Korea Dermatology Acne Treatments
Korea Dermatology Acne Treatments
Many people think that acne will naturally subside over time, but it is a condition that can easily recur even after treatment. Therefore, many foreign patients come to dermatology clinics in Korea for professional acne treatment. Korean dermatology clinics are equipped with various machines and treatment methods, including one-day packages, to provide treatment tailored to different types of acne patients.
Causes of Acne
Acne commonly appears on the face, but it can also occur on the arms, legs, and even the scalp, particularly in cases of seborrheic dermatitis.
It is most prevalent during the teenage years and into the twenties. However, recently, due to poor dietary habits, cosmetics, and lifestyle choices, people in their thirties and older are also experiencing acne. There is no significant difference in acne prevalence between men and women. Men tend to suffer more from seborrheic dermatitis, while women are more prone to contact dermatitis. If acne is not treated early and is frequently touched, it can lead to scarring.
Recommended acne treatments at Korean dermatology clinics
Potenza
Acne treatment using Potenza involves the selective destruction of sebaceous glands with micro-insulated needles and radiofrequency (RF) energy. When sebaceous gland-derived troubles are addressed by destroying the glands, recurrence is prevented. Korean dermatology clinics utilize Potenza to treat various types of acne, including adult acne, recurrent acne, acne around the jawline, and pustular acne. By emitting RF only at the needle tip and inserting the needle below the dermis to directly deliver RF energy into the sebaceous gland, this treatment minimizes damage to the epidermis while selectively destroying sebaceous glands.
This procedure is particularly suitable for those struggling with acne, as it employs a special acne handpiece and three dedicated acne needles. After the treatment, swelling and redness may persist for 2-3 days. It is recommended to apply sunscreen meticulously when going out and to use products that aid in skin regeneration and hydration post-treatment. Additionally, avoiding saunas, hot baths, and strenuous exercise for about a week is advisable.
Gold PTT
One of the representative treatment methods for acne in Korean dermatology is Gold PTT. Gold PTT involves applying a special material (gold) that reacts only to specific wavelengths of light, called Photo-enhancer, onto the skin. When light is applied, the gold selectively generates heat, targeting and eliminating specific cells. This treatment can damage sebaceous glands and acne bacteria, making it effective for treating acne and various other conditions.
First, Gold PTT is applied to the epidermis and then ultrasound is used to facilitate absorption into the skin. Next, remaining nano gold particles on the skin surface are cleared, followed by laser irradiation to induce heat in the gold particles. This selective damage to sebaceous glands alleviates acne. By accumulating fine gold micro-particles in the dermis where sebaceous glands and acne bacteria are located and using specific wavelength laser light, efficient treatment is achieved. This process promotes smooth sebum excretion, clears keratin, destroys acne bacteria, reduces inflammation, inhibits recurrence, and decreases sebum secretion, resulting in cleaner sebum and hair follicles.
The popularity of Gold PTT in Korean dermatology stems from its non-oral administration, ensuring no burden of ingestion and minimal risk of particles (120~200nm) entering or exiting the body. Additionally, the penetrated gold component resides in the skin and is expelled along with sebum after 4~8 weeks. The gold used is of a nano-scale suitable for consumption, ensuring effective results.
PDT
PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) is a treatment method where a photosensitizing agent is directly applied to the skin and then activated by a specific wavelength of light or laser to inhibit sebaceous glands and reduce sebum secretion. This process eliminates acne-causing bacteria and addresses the root causes of acne. PDT can be tailored to treat different types and causes of acne, effectively reducing recurrence by decreasing sebaceous glands. Besides acne treatment, it also provides benefits such as pore reduction, blackhead removal, and decreased sebum secretion. In Korean dermatology, PDT often utilizes the vascular laser V-beam Perfecta to treat persistent, inflammatory, and refractory acne, including severe cases with red marks and recurrent breakouts.
Acne Scaling
Acne scaling in Korean dermatology involves dissolving keratin and excess sebum to unclog blocked pores and exfoliate the epidermis covering comedones or pustular acne. This treatment not only alleviates severe current acne but also reduces the likelihood of recurrence. When home care for acne issues is challenging, people often visit dermatology clinics. Solely performing extractions can lead to dryness and skin damage, increasing the risk of redness or hyperpigmentation. Therefore, it is recommended to combine extraction procedures with calming and regenerative treatments. If inflammation due to acne is already severe, scarring may be inevitable even after scaling. The typical process includes extraction, peeling, and masking treatments.
Agnes
Agnes utilizes RF (Radio Frequency) micro-insulated needles to insert and generate thermal energy of specific wavelengths, selectively destroying only sebaceous glands as a treatment for acne. Similar to how destroying hair follicles achieves hair removal, destroying sebaceous glands prevents acne formation. By delivering heat only to the depth of sebaceous glands, it minimizes damage to the epidermis and other skin tissues, resulting in significantly lower acne recurrence rates and long-lasting effects compared to other treatments.
Agnes acne destruction therapy is applicable to various types of acne, including common comedonal acne, pustular acne, as well as stubborn and chronic acne. It also effectively treats blackheads and acne scars. Excessive sebum production clogs pores, leading to acne formation. In such cases, initial extraction removes sebum to reduce gland size, followed by the RF treatment to destroy sebaceous glands for effective treatment. Secondary extraction removes residue, minimizing the risk of recurrence. Particularly, Agnes is a device approved by CE in Europe and by the KFDA in South Korea, demonstrating its safety and efficacy.
Besides acne, it shows efficacy in removing blackheads, sebaceous filaments, and can improve under-eye fat, wrinkles, and dark circles when used for treatments under the eyes.
In addition, adolescents may have concerns about puberty acne, adult acne, acne treatment for pregnant or breastfeeding women, comedonal acne, sensitive skin acne, body acne such as on the chest or back, rosacea acne, acne scars, and more. All of these conditions require personalized skincare based on a dermatologist's diagnosis and precise skin diagnostics equipment to identify even unseen acne-causing bacteria. Therefore, visiting a hospital and receiving direct consultation from a specialist is prioritized for treatments such as tailored skincare, laser therapy, and medication therapy.
