The Acne Clinic at Shine MD
TREATING SKIN OF COLOR WITH CONFIDENCE
INCLUSIVE OF ALL
The Acne Clinic : Led By Dr. Mona Khurana
Since its inception in 2020, Shine MD has become a leading destination clinic offering a modern, evidence-based approach to your skin concerns. Acne and acne scarring are among the most common and most emotionally significant skin concerns we treat.
At Shine MD, they’re treated with a tailored approach and a plan built around your skin, with particular expertise in caring for skin of color.
Led by Dr. Mona Khurana, MD — Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology who developed scarring acne herself and built this clinic to provide the confident, skin-of-color–safe care she wanted as a patient.
Read our Acne Scarring blog post for an in-depth Acne Scar treatment journey.
At Shine MD, acne and acne scarring are treated together, not in a rigid sequence.
We manage active acne while also addressing what it leaves behind — redness, pigmentation, and texture, with a plan tailored to your skin type, skin tone, and goals.
Active breakouts are brought under control before an intensive scar repair regimen begins, so results move in the right direction. The right plan depends on your skin, your concerns, and your goals, with thoughtful coordination of medical management and energy-based protocols.
Medical management of acne is covered by MSP with a referral. Aesthetic treatments are private and do not require a referral.
Care is physician-led, with genuine expertise in treating skin of color safely.
Why Acne Care Matters
Acne is the most common skin condition in North America affecting roughly 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24, and often continuing well into adulthood. Because it’s so common, it’s easy to dismiss as a cosmetic nuisance. The evidence says otherwise.
Acne carries a real psychological and social weight. Research shows that people with acne and especially acne scarring are perceived by others as less confident, less successful, and less healthy, and that this social judgment happens quickly and often unconsciously.
Notably, the burden doesn’t always track with how “severe” the acne looks: perceived stigma predicts psychological distress and day-to-day impairment more strongly than acne severity, location, or treatment alone. Patients with established scarring are also more likely to express hopelessness than those with active acne and many describe regret at not having treated their acne sooner.²
For skin of color, there’s an added stake: pigment. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the dark marks left behind after a breakout develops in up to 65% of patients with darker skin tones, and it often lingers far longer than the acne itself, sometimes for many months.³ For many patients, these marks are more distressing than the original acne. This is precisely why early, appropriate treatment and pigment-safe device selection matters so much.
The takeaway is simple: many people wait far longer than they need to, in one study, 74% of acne patients had waited more than a year before seeking medical care, and most felt the information available to them was inadequate. Treating acne early and well isn’t just about clearer skin today. It’s the most reliable way to prevent scarring and pigmentation, and to protect confidence and quality of life over the long term.
Why Patients Choose Shine MD for
Acne and Acne Scarring
Physician-led Care
We coordinate medical management with supportive treatments such as skin care, facials and energy based treatments. Our team is cohesive and works together to optimize your care.
Genuine Skin Of Color Expertise
Device and setting choices are made with your skin tone in mind, for care that is both safe and effective for deeper complexions.
Integrated Medical and Aesthetic Care
We manage acne and treat scarring in one place, so your plan is coherent.
Honest, Realistic Counselling
We focus on your goals and your capacity for treatments, and offer high-performing treatment plans to optimize your outcomes.
A Respected Clinician and Industry Leader
With a Post Graduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology, Dr. Mona Khurana is recognized across aesthetic medicine as a valuable contributor to advancing protocols for acne and acne scarring — a standing built on high patient care standards, ethical practice, and real clinical results.
She serves as a Sciton Luminary, an Aerolase Ambassador, and a Cynosure Ambassador, and has worked with global pharmaceutical companies including Sun Pharma and Galderma in a range of roles supporting physicians and healthcare providers on the medical management of acne.
