Acne Treatment: Medical Care or Peeling, Which Comes First? — Acne and Pore Decision Guide

Treatment Guide

Acne goes by one name, but the approach differs depending on whether it is clogged, with small bumps, or red and swollen with inflammation. Mason Clinic, near Exit 7 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, sets out how to decide what to start with now, among acne medical care, MS Glow Peel and aesthetic care.

What does acne treatment address?

Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pores and sebaceous glands, arising from the interplay of increased sebum production, excess keratinization at the pore opening, bacterial growth and the inflammatory response. That is why acne treatment begins not with choosing a single method, but with working out which of these factors is playing the larger part.

Mason Clinic offers acne consultation and prescription, acne care and extraction, and pore reduction as clinical services, and combines them according to your skin condition with MS Glow Peel, which uses acid peeling and spicule peeling together, and aesthetic care that helps soothe the skin and maintain its condition.

If these concerns sound familiar, read this first

Choosing becomes easier once you first separate what bothers you most right now: sebum and small bumps, red inflamed breakouts, or pores that look enlarged.

• Those with recurring sebum and small comedonal breakouts
• Those with frequent breakouts from acne and sebum
• Those concerned about heavy sebum or enlarged pores
• Those with built-up dead skin and roughened texture
• Those who habitually squeeze their acne and worry about scarring

What to tell us before the treatment

With acne-prone skin, there are times when it is better to adjust the timing according to the skin's condition that day and any medication in use. If any of the following apply to you, please tell us during the consultation.

• If you are taking or applying any medication
• If you are using medication that affects the skin's outer layer, such as retinoids, or have recently exfoliated or waxed
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you have had an allergic reaction to a specific ingredient
• If there is a wound or infection in the treatment area

Small clogged bumps, or red, swollen inflammation?

Even with the same acne, when the cause differs, so does the choice. In consultation we check the following three separately.

• Comedones (small clogged bumps) — The pore opening is blocked and sebum and dead skin cells have clumped together. At this stage there is no inflammation yet, so there is little redness or pain, but if left alone they can progress to inflammatory lesions.
• Inflammatory acne — Acne that is red and swollen or has formed pus. When inflammation is severe, soothing and controlling the inflammation often take priority over more aggressive care.
• Sebum and pores — Heavy sebum production makes the pores stand out, or dead skin cells build up at the pore opening and make it look wider.

If scars are mixed in where acne used to be, pore care alone may bring limited change, so we look at these separately.

How Mason Clinic checks

Diagnosis is based on a one-on-one consultation with the director, and what is confirmed is kept on record.

1. One-on-one consultation with the directorWe first check the area of concern, your previous treatment history, any medication you are taking or applying, and any allergies.
2. Skin assessmentWe check which of dead skin, sebum or pores is the main concern, and whether inflammation is active.
3. Medical care and treatment planningBased on what we have found, we decide the order of medical care, treatment and skin care, and also set apart what does not need to be done now.
4. Care and follow-up guidanceWe explain the products used and the order, and go over when to come back for the next check and how to continue at home.

How are medical care, peeling and skin care divided?

It is not a matter of which is better, but of what stands out right now. The options Mason Clinic considers for acne and pore concerns are set out below.

The “main target” in the table is the direction each method aims for. How it is felt and how long it lasts vary from person to person.

With MS Glow Peel, the acid peeling brings change relatively quickly, while the spicule peeling continues over time. Squeezing acne at home can spread the inflammation to deeper layers or leave scars, so for clogged acne we assess the condition in the consultation before deciding on care and extraction.

What determines the number of sessions and the interval?

Just because the visible lesions have settled does not mean the condition inside the pores has cleared with them, so care is often continued while monitoring progress. The number of sessions and the intervals needed vary with the factors below.

• Skin condition — which of dead skin, sebum or pores is the main concern
• Degree of inflammation — whether red, swollen lesions are active
• Purpose and schedule — whether the care is ahead of an important date, or addresses a recurring problem
• Previous treatment history — if you have recently had a peel or exfoliating care, we leave an interval
• Lifestyle factors — hormonal cycle, season and humidity, sleep and stress

Costs for acne consultation and prescription, intralesional injection, and the pores / scars item can be checked in the Non-covered Services Guide. Treatment prices vary by area, materials, and patient condition.

Authorship, review and treatment principles

This article was written and reviewed by Kim Hyun-joo, Director of Mason Clinic. Decisions about treatment are made after your condition has been checked at the consultation.

• We use only products whose genuine-product and proper-dosage certification has been verified.
• All injectables, tips and shot counts are opened in front of you, then photographed and kept on record.
• A skilled aesthetician handles everything from cleansing to aftercare.
• Consultations and treatments are carried out by the director in person.

Frequently asked questions

Related information

• MS Glow Peel — A guide to the signature peel that uses acid peeling and spicule peeling together.
• Mason Aesthetic — Responsible for post-treatment care and maintaining skin condition.
• Skin Health Column · Why acne keeps coming back — The reasons it recurs, starting with the causes.
• Skin Health Column · Three reasons pores look enlarged — The background to why pores stand out, explained one by one.
• Skin Encyclopedia · Comedo — The early lesion of acne.
• Skin Encyclopedia · Inflammatory acne — The characteristics of red, swollen acne.
• Treatment Guide · Rejuran Healer and Juvelook: What to Base Your Choice On — The criteria for choosing a skin booster by texture, hydration and elasticity.
• Treatment Guide · Botox and Filler: Which One Is Right for Me? — The criteria for sorting wrinkle and volume concerns.

This column is general medical information provided to aid understanding. It does not guarantee the results of any specific treatment and does not replace a medical consultation. Treatment results and the course of recovery vary from person to person. Please confirm what is appropriate for your own condition through a consultation.