DM DERMATOLOGY
DM Inflamed Acne
INFLAMED ACNE CARE
Red, swollen acne:
we check how inflamed it is first
DM Inflamed Acne is DM Dermatology's aesthetic care focused on calming red, swollen inflammatory acne.
85%
Share of people who get acne
(US, ages 12–24 · American Academy of Dermatology)4
Main factors
involved in acne6–8wk
Time it takes to see changes
from a new medication or product2times
Maximum face washes per day
(plus once more after sweating)
Inflammatory acne is acne in which inflammation has formed inside a clogged pore. It may rise as small red bumps, or pus may form in the center. Acne with pus is often called pustular acne. It is often painful when pressed, and the deeper the inflammation, the more likely it is to leave marks or scars.
The basics of home care are gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. But squeezing inflamed acne with your fingers or rubbing it with a scrub can actually spread the inflammation. At a dermatology clinic, we first check the type of acne and how inflamed it is. Because we are a medical institution, the doctor may decide to use medical devices and medications as well.
Deep, large acne such as nodules or cysts needs medical treatment before aesthetic care. The doctor decides whether topical medication, oral medication, or injections are needed. DM Inflamed Acne does not replace medical treatment. It is care that helps calm the skin between medical treatment and home care, and we explain the actual plan after a diagnosis.
- Inflammatory acne
- Pustular acne
- Red acne
- Breakouts around the chin and mouth
CHECK
If you have these acne concerns
If even one applies to you, have your acne checked first at a consultation.
- Case01
Red, swollen pimples keep coming back
When one spot calms down, another comes up next to it, and they hurt when pressed. - Case02
When pus forms, my hands go to it first
After I squeeze, the spot gets redder, and scabs and marks stay for a long time. - Case03
My chin and mouth area break out often
Before my period or when I'm tired, acne crops up along my jawline. - Case04
The marks acne leaves behind bother me
Red or brown marks remain, and makeup doesn't cover them well. - Case05
My skin became sensitive while using acne medication
It feels dry and stings, and I wonder what care I can have alongside it. - Case06
I've reached my limit managing it on my own
I've switched products several times with similar results, so I want my acne checked first.
HOW ACNE FORMS
Inflammatory acne
starts in clogged pores
Acne forms where the hair follicle, which grows hair, connects with the sebaceous gland, which makes sebum. It is usually explained as forming when the four factors below overlap. Research is still ongoing into the order in which these four factors act.
Squeezing acne with your fingers can push some pus, dead skin cells, and bacteria deeper into the skin. This widens the inflammation, and bacteria from your hands can also cause infection. Spots that are squeezed or picked have a higher risk of red marks, brown pigmentation, and scars.
- Excess sebum
After puberty, hormones such as androgens enlarge the sebaceous glands, and more sebum is produced.
- Clogged pore openings (comedones)
Dead skin cells at the pore opening do not shed in time and clump with sebum to block the opening. This blocked state is called a comedone.
- Growth of acne bacteria
Acne bacteria that normally live on the skin (C. acnes, Cutibacterium acnes) multiply inside pores where sebum has built up.
- Inflammatory response
The body's immune response makes the area around the pore red and swollen. If the pore wall ruptures and its contents leak into the skin (dermis), the inflammation becomes deeper and wider.
- 1
Sebaceous glands Glands attached beside the hair follicle that make sebum and release it into the pore.
- 2
Clogged pore (comedone) A spot where dead skin cells and sebum have clumped and plugged the pore opening.
- 3
Acne bacteria Bacteria that multiply in clogged pores, break down sebum, and produce substances that trigger inflammation.
- 4
Inflamed area The area around the pore that turns red and swollen, and sometimes fills with pus.
ACNE TYPES
Types of acne, stage by stage
TYPE 01
Comedones (whiteheads · blackheads)
Clogged pores without inflammation yet. With a closed opening, they look like small white bumps; with an open one, they look like black dots.
The basics are products that don't clog pores and gentle cleansing. If they last a long time, a medical visit checks whether topical medication is needed.
