Hello, this is Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic, the beginning of Coratherapy for removing scars.
Acne has always been a persistent skin concern for us, from adolescence to adulthood.
Since it is a common issue for many people, there are cases where individuals attempt to extract acne at home.
However, depending on the type of acne, there are cases where self-extraction is possible and cases where a visit to the clinic is absolutely necessary.
So how can we distinguish between these cases?
Today, for the sake of your skin health, we will discuss the types of acne,
when self-extraction is possible, precautions during extraction,
and treatment methods for acne scars in detail.

Types of Acne

Acne can be broadly divided into non-inflammatory and inflammatory types.
Non-inflammatory acne refers to forms without pain or redness, such as blackheads and whiteheads, also known as comedonal acne.
On the other hand, inflammatory acne is what we commonly refer to as “having acne,”
characterized by redness, swelling, and pain caused by the proliferation of acne-causing bacteria.
Inflammatory acne can be further categorized into papular, pustular, nodular, and cystic acne depending on the severity of the inflammation,
and these types of acne require special caution during extraction.

Papular acne is the initial stage of inflammation, where the skin becomes red, raised, and painful but
pus is not yet visible. If the inflammation progresses further, it develops into pustular acne,
commonly referred to as pustular or purulent acne, where pus is visibly accumulated.
Nodular acne is a more severe stage, where the inflammation penetrates deep into the skin, causing hard and painful lumps.
At this stage, manual extraction is almost impossible, and attempting it forcibly can lead to acne scars.
Finally, the most severe stage is cystic acne, where pus forms a sac-like structure beneath the skin,
often accompanied by significant dermal damage. Without proper treatment,
it can result in deep and severe acne scars, necessitating professional treatment.

Acne That Should Not Be Extracted

As mentioned earlier, starting from nodular acne, manual extraction is almost impossible.
However, regardless of the type of acne, it is generally recommended not to attempt extraction.
If comedonal acne is improperly extracted, it can leave deep ice pick scars,
and extracting inflammatory acne can result in boxcar, rolling, or ice pick acne scars.
Additionally, improper extraction can lead to more severe infections,
which may not only cause scars but also pigmentation, worsening of acne, and further damage to skin health. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid extraction.

So, is there no type of acne that can be self-extracted?
There is only one case where self-extraction is possible.
It is when the pus is visibly protruding and about to burst,
especially if the acne is not painful when touched. In such cases, you can extract it yourself, provided you maintain strict hygiene.

Precautions When Extracting Acne

However, there are important considerations when extracting acne yourself.
These are ‘hygiene’ and ‘care.’

• Wash your hands and face thoroughly
• Use alcohol swabs, lancets, and cotton swabs
• Disinfect the area after extraction
• Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment
• Use hydrocolloid patches

By maintaining strict hygiene and managing the area to prevent inflammation after extraction,
you can extract the type of acne mentioned above without leaving acne scars.

Coratherapy

But what if you fail to manage it properly, or if you extracted acne that should not have been extracted, leaving scars?
In the case of pigmentation that appears brown, it often fades naturally over time,
and can be sufficiently treated with toning lasers or whitening creams.
The real issue, however, is depressed acne scars.
Depressed acne scars occur due to abnormal healing processes where adhesion forms during tissue recovery.
These scars are difficult to heal naturally over time.
In such cases, Coratherapy is the solution.

Since 2006, Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic has been offering Coratherapy,
which uses specially designed incision needles to
release deep adhesions in the skin and induce the regeneration of new tissue in the created space.
The accumulated regenerative material promotes collagen production, filling the scar area and
fundamentally restoring the skin tissue, allowing new skin to regenerate from the dermal layer.
Because this treatment leverages the skin’s natural regenerative power,
it is a tailored solution regardless of the type or cause of the scar,
making it effective even for severe depressed acne scars.

However, preventing scars is more important than treating them.
Rodam Korean Medicine Clinic has been addressing not only scars but also various skin concerns for 21 years.
If you are struggling with acne, please refrain from attempting extraction at home and feel free to visit Rodam anytime.
We will be with you until the day your skin concerns are resolved. Thank you.