Yeongdeungpo Dermatology: Gold PTT Benefits—Acne Care with Less Discomfort

Hello.

I’m Kang In-jeong, the director of The River Dermatology. ~Haha

Last week, I was explaining the treatment progress and future treatment plan to a patient who had been consistently receiving acne care, based on their Mark-Vu images, when they suddenly said:

"I’ve visited dermatology clinics all over and tried many treatments, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen this much improvement."

(I was even more surprised because this patient normally doesn’t use expressions like that during procedures. ~)

Whenever patients say things like this, I feel proud and happy. Haha

As a physician providing treatment, feedback like this always makes me very happy. ~

I feel like I started this post by boasting about myself and writing without much structure, so I’ll get straight to the point.

As summer approaches, one of the skin concerns that increases significantly is excess sebum and acne.

When temperatures rise and humidity increases, sebum production also increases. This creates an environment where pores become clogged easily and acne can worsen.

Therefore, in the consultation room, we comprehensively assess various environmental factors, the current condition of the skin, and the distribution of sebum in relation to the problems affecting the patient’s skin. We then explain treatment methods suited to their skin type.

In particular, for people with excessive sebum production or recurrent acne, we may recommend Gold PTT (Gold Photothermal Therapy).

Today, let’s take a detailed look at the Gold PTT benefits that many people are curious about.

"What are the Gold PTT benefits explained by a Yeongdeungpo dermatologist, and can it help with acne treatment?"

"Have you ever found yourself looking for a mirror because your face becomes shiny and your makeup breaks down by the afternoon?"

"Many people describe this as having ‘oil on their face,’ but in reality, this often occurs when increased sebum production combines with sweat and makeup."

That is why people search for treatments that suppress sebum production or try various products.

The “sebum” that makes our faces look shiny.

Will your skin become smooth and fresh after getting rid of it?

First, let me clear up some misconceptions about sebum. Haha

In fact, sebum is essential for our skin.

Sebum forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, helping prevent moisture from evaporating easily. It also helps protect the skin from external irritation and bacteria.

In other words, sebum itself is not bad.

The problem occurs when too much sebum is produced.

When sebum production increases, pores become clogged easily, creating an environment inside the clogged pores where acne bacteria (C. acnes) can multiply easily.

As a result, blackheads and whiteheads can develop, and in severe cases, they may progress to inflammatory acne.

Excessive sebum can also cause skin shine, make pores appear more prominent, and contribute to recurring acne.

When we examine skin condition with a skin diagnostic device in the consultation room, there are in fact some people whose sebaceous glands are particularly active and well developed. (They are usually more developed along the T-zone. Haha.)

In such cases, treatment to regulate excessive sebum production may be helpful.

Gold PTT is a treatment based on this concept.

Gold PTT involves applying nano-sized gold particles to the skin and then using a laser with a specific wavelength to selectively deliver thermal energy to excessively active sebaceous glands.

It may help reduce sebum production.

Of course, it does not eliminate all the sebum that the skin needs. Please think of it as regulating excessively active sebaceous glands, quite literally. Haha

Rather than treating only acne that has already appeared, it can be understood as helping improve the environment in which acne repeatedly develops.

"Does applying gold reduce sebum?" The Principle of Gold PTT

Nano-sized gold particles and sebaceous gland regulation

"What do gold and sebum have to do with each other?"

You may be wondering this. 😊

Once you understand the principle behind Gold PTT, it is not as complicated as it may seem.

Gold is commonly known as a precious metal, but in the medical field, its various properties are also utilized.

The important point in Gold PTT is not that gold itself eliminates sebum.

Rather, it uses the property of gold nanoparticles to efficiently absorb laser energy.

I’ve been having a lot of fun making things like this lately.

When a laser with a specific wavelength is directed at gold nanoparticles applied to the skin, the gold particles absorb the laser energy and convert it into thermal energy.

This is called the “photothermal effect.”

Simply put, the laser energy is concentrated in the gold particles, causing them to function like small heat-generating devices. As a result, thermal energy is selectively delivered around the sebaceous glands, which may help reduce the activity of excessively active sebaceous glands.

In addition, because the inside of sebaceous glands is an environment where acne bacteria (C. acnes) can multiply easily, this photothermal effect may also help improve the environment in which acne repeatedly develops.

In other words, Gold PTT is not simply a treatment for currently visible acne.

It can be viewed as a treatment that aims to improve the environment in which acne is likely to develop by regulating excessively developed sebaceous glands and sebum production.

The Difference Between Sebum-Suppressing PDT and Gold PTT

So far, I have explained sebum, acne, and Gold PTT, a treatment that regulates sebum.

At our clinic, we provide two treatments to regulate excessively developed sebaceous glands: Gold PTT and PDT (photodynamic therapy).

Of course, both treatments are intended to suppress sebum. Haha

However, their treatment principles are slightly different.

Although both treatments aim to reduce sebum production, the substances used and the mechanisms of action differ.

Gold PTT involves applying nano-sized gold particles to the skin and then directing a laser at them to produce a photothermal effect.

The gold particles absorb the laser energy and convert it into heat. This heat is delivered to excessively active sebaceous glands to regulate sebum production.

PDT (photodynamic therapy) involves applying ALA (a photosensitizer) to the skin and then exposing it to light with a specific wavelength.

After ALA is absorbed by the sebaceous glands and encounters light, it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). Through this effect, it acts on the sebaceous glands and acne bacteria to reduce sebum production.

Gold PTT = gold particles + laser → heat (photothermal effect)

PDT = ALA + light → reactive oxygen species (photochemical reaction)

Both treatments share the goal of regulating sebum.

However, it is helpful to understand that the biggest difference lies in which substance is used and how it acts on the sebaceous glands. :)

PDT or Gold PTT—which treatment should you choose?

Now that we have looked at the principles and differences between PDT and PTT, whenever there are two options, the question “Then, which one is better?” naturally seems to follow. ~

In fact, there is no single correct answer to this question.

What is important is to consider both your current skin condition and your lifestyle after treatment.

How much sebum is being produced,

whether inflammatory acne recurs,

whether your skin frequently requires extractions,

and how much the treatment may affect your daily life afterward should all be considered together when choosing a treatment.

One especially important point we emphasize for both treatments is post-procedure care.

Gold PTT generally places relatively few restrictions on daily life after the procedure, and one advantage is that there is less concern about extractions.

(However, if there is a large amount that needs to be extracted, extractions may still be necessary depending on the situation. Haha.)

By contrast,

because PDT uses a photosensitizer, the skin may become sensitive to light for a certain period after the procedure.

For approximately 48 hours, you need to minimize exposure to strong sunlight or bright lighting and pay extra attention to protection from ultraviolet rays.

In addition to your skin condition, it is important to consider whether you frequently spend time outdoors,

whether you need to go straight to work or school,

and whether your lifestyle allows you to follow the necessary care after the procedure.

These factors can serve as important criteria when choosing a treatment.

Ultimately, rather than declaring one treatment superior to the other, I believe the best treatment is the one that suits your current skin condition and lifestyle most closely.

There is a wide range of information available online, but not every treatment applies equally to everyone.

Therefore, after gaining a sufficient understanding of the principles and differences between these treatments, I recommend consulting a dermatologist and developing a treatment plan that is most appropriate for your individual skin condition. 😊