Types, Causes, Treatment, and Scar Management of Acne

Provider: Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic

From the causes and types of acne to treatment methods and acne scar care

Everything About Acne

Hello. This is Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic. Today, we will explain the causes of acne, the types of acne (such as inflammatory acne, comedonal acne, folliculitis, etc.), treatment methods, acne scar management, and precautions—everything you need to know about acne.

Acne can be confused with folliculitis caused by excessive sebum secretion, excessive keratinization and dilation of hair follicles, proliferation of acne bacteria, inflammation and foreign body reactions, as well as bacterial infection and Demodex mites. Learn about acne treatment methods.

Causes of Acne

Acne is known to result from a combination of multiple causes, and the main causes can be broadly divided into four categories: excessive sebum secretion, excessive keratinization and dilation of hair follicles, proliferation of acne bacteria, and the formation of inflammatory and foreign body reactions. First, excessive sebum secretion refers to a condition in which too much sebum is secreted from the sebaceous glands, related to increased production or activity of sex hormones such as androgens or dihydrotestosterone. Next, excessive keratinization and dilation of hair follicles refers to a condition in which the opening of the hair follicle becomes blocked due to excessive keratinization, causing the follicle to dilate because of accumulated sebum or keratin. In the case of acne bacteria proliferation, sebum stagnation blocks air circulation in the hair follicle, allowing acne bacteria that grow well in oxygen-free environments to proliferate. In the case of inflammation and foreign body reaction formation, free fatty acids created when sebum is broken down by acne bacteria trigger inflammation in the hair follicle, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes gather and worsen the inflammation.

Types of Acne

Acne mainly occurs on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders, and depending on its form, it is divided into whiteheads and inflammatory acne.

Comedonal acne, commonly called a “whitehead,” occurs when, for various reasons, the amount of sebum suddenly increases and the rapidly increased sebum is not properly discharged, accumulating inside the pores.

If comedonal acne is left untreated without extraction, it is highly likely to develop into inflammatory acne, so it is better to manage it through regular extraction. However, if comedonal acne recurs chronically, it is advisable to receive treatment from medical professionals. In particular, if extraction is performed with unsanitary tools or unclean hands, the surrounding skin tissue may be damaged, leaving acne marks or scars, so caution is needed.

Inflammatory acne also starts from comedonal acne. Acne with inflammation is called inflammatory acne, and acne does not appear as just one type; it can take on various forms as inflammatory acne. Be sure not to forcefully squeeze or touch it, as this can damage even the dermis layer of the skin and cause acne scars.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis that occurs on the chin, jawline, neck, scalp, and other areas of the body is a skin disease caused by the excessive growth of bacteria that inflame the hair follicle, the sac in the skin that surrounds and nourishes the hair.

The causes of folliculitis are known to include bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, Demodex mites, weakened immunity, and stress. It often appears as yellow pustules, and unlike ordinary acne, it does not release comedones when extracted. Because it is a disease that causes inflammation, it can be mistaken for acne, so caution is needed.

As for treatment, folliculitis should, in principle, be managed with medical treatment. Antibiotics or ointments may be prescribed, and because folliculitis is prone to recurrence, it is important to maintain thorough prevention and care in daily life. Also, since it can trigger inflammation, visit a dermatologist and receive treatment that is appropriate for your condition after sufficient consultation.

When Acne Appears

Acne can also be classified by the stage of life in which it appears, and it is divided into neonatal acne, childhood acne, adolescent acne, and adult acne.

Neonatal acne appears mainly on the nose, cheeks, and forehead of baby boys during the newborn period due to hormones passed from the mother through the placenta. It can be seen in about 20% of healthy newborns within two weeks after birth, and in many cases it improves on its own within three months.

Childhood acne refers to acne that continues from infancy or newly appears after the age of two, and it mainly appears on the central part of the face in both boys and girls.

Adolescent acne begins to appear typically during puberty due to the secretion of sex hormones. Inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions appear on the face, chest, and back, and there is a report that 8% of people aged 15–34 suffer from acne.

