How Should You Care for Cystic Acne in Sinnonhyeon?

That red spot

that does not settle down

even when you press it—

how much has it been bothering you?

I am Dr. Lee Yoo-deuk, director of Ijiham Dermatology, where I examine skin every day between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station.

These days, some people find themselves repeatedly standing in front of the mirror several times a day because large, firm pimples keep appearing along the jawline or on the inner cheeks, accompanied by a throbbing pain deep inside when pressed by hand.

Even when they try to cover them with makeup, the pimples often become more noticeable. Just when they seem to be settling down, they reappear in the same spot, leaving the mind easily worn out.

Today, using the story of one person who came in with this concern, I would like to explain step by step how to view and care for cystic acne in Sinnonhyeon.

If you read this article to the end, you may have a clearer idea of what stage your skin is currently in and what you should address first.

After wandering for five years,

the story of someone who came in exhausted

A 31-year-old patient I met in the consultation room recently carefully told me that they had been moving from one dermatology clinic to another for more than five years.

They said that each time, their skin seemed to improve only briefly, and then, as time passed, large, red pimples would appear again in the same places.

When they said, “Now I am even more afraid of ending up with indented scars,” I realized how long these feelings had been building up.

In fact, this is by no means an uncommon concern.

When people repeatedly focus only on squeezing or drying out the surface, the inflammation beneath the skin can remain, making it easy to become caught in a cycle of recurring breakouts.

Why is this acne so large and painful?

Cystic acne is somewhat different in nature from acne that commonly appears like small, grain-like bumps.

When excess sebum builds up in the sebaceous glands deep within the skin, bacteria and inflammation develop inside, forming large, firm lumps called nodules or pus-filled sacs called cysts.

To put it simply, it is similar to a small pool forming beneath the skin, filling with water, and swelling up.

That is why it does not settle down easily when only the surface is touched, and why pressing it can cause deep pain.

This is also why many people who visit me for cystic acne in Sinnonhyeon say that topical medication alone has its limitations.

When inflammation reaches deep into the dermis, the healing process can leave indented tissue or red marks, so it is important to protect the skin’s texture from the early stages.

If left alone, it can leave scars behind

I understand the urge to keep touching the area, but forcibly squeezing it can cause the inflammation to spread deeper and increase the risk of scarring.

This is especially unfortunate when cysts are involved, because once an indented scar forms, it often does not fill in on its own even as time passes.

That is why I always explain that we need to look at both calming the red acne now and protecting it from becoming a scar.

People who have experienced cystic acne in Sinnonhyeon for a long time often have active inflammation mixed with marks that have already formed.

In such cases, it is necessary to establish an order: first calm the inflammation, then, once the skin has stabilized, gradually refine the texture of the scars.

Step-by-step care that protects the skin’s texture

So how should it be cared for?

At Ijiham, we monitor active acne over an eight-week course.

First, Artlaser is used to gently calm overactive sebaceous glands, reduce sebum production, and refine the texture of the pores.

Skin scaling and PDT scaling are also used to clear away clogged dead skin cells and sebum, while IPL is used to brighten areas where red marks or flushing remain.

If indented scars are already present, chemical, laser, and surgical methods—such as the CLO scar restoration procedure—can be combined according to the condition to address various types of scars together.

However, Artlaser and IPL may cause a stinging sensation and warmth during treatment, so numbing cream is used to help with comfort. Temporary redness or flaking may also occur after treatment.

The degree and duration of improvement for cystic acne in Sinnonhyeon vary depending on each person’s skin condition.

The answer I gave that patient—and how their skin changed afterward

I also told the 31-year-old patient to first let go of their impatience.

Rather than trying to remove the visible acne immediately, the approach was to calm the underlying inflammation in order and give the skin time to recover on its own.

Over the eight weeks, we monitored both sebum and inflammation. We observed the red, swollen areas gradually becoming calmer and the number of new breakouts decreasing.

Of course, the skin did not change overnight, and there were ups and downs depending on their condition along the way. Still, their faint smile as they said they were now a little less worried about scarring stayed with me for a long time.

Skin feels more comfortable when it is cared for gradually while protecting its texture, rather than being pushed impatiently.

A little kindness for your skin today

If you are repeatedly touching the red spot in front of the mirror right now, please gently take your hand away, at least for today, and quietly look at what your skin has been through.

Cystic acne in Sinnonhyeon is not a shameful mark; it is simply one signal sent by the body.

Whatever stage you are in, things can gradually change if you start caring for your skin while protecting its texture, so I hope you will not blame yourself too much.

I hope this article has offered a small pause for your tired mind today.

Dr. Lee Yoo-deuk answers your questions directly

· Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Cystic acne—

Can I squeeze it at home to manage it?

A. Squeezing it with your hands can cause the inflammation to spread deeper and increase the risk of scarring.

Care that addresses underlying inflammation is best carried out step by step after examining the skin’s condition, which can help protect its texture.

Q2. What methods are used for scar treatment?

A. Depending on the type of scar, methods such as CROSS, a chemical treatment; fractional laser treatment; and dermabrasion, a surgical method, may be combined as part of the CLO scar restoration procedure.

When several types of scars are mixed together, different approaches are combined to gradually refine them.

Q3. Is the treatment very painful?

A. Artlaser and IPL may cause a stinging sensation and warmth, so numbing cream is used to help with comfort.

Temporary redness or flaking may occur, and the degree experienced varies from person to person.

Q4. How long do the improvement effects last?

A. Since acne is affected by sebum production, lifestyle habits, and hormones, the duration of maintenance varies from person to person.

Even after calming the inflammation over an eight-week course, continuing to pay attention to cleansing, moisturizing, and maintaining a regular lifestyle can help preserve a stable skin texture for longer.

Q5. Why is dermatological care necessary if cosmetics are not improving my skin?

A. Cosmetics focus on supporting the surface of the skin, but cystic acne often originates in the sebaceous glands and inflammation deep within the skin.

Adding care that directly addresses the sebaceous glands and inflammation can help reduce recurrence and gradually change the pattern that leads to scarring.

Ijiham Dermatology | Dr. Lee Yoo-deuk

Located near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, the clinic is conveniently accessible while you are out and about.

📍 Location:

5th floor, Suite 502 429 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Dongil Building, Seocho-dong)

📞 Phone:

02-567-5900

⏰ Hours

· Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00–19:00

· Saturday: 10:00–17:00

· Lunch break: 13:00–14:30 on weekdays

· Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays