescription topical or oral therapy when appropriate
Stellar M22 IPL for selected inflammatory acne patients
Treatment planning for post-inflammatory discoloration
ResurFX treatment for selected acne scars after acne control
— A Lifelong Interest in Skin Health
Grounded in medicine. Shaped at Harvard.
Dr. C. Anthony Valle is a Harvard Medical School graduate, practicing pediatrician, NASA-trained flight surgeon, and physician with more than 25 years of patient-care experience.
His interest in dermatology began during medical school at Harvard, where his training included learning from Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, longtime Chairman of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, who has been described in the medical literature as a father of modern academic dermatology.
Over the course of his training and career, Dr. Valle has also learned from pediatric dermatology specialists associated with leading children's institutions, including Boston Children's Hospital, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, and Children's Hospital of Orange County—now transitioning to Rady Children's Health Orange County.
That longstanding interest in skin disease has remained part of his work throughout a career caring for children, adolescents and adults.
Institution names describe educational and professional experience and do not imply institutional endorsement or current affiliation.
FROM DR. VALLE
“As a pediatrician and a father of four, I understand that acne is not simply cosmetic. It can affect confidence, self-image, and how a young person feels walking into school every day. My goal is to treat it thoughtfully and early—and to care just as much about the person as I do about the skin.”
— C. Anthony Valle, MD
— Frequently Asked Questions
What parents and patients usually want to know.
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No single treatment is right for every form of acne. Published studies support IPL with specific acne-filter wavelengths as an option for inflammatory acne in selected patients, but current acne guidelines continue to recommend isotretinoin for severe acne and acne that has not responded adequately to standard therapy. Dr. Valle will discuss the appropriate options after evaluating the individual patient.
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Yes. Because care is physician-directed, prescription topical or oral acne medications can be incorporated when medically appropriate rather than treating every patient with procedures alone.
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Often, yes. Persistent redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation require different approaches, and treatment must be chosen carefully according to skin type and pigmentation risk. Your plan may include medication, skincare, light-based treatment, or a combination.
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Once active acne is adequately controlled, selected acne scars can be treated with ResurFX, a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser designed to stimulate dermal remodeling. Scar type and skin type determine whether this is the best approach and how many treatments may be appropriate.
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No. Level Up treats both teen and adult acne. Adult acne can have different triggers and treatment considerations, which is another reason the medical evaluation matters.
— Start With the Right Plan —
Clearer skin begins with understanding what is driving the acne.
Schedule a physician-led acne consultation at Level Up Aesthetics to discuss active acne, prescription options, discoloration, acne scarring, and whether light or laser treatment belongs in your plan.