Medical Acne Care

How it works

The doctor first looks at the type of acne you have: blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, deep cysts, or a mix. Clogged pores may be opened and cleaned by hand with sterile tools. Inflamed spots may get a soothing or anti-inflammatory product, and sometimes a light-based or peel step is added. Oral or topical medicine may be suggested when the acne is widespread or deep. The goal is to calm active spots and reduce new ones over several visits. How quickly this happens varies by person, and acne often flares and settles in cycles.

Who it may suit

• Repeated blackheads, whiteheads or red bumps that over-the-counter products have not settled
• People who want a professional to guide a home routine rather than guess
• Acne that comes back around the same time each month
• Visitors who want a clear written plan to follow after returning home

The treatment day

1. Describe your acne history. Tell the doctor how long you have had breakouts, what you have used, and whether anything made your skin worse.
2. Skin examination. The doctor checks the type and depth of your spots and decides which steps are suitable on the day.
3. Cleansing and extraction. Clogged pores are cleaned, and inflamed spots may be treated with a soothing product.
4. Plan and home routine. You receive advice on products, timing of the next visit and what to avoid in the meantime.

Aftercare

• Do not pick or squeeze spots at home, since this can leave marks or scars.
• Use a gentle cleanser and a plain moisturizer for the first day or two.
• Wear sunscreen daily, because irritated skin can darken more easily in the sun.
• Pause strong exfoliating products or retinoids until the doctor says you may restart.
• Save the written routine and product names so you can match them at home.

Things to know first

• Redness, mild swelling or a few new breakouts can appear for a day or two after extraction.
• Tell the doctor if you take isotretinoin or have in the past six months, since some steps may not be suitable.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding limit which medicines can be used, so say so before any prescription.
• Acne medicines can cause dryness, sensitivity to sun or irritation, and some are not safe in pregnancy.
• Deep, painful cysts or sudden severe flares need a doctor's assessment and may need more than surface care.

Talking through acne care in English

Acne words can get lost in translation. Whitehead, blackhead, pimple, cyst and breakout may each become a different term in Korean. Point to the spots in a mirror and say how long they last: days, weeks or months. This helps the doctor see which type you mean.

Bring a short list in English of every product you use, including face wash, spot treatments and anything with acids or retinol. Use ingredient names where you can, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Say if you take or have taken isotretinoin, antibiotics or birth control, and whether you could be pregnant.

Ask these questions before you agree to the plan: Which steps will you do today? Will you prescribe medicine, and what is its generic name? How should I use it, and for how long? Ask for the home routine in writing, in English, with the date of the next suggested visit. Terms you may hear include extraction, comedone, papule, pustule and post-inflammatory marks.