Her commitment to this work is personal. Dr. Khurana sought care for her own acne and acne scarring, and the gaps she encountered along the way drove her and her team to build something better: an inclusive environment and clinical pathways at the leading edge of acne and acne scarring care.
real Results
Our patients include many people who’d struggled to find effective, safe acne and scar care elsewhere — particularly patients with skin of color.
“I chose the Gold Standard package, Sculptra and Accutane… It has only been six weeks since I started my first treatment, and I’m already seeing significant improvement. What I appreciate most is Dr. Mona’s modern and thoughtful approach to combining treatments.”
— Karen T, verified Google review
Individual results vary based on the scarring treated, skin type, the plan, and your healing response.
How we think about acne & acne scarring
Many patients come to us after a long and difficult journey with their skin — frustrated by treatments that have not worked and hoping we can offer enduring, long-lasting results.
That trust means a lot, and it shapes how we approach every plan we build.
Control active acne
Ongoing breakouts create new scars, so calming the acne comes first.
Depending on your situation, this may involve medical management, prescription therapy, in-office treatments, isotretinoin, or a combination of approaches.
Treat what acne leaves behind
Acne can leave behind several different concerns, and each one needs to be understood differently.
Redness, also known as post-inflammatory erythema
These are pink-to-red marks. They are vascular changes, not true scars, and are often very treatable.
Pigment, also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
These are brown or dark marks. They are more common and often longer-lasting in deeper skin tones, but they are usually reversible with the right plan.
Texture, also known as true acne scarring
These are permanent structural changes in the skin, including boxcar, rolling, ice pick, or raised scars. They respond best to a series of layered treatments over time.
We build each plan around your specific concern, skin type, skin tone, and goals. Treatment is chosen to fit you.
Two Pathways: Medical vs. Aesthetic Care
One of the most common questions we hear is how coverage works. There are two distinct pathways, and many patients use both:
Medical Acne Management
Medical acne management is covered by BC’s Medical Services Plan, also known as MSP, with a referral from your family physician.
This includes medical assessment and prescription treatment of active acne. Referral wait times typically run in the range of a few months. MSP Referral Information
Aesthetic Treatment
Aesthetic treatments are elective treatments for redness, pigment, and scarring. These may include lasers, subcision, biostimulators, resurfacing, and other supportive treatments.
These treatments are private, not MSP-covered, and do not require a referral. You can book a consultation directly.
Skin of Color: Treated with Confidence
Caring well for deeper skin tones takes both experience and the right tools.
Over years of practice and through investment in a broad range of devices, including Aerolase, Moxi, Halo, and PicoSure Pro, we have learned to match each patient with the treatment best suited to their skin.
We manage concerns like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation with confidence and take pride in being inclusive of all patients.
Explore treatment for skin of color and our approach to melasma.
Treating active acne
Getting acne under control is a big priority in your patient journey. Depending on the type and severity of your acne, a plan may include:
Medical management
Physician-led assessment and prescription therapy, including topical and oral treatments. Medical management may be covered by MSP with a referral. Extended benefits may also cover some prescription-based care.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin, more commonly known as Accutane, may be a cornerstone of your plan.
Importantly, current expert consensus no longer supports routinely waiting six months after isotretinoin before non-ablative laser and energy treatments. This means acne control and certain scar treatments can often progress together under physician supervision.
We counsel each patient individually.
In-Office Acne Treatments
Light and laser options such as Aerolase and Forever Clear BBL can help calm active breakouts, often alongside medical therapy.
Supportive Skincare and Facials
Chemical peels and the Bela MD medical-grade facial can help refresh acne-prone skin and support breakout control.
The specific combination is always personalized. There is no single acne protocol that suits everyone.
Treating Redness and Pigment
For efficient improvement alongside your medical management, active acne, redness, and pigmentation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) can all be treated with the Aerolase laser. Aerolase is suitable for all skin types, year-round, and delivers high patient satisfaction, especially when paired with physician supervision and isotretinoin therapy.