TYPE 02
Papules · Pustules (red pimples · pus-filled pimples)
Acne in which a comedone becomes inflamed and rises red, or shows white or yellow pus in the center. It is often painful to the touch.
Do not squeeze them at home. At a dermatology clinic, we look at how inflamed they are and decide on the direction of care and medical treatment.
TYPE 03
Nodules · Cysts
Large, hard lumps deep in the skin (nodules) or pus-filled sacs (cysts). They are very painful and tend to leave scars.
Medical treatment comes before care. The doctor decides whether methods such as oral medication or injections are needed.
A single pimple usually calms down in about 2 weeks. However, deep papules or nodules can last for months.
PROCESS
DM Inflamed Acne care process
Below is the general flow. We explain the actual plan and order after checking your skin.
step 01
Consultation · Skin check
We check how long you have had acne, the medications and cosmetics you use, and any recent treatments. If you have many nodules or cysts, we may recommend medical treatment first.
step 02
Cleansing
We gently remove makeup, sebum, and debris. We do not rub inflamed areas.
step 03
Customized care · Soothing
Based on the skin check, our medical staff choose the care method and intensity, then finish with a step that soothes sensitized skin.
step 04
Home-care guidance
After care, we check your skin again and explain how to cleanse, moisturize, and protect your skin from the sun at home, along with the habit of not touching your face.
INFORMATION
What to know before your care
- Session time
- It depends on the plan. Please also allow time for the consultation and skin check. We tell you the exact time at your consultation.
- Numbing
- In general, skin care is often done without numbing. This may differ depending on the plan.
- Right after care
- In general, mild redness or warmth may appear briefly. How strong it is and how long it lasts vary from person to person, and most people can go about their daily lives.
- Frequency · Sessions
- Our medical staff decide based on how inflamed your acne is and your medical treatment plan. Acne medications and new products take several weeks before changes can be seen, so the care schedule is also set together with the treatment plan.
- Medical treatment alongside
- Our medical staff decide whether to have medical treatments such as acne medication or laser on the same day or at a separate time, based on the type of treatment and your skin.
- Keeping results
- Acne can come back even after it improves. It is important to keep up home care and any needed medical treatment together. Results and how long they last vary from person to person.
Caution
Home care and
precautions after care
Skin that has been inflamed turns red again easily, even with slight irritation.
DoHow to care for your skin
- Gentle cleansing
Wash gently with a mild cleanser up to twice a day, and after sweating. Do not rub with scrubs or rough towels.
- Moisturizing
Dry skin becomes more sensitive to irritation. Choose a moisturizer labeled “non-comedogenic” (won't clog pores).
- Sun protection
When you go out, apply a product with SPF 30 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB. Choose a sunscreen that won't clog pores, too.
AvoidWhat to avoid
- Hands off
Do not squeeze or pick at acne. A habit of touching your face often can also make acne worse.
- Pause irritating ingredients
Pause products that can irritate, such as scrubs, exfoliants, and retinol, for the period our medical staff advise. Do not stop prescribed medications on your own; talk with our medical staff.
- Avoid heat
On the day of care, it is better to avoid saunas, hot rooms, and exercise that makes you sweat a lot. Be sure to remove makeup before going to bed.
- Right after care, redness, warmth, stinging, or tightness may appear. These usually settle over time, but how strong they are and how long they last vary from person to person.
- For a few days after care, breakouts may temporarily increase, or dryness and flaking may occur.
- Red marks or brown pigmentation may form where there was inflammation or irritation.
- Rarely, ingredients in the products used during care may cause contact dermatitis (itching, hives, swelling). If you have allergies, please tell us at your consultation.
- If extraction is done, redness, small wounds, or scabs may form at the spot. Rarely, bruising or infection may occur.
- Be sure to tell us before care if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are taking acne medication such as isotretinoin, recently had a laser treatment or peel, or have herpes simplex or dermatitis. We may postpone the care or change the plan.
Results and how the care feels vary from person to person, depending on your acne, lifestyle, home care, and any medical treatment you receive alongside.
