REPIC Clinic Gangnam — Dermatology Clinic
Acne
Acne is not one thing. Dry, barrier-damaged skin breaks out for different reasons than oily skin does, and the same routine can make one better and the other worse.
What usually causes it
- 01
Oily acne (excess sebum)
Too much oil plus dead skin clogs the pore, bacteria grow, and you get whiteheads, blackheads and red bumps. This is the classic T-zone pattern. The job is to control the amount of oil.
How we tell them apart
- Shiny skin within hours of washing
- Blackheads and whiteheads on the nose, forehead and chin
- Breakouts get worse in humid weather or with heavy products
What we'd suggest, by cause
Ethosome PTT
Photodynamic therapy aimed at the oil gland, calming oil and inflammation together.
Skin Botox
Reduces oil output at the surface.
Potenza (sebum gland control)
Targets the oil gland directly.
Aqua Peel / Black Peel
Clears clogged pores. Black Peel is the stronger of the two.
- 02
Dry, barrier-damaged acne
Skin that is dry, tight and over-washed has lost its barrier. It gets irritated, inflamed and breaks out even without much oil. Stripping acne products make it worse. The job is to repair the barrier.
How we tell them apart
- Skin feels tight or stings after washing
- Small red bumps with flaking around them, often on the cheeks
- Acne products make it redder, not better
What we'd suggest, by cause
Rejuran Healer
Barrier repair from the inside.
LDM
Calms inflammation without stripping.
Personal Skin Care Program — By Skin Concern
A routine built for barrier recovery, not oil control.
RF (Thermage FLX · Density)
RF energy delivered to the dermis that supports skin renewal and barrier repair.
- 03
Deep, inflamed acne that needs medication
Painful lumps and widespread inflammation usually need medicine, not just procedures. Isotretinoin or antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor after an exam. An isotretinoin course runs a minimum of 3 to 6 months.
How we tell them apart
- Painful lumps under the skin, not just surface spots
- Breakouts across large areas, not one zone
- Spots leave dark marks or dents behind
What we'd suggest, by cause
Isotretinoin (prescription)
A doctor decides after an exam. Minimum 3 to 6 months, with follow-up.
Oral antibiotics (prescription)
Also a doctor's call, usually for a shorter stretch.
Inflammation Injection
For a single angry cyst that needs to calm down, for example before a trip.
- 04
Marks left behind
Red marks are vessels still active in healing skin. Brown marks are pigment, and often sit in more than one layer. Both are treated after the active acne is under control.
How we tell them apart
- Flat red or pink marks where spots used to be
- Flat brown marks that darken in the sun
- No new spots forming in that area
What we'd suggest, by cause
Gold Toning
Toning that targets the redness (dilated vessels) left around the mark.
Clarity + Helios toning
For brown marks that sit in more than one layer.
Diagnosis comes first
What we look for first is whether the skin is over-producing oil or under-protecting itself. The scan shows oil levels and where the inflammation sits. Then a doctor decides whether medication is part of the plan, because deep acne is not fixed by devices alone.
At the Gangnam clinic a doctor examines your skin in person first. Then a Mark-Vu/Meta-Vu scan and the RSTI report put numbers on what they saw. The plan is built from both, not from the name of the treatment you came in asking for.
Good to know
- Oily and dry acne can coexist: oily T-zone, dry cheeks. The routine is split by zone.
- Squeezing pushes inflammation deeper. It is where most acne scars start.
- A 3 to 6 month isotretinoin course needs follow-up. If you are only in Seoul briefly, say so. The plan leans on what can be done in a visit, and the doctor says what should continue at home.
Common questions
Do I need medication, or can procedures alone fix it?
Depends on depth. Surface breakouts often respond to oil control and peels. Deep, painful acne usually needs medicine, and a doctor decides that after looking at your skin. Procedures help alongside, not instead.
Will acne treatment leave me red for my flight?
Peels and injections have little to no downtime. Potenza can leave the skin pink and dotted for a short time. Give us your departure date and we schedule the stronger steps first.
What about the scars acne left?
Different problem, different guide. Once the active acne is under control we look at scars separately: red marks, brown marks and dented scars each have their own approach. See the scars guide.
Other concerns
Results vary from person to person. A doctor decides on treatment after examining you, and nothing on this page is a promise of outcome.