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Stop Wasting Money on Acne Products. Seriously. Forget the drugstore aisles and over-the-counter (OTC) products. This is the only guide you'll need.
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Okay, sorry for the clickbait title. BUT!! If you read this article carefully, all your questions about acne will be answered.
Wondering which drugstore product to buy? You don't need to. Stop wasting your money at Olive Young (or any drugstore) on general-purpose products. Let's begin.
Hello! I'm the director of Tatoa Clinic. This post is all about acne. Once it appears, it never seems to heal, it's painful, it's ugly, if you leave it, you want to pop it, if you pop it, your doctor scolds you, and the scars... they last forever... Acne... what on earth are we supposed to do?!!!!
The director of Tatoa Clinic is impatient, so I'll give you the conclusion first.
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The 5 Golden Rules for Acne ๐ค
- When it's slightly painful to the touch, get an "inflammation injection."
- If it's ready, get it professionally extracted.
- Do not touch your face.
- "Do not pop it with your hands." (Please..)
- Get a prescription for acne medication and use it.
*I'll cover point 5 in more detail below.
It's the same old advice, but I have to emphasize it again: Please, absolutely, do not pop pimples with your hands.
If you absolutely must pop it at home, you must follow this method:
๐ How to Safely Extract at Home
- Buy a comedone extractor (extraction tool) from a drugstore.
- Clean the extractor with an alcohol swab.
- Clean the acne area with an alcohol swab.
- Apply pressure from 360-degree directions around the pimple.
- Squeeze out the sebum and blood sufficiently (but do not be excessive).
- Disinfect with alcohol and press firmly for 5 minutes to stop any bleeding.
- Do not rub the area while applying pressure.
*Using a store-bought extractor and alcohol swabs
๐ก Pro-Tip for Prevention!
If you are an "acne-prone person," it's best to start managing your skin *before* breakouts happen with a laser like the "Capri Laser."
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Your Acne Questions, Answered ๐
Here are the most common questions I get:
Q1. Why do I get acne?
A.
- Sebum (oil) is produced in the sebaceous gland.
- Dead skin cells (keratin) block the pore, trapping the sebum.
- Acne bacteria feed on the sebum and multiply, creating inflammatory substances.
- This inflammatory mix stays trapped.
- You get a pimple.
Q2. Is it okay to pop pimples?
A. Yes, it is. However, don't use your hands. Get it extracted at a clinic or use a sterilized extractor at home.
Q3-1. What about scarring (pigmentation/dark spots)?
A. Fundamentally, this type of acne scar (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) will fade in 6 months to 1 year. The more you touch it, the longer it will take to disappear. To speed it up, you can get laser toning to break up the melanin pigment. However, it does not disappear dramatically fast.
Q3-2. What about scarring (indented scars)?
A. In the case of indented scars, they might all look the same, but if you look closely, their shapes are slightly different. (Icepick, Boxcar, Rolling scars)
There are many methods like Fraxel, TCA peeling, Mirajet, Curejet, Juvelook, Subcision, CO2 laser, etc., but an injection of Juvelook (a skin booster) via Mirajet (or Curejet) is highly effective.
Especially for rolling scars, the key is the white vertical bands (fibrosis) you see in pictures. The deep layer of the skin and the surface are tightly bound. You must break this bond, either through subcision (physically cutting the bands with a needle) or by injecting Juvelook with Mirajet to sever that connection.
Q4. Does bad gut health cause acne?
A. Bad gut health and acne have no correlation. Usually, during times of stress, low physical stamina, or after eating a lot of strange foods like fried things, our body's balance collapses. This is when you *simultaneously* get an upset stomach and acne. One does not cause the other.
Q5. What are the best cosmetics for acne?
A. You should use cosmetics for oily skin, not dry skin. Products for oily skin contain less "oil," so they are less likely to induce acne compared to cosmetics for dry skin.
ย 
Treatments and Medications ๐งฎ
Q6. What are the treatment methods?
A.
- Budding acne: Inflammation injection & Capri Laser
- Active acne (within 1 week): Inflammation injection
- Acne pigmentation: Laser toning
- Indented acne scars: Mirajet + Juvelook
Q7. What medications are effective?
A.
- Pills to suppress sebum (Component: Isotretinoin) ex. Tretin Soft Capsule
- Pills to kill acne bacteria (Component: Antibiotic, Minocycline) ex. Minocin
- Topical medication (Antibiotic component) ex. Creocin
For Isotretinoin, it's recommended not to administer it to adolescents (under 17). Prescriptions differ from person to person, but I usually prescribe 2 and 3.
I personally love Creocin.
Q8. What is the acne laser (Capri Laser)?
A. The Capri Laser is the most famous. It has 3 modes, and by appropriately adjusting the intensity of each, it can be effective.
- A mode to suppress sebaceous glands.
- A mode to sterilize acne bacteria.
- A mode to calm active acne.
ย 
Conclusion: The Acne Compendium ๐
That's all for today's content on acne. If you understand the above, you'll be able to end your battle with acne.
Today's content might have been a bit boring. If there's anything you skipped, go back and read it.
No matter what OTC products you buy at the pharmacy, it's all just advertising. Why are prescription drugs called "prescription drugs"? Because they are powerful. (A prescription drug is a medicine that requires a doctor's prescription.)