DM DOCTOR
Acne type and inflammation,
checked with a board-certified dermatologist
DM Dermatology is a dermatology clinic where our medical director, a board-certified dermatologist, sees patients. Deep acne may need medical treatment before care, so we first decide whether medical treatment is needed.
Dr. Shin Young-ik Medical Director · Board-Certified Dermatologist
- M.S., Hanyang University College of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, Hanyang University
- Full Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Clinical Fellowship in Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College (Thomas Jefferson University), USA
FAQ
01Can I have acne extracted at a dermatology clinic?
Squeezing at home with your fingers raises the risk of spreading inflammation and leaving scars. Dermatology clinics sometimes remove comedones with sterilized instruments, and the American Academy of Dermatology describes this as a method for when acne does not respond well to other treatment. Deep nodules or cysts are not squeezed; they are handled with medical treatment. We will tell you after checking your skin whether DM Inflamed Acne includes extraction.
02How often should I get care for inflammatory acne?
There is no fixed schedule. Our medical staff set your next visit based on how inflamed your acne is, the medications you use, and how your skin responds. Since changes in acne usually take several weeks to show, a plan that continues alongside medical treatment and home care matters more than one or two sessions.
03Can I get care while taking or applying acne medication?
Medical treatment and care can be planned together. However, if you use a medication that makes skin sensitive, such as a retinoid, we may change the care plan or intensity. Be sure to tell us if you are taking isotretinoin. This medication carries a risk of birth defects, so it is not used during pregnancy.
04Why does my acne get worse before my period?
Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle can affect the sebaceous glands and acne. In a US study that asked 400 women with acne, 44% said their acne got worse before their period. If it happens again at the same time in each cycle, talk with the doctor, and your care schedule can also be set with your cycle in mind.
05Can I wear makeup on the day of care?
It depends on the care and how your skin responds. If redness remains or there are small wounds, we may advise you to wait before wearing makeup. Choose cosmetics that don't clog pores, and be sure to remove them before going to bed.
06Does inflammatory acne leave marks or scars?
It can. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that the deeper acne forms in the skin, and the more it is squeezed or picked, the higher the risk of scars. Red or brown marks can stay for a long time even after the acne calms down. Scars that have already formed are discussed separately in a scar treatment consultation.
07Can men get acne care too?
Yes. Men can have consultations and care in the same way. If you have acne in the beard area, we also go over how you shave and the products you use at the consultation. The care plan and intensity are set based on your skin.
08How is this different from acne care at a skin spa?
A dermatology clinic is a medical institution, so the doctor can examine your acne and decide whether medical treatment, such as prescription medication or injections, is needed. If red, painful acne keeps coming back, it may be a skin disease, so it is a good idea to see a doctor first.
09How can I get care for inflammatory acne near Apgujeong or Sinsa?
DM Dermatology is on the 4th floor at 158 Apgujeong-ro, a 2-minute walk from Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5. When you book a consultation, we first check how long you have had acne, the medications and cosmetics you use, and any recent treatments. Then we tell you whether medical treatment is needed and which care suits you.
CONSULTATION
Consultation comes first
Before any treatment is chosen, a board-certified dermatologist checks your skin in person.
DM Dermatology, 4F, 579-1 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
From Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5, walk straight for 50 m. 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Weekdays
- am 10:00 - pm 07:00
- Saturday
- am 10:00 - pm 04:30
- Lunch break
- pm 01:00 - pm 02:00
- Sun & holidays
- By appointment only
- Subway
3Apgujeong StationExit 5
Walk straight for 50 m · 2 min on foot · 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Bus
Apgujeong Station Exit 4 · Exit 32310523429
Blue bus147 · 148 · 240 · 463 · 343Green bus4211
Kwanglim Church · Hyundai High School2310323104
Blue bus143 · 240 · 345 · 472Green bus3011 · 4312 · 4318
- By car
Search in your navigation app158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu디엠피부과의원
Use the building’s underground parking · Parking available in the building