Redness and Rosacea
For lighter skin types who aren’t on isotretinoin, redness and rosacea respond well to Broad Band Light (BBL). For everyone else, including patients with skin of color and those on isotretinoin, Aerolase is our laser of choice, offering a safe and effective option across all skin types.
Pigmentation (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation)
Sun protection, sunscreen, and pigment-focused skincare are essential to minimizing pigment formation. PIH is effectively treated with Aerolase, PicoSure Pro, Moxi, or Halo. The experience of your treatment provider, along with device and setting selection, is especially important in treating skin of color.
Treating Textural Acne Scars
True textural scars including boxcar, rolling, and ice pick scars are permanent structural changes that respond best to layered, physician-led treatment rather than any single device.
Our signature approach is the Shine MD Intensive Scar Repair Protocol, previously known as the Shine MD Gold Standard.
This approach combines subcision with PRP to release tethered scars, coupled with biostimulation using Sculptra, and then layered with energy-based treatments such as Halo, CO2, ProFractional, radiofrequency microneedling, or SkinPen microneedling.
Because scarring deserves a full explanation, we have given it dedicated pages:
Learn More About Medical Management of Acne
- Acne Scarring Treatment — our complete approach, scar types, the Intensive Scar Repair Protocol, and Dr. Khurana’s own story
The Intensive Scar Repair Protocol
A personalized, multimodal approach to acne scarring — led by Dr. Mona Khurana.
Foundation Repair
Releases the tethered bands beneath your scars and stimulates collagen with platelet-rich plasma and biostimulator.
Matched to your scar type & skin tone
Five resurfacing modalities, selected and combined for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acne treatment covered by MSP?
Medical management of acne, physician assessment and prescription treatment is covered by MSP with a referral from your family physician. Aesthetic treatments for redness, pigment, and scarring are private and not covered.
Do I need a referral? What are the consultation fees?
For MSP-covered medical acne care, yes, a referral from your family physician is required. For elective aesthetic treatments, no referral is needed; you can book directly and choose a consultation with either a physician or one of our medical treatment providers. The physician consultation fee is $250, and the medical treatment provider consultation fee is $150. This fee covers the consultation only and is not applied toward the cost of future treatments.
Can you treat acne safely in skin of color?
Yes. Safe, effective treatment for deeper skin tones is a core focus of the clinic. Devices and settings are chosen specifically for your skin tone, in a patient-centered, inclusive approach and the Aerolase laser, in particular, is safe for all skin types and can be used year-round with confidence.
Do I have to clear my acne before treating scars?
A major advantage of our clinic is that acne and acne scarring can be treated concurrently, under physician supervision rather than making you wait until acne fully clears. Because active breakouts can create new scars, acne management stays part of your plan throughout, but coordinating both at once shortens the overall journey and improves both satisfaction and quality of life.
Do I have to wait six months after Accutane for laser treatment?
Absolutely not. In 2017, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery published a consensus statement establishing the safety of combining nonablative lasers and energy devices with isotretinoin. At Shine MD, we’ve advanced our practice to move forward with high-impact treatment plans without unnecessary delay confidently and safely using Aerolase, microneedling, radiofrequency microneedling, Moxi, Halo, and PicoSure Pro in patients on isotretinoin.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions isn’t predetermined, treatment pathways are tailored to you. Several factors shape the plan: the initial severity of your acne scarring, how your skin responds to treatment, your personal goals, and the devices chosen for your care.
Is there downtime?
It depends on the treatment: there is little to no downtime for gentle treatments such as Aerolase and BBL. For more aggressive treatments such as our Intensive Scar Repair Protocols, expect about 5 days of downtime. Diligent sun avoidance and protection are encouraged after resurfacing treatments, particularly for skin of color.
Discover Our
Before & After Gallery
Want to see more outcomes across skin types and scar patterns? View our impressive before and after images in our photo gallery.
*Individual results may vary.
