Acne Laser

The 1,450 nm laser heats the inside of the skin, so you may feel heat and stinging. How much varies from person to person. Cooling gas comes out with the laser, so a cold feeling is mixed in. If you are worried about pain, we apply numbing cream and usually wait 30–60 min before starting. If it feels hot or very painful during treatment, tell us and we will adjust the intensity.

For the full face, it usually takes about 10–30 min. This does not include the time waiting for numbing cream. If numbing cream is applied, we wait 30–60 min before treatment. We tell you the exact time after an examination, based on how widespread your acne is.

Redness and warmth usually settle within a few hours to a day, and if swelling occurs, it may last 1–2 days. On the day, wash gently with lukewarm water, and start makeup the next day. Use cosmetics that do not clog pores (non-comedogenic). For 1–2 days, skip saunas, hot spas, intense exercise, and alcohol.

Typically, 3–4 sessions 3–4 weeks apart. It is hard to judge the change after just one session. We do the next session once redness and skin reactions have settled, and we review progress a few weeks after the last session. We tell you the number of sessions and the interval after an examination.

DM Inflamed Acne care and Agnes work differently from the acne laser, so they are sometimes planned together depending on your acne. Treatment with topical or oral medicine often continues alongside as well. Scars that are already depressed are discussed separately under Scar Treatment. Whether to have them on the same day or spaced apart is decided after an examination, based on your skin.

Yes, it is often planned together with medication. The laser handles sebum and acne bacteria, while topical or oral medicine addresses clogged pores and inflammation. We may advise you to pause retinoid ointment for a few days before and after treatment. If you are taking isotretinoin, be sure to tell us.

The 1,450 nm laser aims to reduce sebum production by heating the sebaceous glands. How much it decreases and how long that lasts vary from person to person. It does not remove the sebaceous glands, so continue cleansing and moisturizing care as well.

It can come back. The laser addresses the current sebaceous glands and acne bacteria, but it cannot change an acne-prone constitution or hormones. After treatment, continue home care such as cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection, along with any medication you need. If acne increases again, we consider more treatment after an examination.

The 1,450 nm wavelength is also used for depressed acne scars. However, the acne laser is a treatment aimed at the acne and sebum appearing now. Scars that are already depressed need different approaches depending on their depth and shape, so we discuss them separately under scar treatment.

Yes. However, tanned skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation. During your course of treatment, block the sun with sunscreen and a hat. If you have recently tanned a lot, we may postpone the date. Skip heavy-sweating exercise and saunas for 1–2 days after treatment.

DM Dermatology is at 4F, 158 Apgujeong-ro (579-1 Sinsa-dong), Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is a 2-minute walk from Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5. When you book, we start by checking your type of acne, the medicines you use, and any recent treatments.