ACNE-free Skin | 青春豆 .痤疮治疗 | Korean Aesthetic Clinic
Acne marks. Pimples. Zits. Pimple scars.


So what causes acne?

Well, to put it simply, it’s the blockage of our pores. And if we dont manage it carefully, it leads to acne scarring. Most acne medications BOUGHT OVER THE COUNTER are drying to the skin. They work by reducing sebum. Benzoyl peroxide works by killing the P Acne bacteria.
The flipside of course is the triggering of skin irritation and inflammation. Never attempt to wage this battle alone. Acne is not rocket science, but there is a complex range of conditions. If over the counter medications do not work after 2 weeks, it is time to enlist the help of your friendly Dermatologist to guide you thru the various treatment regimes.

So the question is- how do we treat acne?
In the latest 2020 guidelines released, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends combination treatment for acne. The aim of treatment is to reduce acne outbreaks and minimise the dreaded acne scarring.I believe in the combination of good basic cleansing and toning, topicals+/- medication, chemical peels and laser treatment, to obtain optimum results. Acne should be actively managed to reduce the risk of permanent scarring.
Acne can be divided into non inflammatory, inflammatory and acne scars.
Non inflammatory: comedones, blackheads, whiteheads
1) Blackheads – extraction BY A PROFESSIONAL
2) Whiteheads – retinoids ( retacnyl, differin), AHA peels and scrubs to remove the gunk and unclog the pore. Retin A based creams work well on long term acne control, and have anti ageing benefits too.
Inflammatory: Angry, red, bumpy pimples
1) Benzoyl peroxide based topical treatment, plus minus oral antibiotics. | This is my secret and you can do this without seeing a doctor. Depending on skin sensitivity, I like to use clindamycin, clindoxyl and epiduo. I will explain more in my video.
2) Laser and AHA based medical peels | control your skin sebum, and increase exfoliation.
3) Blue light and antibiotics | to kill p.acne bacteria. Only when active acne is controlled, can we proceed to acne scar treatment.
Dr Daniel Chang’s 3 STEP ACNE Treatment Formula:
1- Laser/ Light/ Peel
2- Topical medication +/- oral
3- Lifestyle changes | ( Will share more in my video)
Combination Treatment | Medical peels + Laser Light + Blue light therapy ( unclog pores, control oil,kill p. acne bacteria)
- Cleanse gently, splashing with warm water and pat dry
- Apply moisturiser gently. No rubbing.
-
*Top Homecare Tip* Dab anti-acne cream, gently, no rubbing, with a cotton bud. Key to effective treatment here are ingredients containing retinoid + benzoyl peroxide. But balancing the side effects require time and careful use. |Epiduo, Differin cream, clindoxyl and clindamycin are my top choices | (Retin A based creams like retacnyl, differin work best with benzoyl peroxide based antibiotic creams for example clindoxyl and epiduo, but these products are harsher and do cause more skin irritation, so its important to learn how best to apply them onto your face for optimum efficacy and minimal side effects. Watch my video to learn more.
Daniel Chang
If you enjoyed this video, feelfree to subscribe and share so i can earn more royalties from Youtube lol
Acne triggers | Lifestyle GUIDE
- Diet | Studies have shown that dairy products, food rich in GI, and fried oily food are a no no. They tend to provoke a hormonal surge, which is the trigger for acne. Thats probably why acne tends to affect people in developed countries, where the diet is so rich.
- Lifestyle | Stress is no good. Thats why breakouts tend to occur after frequent OTs, after a flight (as the cabin air is super-drying to your skin), before an important photo-event etc. Keeping a regular exercise regime and sleeping sufficiently helps!
- Contact | And, in this day and age, its our dreaded mask. Minimise contact with your fingers. Dap, and not wipe, your face with a towel. Apply cosmetics sparingly. Use oil-free, non comedogenic products. And when applying acne treatment like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, adopt a hands-free approach. All these serve to reduce inflammation. As for how to select the right products for your skin, and how to use them appropriately, please speak to your Aesthetic physician for further information.
Now, let me share with you my TOP skincare tips for acne control.
- Cleanse, exfoliate and go easy | Gently clean your face 2x a day, using a minimal touch technique. Dont overclean your face. (This is to remove all the old and dead skin that is clogging the pores, but not over irritating your skin.)
- Use oil free or ‘non comedogenic’ makeup products | Remember, you use makeup to look more beautiful, not to look worsen your acne.
- Never ever squeeze a pimple and minimise touching your face | I know its easier said than done. You risk scarring, darkening and spreading the pimple to other parts of your precious face
- Wash your pillowcase, and your pillow on a regular basis | *Question: How many of you still let your parents do this for you, own up now lol* Your pillows otherwise collect all the sebum, makeup and dirt that contribute to pore clogging.
Common pitfalls: Lifestyle mistakes
- No moisturiser used OR Mistaking aloe vera gel as a moisturiser | A well moisturised skin will help with sebum control and reduce clogging of pores, which leads to acne. And keep yourself well hydrated. Healthy skin starts from within. Oftentimes, the patients I see having breakouts do not use mositurisers. They may use aloe vera gel (which is NOT a moisturiser). Moisturising helps. The skin takes a month to get used to a new product. 2 months to stabilise. 3 months to gain good control.
- Too much makeup | When you cover your skin with heavy makeup, this becomes a vicious cycle as makeup clogs pores. If u run your fingers over your skin, you may feel mini bumps, common over the cheeks, jawline and forehead.
- Habit of picking your pimples, squeezing them | *raises hand* I confess i have itchy fingers too lol! This is a major NO no! Scar and pigmentation risk is high. Some people go to beauticians for their extractions. I dont recommend this, but if you must, find a professional to do it for you.





(pictures courtesy of dermnetnz)
- Mild (comedonal acne or mild inflammatory acne): topicals retinoids +/- AHA, BHAs
- Moderate: oral and topical antibiotics for inflamed acne, + benzoyl peroxide, +/- OCPs
- Severe (nodular): please speak to your dermatologist
Now lets move on to common queries about acne.
Why do some people get breakouts after a chemical peel or laser?
There are 3 main reasons.
- Skin is too dry. Hence not suitable for treatment.
- Skin is unstable, and having active breakouts. This can be due to a multitude of reasons. So any treatment during this period acts to purge pimples.
- Skin is reacting to the skincare that was used after the treatment. Remember, it takes time to get used to a new product.
Why do many people get breakouts after a holiday?
1- Stress. This can be in the form of unhealthy sleep habits, unhealthy lifestyle, unhealthy diet, which often happens when we want to ‘live life to the fullest’ during our vacation. =)
2 – Change in humidity. This stresses your skin and oil water balance.
3 – They had too much yummi-licious food during the holiday!
- ALL Aesthetic treatments, do click here Ultimate Guide to Korean Medical Aesthetics.
- Threadlifts, pls click here Facelift, V-Lift.
- Dermal fillers, pls click here ABCs to Dermal Fillers.
- Pigments and pigmentation in skin. Please click here PIGMENTS
This was very informational. I have been confused about the difference between Rhinoplasty, Nose Fillers and HIKO Nose Threadlift for…
[…] For more information, you can check out Dr Daniel’s blog at:https://drdanielchang.com/2016/06/24/a-beautiful-asian-nose-hiko-vs-nose-fillers-vs-rhinoplasty/ […]
When someone writes an paragraph he/she keeps the idea of a user in his/her brain that how a user can…
When someone writes an paragraph he/she keeps the idea of a user in his/her brain that how a user can…
Thanks for your kind words Linda 😊