Unlike adolescent acne, adult acne is characterized by occurring more often on the chin, jawline, and around the mouth. It appears regardless of season, and patients do not usually have much sebum secretion on the face. Adult acne is known to affect women more than three times as often, and aggravating factors include stress, medication, smoking, and menstruation.

If you continue to leave acne untreated or forcibly extract it, the wound may worsen and remain as an acne scar, so it is better to receive an accurate diagnosis and consultation from a dermatologist.

Acne Treatment Methods

In the case of premium laser treatment performed at a dermatology clinic, the main cause of acne—the sebaceous glands—can be selectively destroyed, or a laser appropriate for the skin condition can be chosen to treat red acne marks and pigmentation.

Theraclear, an acne laser that treats the root causes of acne, has received FDA approval for improving acne on all skin types, and its advantages include fast treatment results and a small number of treatment sessions. It pulls the skin into the tip to remove impurities and waste, cleanses inside the pores to remove the causes of acne, and by irradiating the skin pulled close to the tip with laser, it helps reduce pigmentation, redness, pore enlargement, and sebum.

IPL laser, which helps improve various skin concerns such as freckles, blemishes, and vascular conditions, can treat not only capillary dilation but also completely different conditions such as pigmentation and enlarged pores at the same time by simultaneously delivering multiple wavelengths. Compared with general laser procedures, it minimizes the risk of skin damage and can effectively improve acne scars. In addition, ART laser is a laser toning treatment that improves melasma and acne, helping to care for acne by normalizing the function of the sebaceous glands, which are the root cause of acne, and it is also an effective laser procedure for melasma and pigmentation.

Medical skin care, which helps restore skin damaged by acne, has the 특징 of further enhancing treatment effectiveness when used together with comprehensive dermatological treatment including laser therapy.

Autologous fibroblast treatment is a one-to-one customized skin regeneration cell therapy that improves depressed scars that occur during the acne healing process. It involves transplanting autologous fibroblasts collected from and cultured from the patient’s own skin into the dermis, inducing collagen proliferation and thereby treating depressed scars. Fibroblasts are the main cells of the dermis that produce collagen and other connective fiber proteins such as collagen and elastin, which maintain the extracellular matrix and skin elasticity, and collagen produced by fibroblasts accounts for 80% of the dermal components. Under appropriate conditions, they can differentiate into mature skin cells and create an environment similar to the skin state before aging and damage. Autologous fibroblast treatment restores the skin’s natural vitality, offering a natural sense of vitality and lasting effects. Because only the patient’s own skin cells are used, the possibility of tissue rejection and external infection is low, and areas that could not be treated with existing procedures can also be treated.

Precautions Before and After Acne and Acne Mark Treatment

On the day of the procedure, direct exposure to ultraviolet rays should be avoided, and during treatment, scrubs, saunas, and jjimjilbangs should not be used. For about a day or two after the procedure, the treatment area may appear red, and if itching or a strong heat sensation occurs after the procedure, do not scratch or squeeze it; instead, visit the clinic for examination. For the health of your skin, it is important to make a habit of consistently using moisturizer and sunscreen.

We have explained the causes and treatment methods for comedonal acne, inflammatory acne, and folliculitis, which is often mistaken for acne. Because acne and folliculitis can cause inflammation, receive customized treatment appropriate to your skin condition. To prevent recurrence, daily habits are also important, so please follow the precautions.

Im I-seok Theme Dermatology Clinic continuously adds and replaces premium laser treatment devices for more effective results, and provides reliable treatment based on extensive clinical experience from more than 600,000 cases. Treatment programs are planned according to diagnosis and prescription, and 1:1 customized treatment tailored to the patient’s condition is provided. Since procedures and treatments must always begin with diagnosis, we hope you find the treatment method that suits you through an accurate consultation and achieve healthy skin.

If you are curious about the video of our clinic’s acne treatment with the “Agnes” laser procedure, please check the link below :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Up1XpkRcvM