This article is truly the compendium of acne treatment. If you have any more questions, please contact Tatoa Clinic!~ ๐
๐ก
Acne Treatment: Core Summary
โจ Rule 1: Do NOT pop with your hands. Use a clean extractor or see a pro.
๐ Rule 2: Early acne = Inflammation Shot. Go to the clinic when it first hurts.
๐งฎ Scars:Indented Scars = Mirajet + Juvelook
๐ฉโ๐ป Meds: Prescription meds > OTC ads. (The doctor loves Creocin).
Timing is everything. Early intervention is the secret to avoiding scars.
Frequently Asked Questions โ
Q: Why does acne form?
A: It's a combination of excess sebum (oil), clogged pores from dead skin cells, and the growth of acne bacteria, which causes inflammation.
Q: Does bad gut health really cause acne?
A: There is no direct correlation. Stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep can cause *both* gut issues and acne at the same time.
Q: Can indented scars (craters) be fixed?
A: Yes. While they vary, a combination of treatments like Mirajet with Juvelook (a skin booster) is highly effective at breaking up scar tissue and rebuilding collagen.
Q: What is the first thing I should do when I feel a pimple forming?
A: Do not touch it. The best course of action is to visit a dermatologist for an "inflammation injection" (a quick steroid shot) to calm it down immediately.
Q: What are the most effective medications?
A: Prescription medications are superior to OTC products. These include topical antibiotics (like Creocin/Clindamycin), oral antibiotics (like Minocycline), or sebum suppressants (like Isotretinoin), which all require a doctor's consultation.
ย
ย
Okay, sorry for the clickbait title. BUT!! If you read this article carefully, all your questions about acne will be answered.
Wondering which drugstore product to buy? You don't need to. Stop wasting your money at Olive Young (or any drugstore) on general-purpose products. Let's begin.
Hello! I'm the director of Tatoa Clinic. This post is all about acne. Once it appears, it never seems to heal, it's painful, it's ugly, if you leave it, you want to pop it, if you pop it, your doctor scolds you, and the scars... they last forever... Acne... what on earth are we supposed to do?!!!!
The director of Tatoa Clinic is impatient, so I'll give you the conclusion first.
ย
The 5 Golden Rules for Acne ๐ค
*I'll cover point 5 in more detail below.
It's the same old advice, but I have to emphasize it again: Please, absolutely, do not pop pimples with your hands.
If you absolutely must pop it at home, you must follow this method:
๐ How to Safely Extract at Home
*Using a store-bought extractor and alcohol swabs
If you are an "acne-prone person," it's best to start managing your skin *before* breakouts happen with a laser like the "Capri Laser."
ย
Your Acne Questions, Answered ๐
Here are the most common questions I get:
Q1. Why do I get acne?
A.
Q2. Is it okay to pop pimples?
A. Yes, it is. However, don't use your hands. Get it extracted at a clinic or use a sterilized extractor at home.
Q3-1. What about scarring (pigmentation/dark spots)?
A. Fundamentally, this type of acne scar (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) will fade in 6 months to 1 year. The more you touch it, the longer it will take to disappear. To speed it up, you can get laser toning to break up the melanin pigment. However, it does not disappear dramatically fast.
Q3-2. What about scarring (indented scars)?
A. In the case of indented scars, they might all look the same, but if you look closely, their shapes are slightly different. (Icepick, Boxcar, Rolling scars)
There are many methods like Fraxel, TCA peeling, Mirajet, Curejet, Juvelook, Subcision, CO2 laser, etc., but an injection of Juvelook (a skin booster) via Mirajet (or Curejet) is highly effective.
Especially for rolling scars, the key is the white vertical bands (fibrosis) you see in pictures. The deep layer of the skin and the surface are tightly bound. You must break this bond, either through subcision (physically cutting the bands with a needle) or by injecting Juvelook with Mirajet to sever that connection.
Q4. Does bad gut health cause acne?
A. Bad gut health and acne have no correlation. Usually, during times of stress, low physical stamina, or after eating a lot of strange foods like fried things, our body's balance collapses. This is when you *simultaneously* get an upset stomach and acne. One does not cause the other.
Q5. What are the best cosmetics for acne?
A. You should use cosmetics for oily skin, not dry skin. Products for oily skin contain less "oil," so they are less likely to induce acne compared to cosmetics for dry skin.
ย
Treatments and Medications ๐งฎ
Q6. What are the treatment methods?
A.
Q7. What medications are effective?
A.
For Isotretinoin, it's recommended not to administer it to adolescents (under 17). Prescriptions differ from person to person, but I usually prescribe 2 and 3.
I personally love Creocin.
Q8. What is the acne laser (Capri Laser)?
A. The Capri Laser is the most famous. It has 3 modes, and by appropriately adjusting the intensity of each, it can be effective.
ย
Conclusion: The Acne Compendium ๐
That's all for today's content on acne. If you understand the above, you'll be able to end your battle with acne.
Today's content might have been a bit boring. If there's anything you skipped, go back and read it.
No matter what OTC products you buy at the pharmacy, it's all just advertising. Why are prescription drugs called "prescription drugs"? Because they are powerful. (A prescription drug is a medicine that requires a doctor's prescription.)
This article is truly the compendium of acne treatment. If you have any more questions, please contact Tatoa Clinic!~ ๐
Acne Treatment: Core Summary
Frequently Asked Questions โ