Advanced Acne Vulgaris Treatments at Nirunda Clinic in Bangkok

Acne vulgaris is a dermatological condition that affects people across the globe. This common skin issue most frequently arises during puberty, when hormones like estrogen stimulate oil glands in both men and women. While sebum, our skin’s natural oil, has essential protective and lubricating properties, excessive secretion can cause problematic breakouts. Excessive sebum accumulates and clogs pores, creating an environment ripe for bacterial growth, which proliferates and causes acne.
With modern technology, many tailored acne treatment options are now available in Bangkok and across Thailand. At Nirunda Clinic, these might include sensitive skin treatments, acne extraction, hormonal treatments, Roaccutane treatment, cortisone injections, laser procedures, and acne scar removal treatments, depending on the severity of your acne condition.
Causes of Acne Vulgaris
Hormonal Fluctuations
One of the primary causes of acne vulgaris is hormonal imbalance. Specifically, androgens like testosterone stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce an overabundance of sebum. These hormonal surges are particularly common during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy, which explains the high rates of acne during these life stages.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetics also play a significant role in the onset of acne vulgaris. If your parents or siblings had acne, you are more likely to have it as well. Genetic factors can influence the size of the sebaceous glands, the skin's response to hormonal shifts, and even the body's inflammatory responses, which all contribute to acne formation.
Diet and Lifestyle
Dietary choices, especially the intake of high-glycemic index foods like sugary treats and processed goods, can exacerbate acne vulgaris. Such foods lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar, subsequently causing insulin levels to rise. Elevated insulin can contribute to increased sebum production, thereby worsening acne. Lifestyle elements, including inadequate sleep and chronic stress, can also aggravate acne through hormonal imbalances and inflammation.
Environmental Factors
Environmental elements can also contribute to acne vulgaris. Prolonged exposure to excessive humidity or pollutants can block pores, while occlusive skincare products can trap sebum and bacteria. Moreover, certain medications, such as corticosteroids and antiepileptic drugs, are known to induce acne as a side effect.
Understanding Types Of Acne
For comprehensive treatment, it’s important to understand and recognize the two main categories of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
Non-inflammatory acne, composed mainly of blackheads and whiteheads, lacks the redness and swelling commonly associated with its inflammatory counterpart. On the other hand, inflammatory acne includes conditions like papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts, which are often red, swollen, and painful.
Non-inflammatory Acne
- Blackheads (open comedones): Blackheads occur when a pore is clogged by a combination of sebum and dead skin cells. The top of the pore stays open despite the rest of it being clogged. This results in the characteristic black color seen on the surface.
- Whiteheads (closed comedones): Whiteheads also form when a pore gets clogged by sebum and dead skin cells. But unlike with blackheads, the top of the pore also closes up. It looks like a small bump protruding from the skin. Whiteheads are more difficult to treat because the pores are already closed.
Inflammatory Acne
Pimples that are red and swollen are referred to as inflammatory acne. Although sebum and dead skin cells contribute to inflammatory acne, bacteria can also contribute by causing an infection deep beneath the skin’s surface. This may result in painful acne spots that are hard to get rid of.
- Papules: Papules occur when the walls surrounding your pores break down from severe inflammation. This results in hard, clogged pores that are tender to the touch. The skin around these pores is usually pink.
- Pustules: Pustules can also form when the walls around your pores break down. Unlike papules, pustules are filled with pus. These bumps come out from the skin and are usually red in color. They often have yellow or white heads on top.
- Nodules: Nodules occur when clogged, swollen pores endure further irritation and grow larger. Unlike pustules and papules, nodules are deeper underneath the skin. Because nodules are so deep within the skin, you can’t typically treat them at home. Prescription medication is necessary to help clear these up.
- Cysts: Cysts can develop when pores are clogged by a combination of bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells. The clogs occur deep within the skin and are further below the surface than nodules. These large red or white bumps are often painful to the touch. Cysts are the largest form of acne, and their formation usually results from a severe infection. This type of acne is also the most likely to scar.
Acne Vulgaris Treatment in Bangkok
Anyone can get acne vulgaris, as acne is also known, but the severity depends on various internal and external factors. Despite being so common, many people still aren’t sure when to seek treatment at a clinic. The best answer we can give is to seek treatment when your acne is unmanageable, causes mental distress, or disrupts daily activities.
Acne Treatment Clinic
If you experience extreme and persistent acne symptoms, it may be time to seek professional acne extraction or laser treatment services. Bangkok residents can visit Nirunda Clinic for a variety of acne treatments provided by board-certified dermatologists, including:
- Medicine and topical cream: These are prescribed by our dermatologists. Prescription medications and topical creams tailored to your skin type.
- Acne injections: This approach uses cortisone-based acne injections in Bangkok designed to flatten inflammatory pimples and cysts.
- Acne laser treatments: Available at our Bangkok clinic, our state-of-the-art laser treatments include ISOLAZ and Lux-V lasers, which are recognized as some of the safest and most effective methods for acne treatment.
- Chemical peels: This is an optional treatment that helps boost the effectiveness of other treatments. Dermatologists usually recommend it with other treatments for optimal results.
- Blue light therapy: This helps minimize acne inflammation by killing the bacteria responsible for acne-related irritation.
If you're in Bangkok and seeking advanced acne treatment, consult our board-certified dermatologists at Nirunda Clinic. For those grappling with severe acne, options such as professional acne extraction or laser treatment may be particularly beneficial.
Acne Laser Treatment
Acne laser treatment focuses laser light on the top layers of skin to break down scar tissue and provide a smoother appearance to your skin. The light also stimulates the growth of healthy skin cells to replace the scar tissue.
There are different acne laser treatments available at our clinic in Bangkok. Our specialists will recommend which one is right for you from various options, such as:
- A collagen remodeling acne laser treatment improves the functioning capabilities of the skin by penetrating the sebaceous layer. This stimulates collagen production and helps reduce the depth of the acne blemishes.
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is more suitable for those with inflammatory acne. The blue-light rays help destroy bacteria, while the red-light rays help heal wounds, improve skin cell function, and stimulate the growth of collagen.
Acne laser treatment doesn’t completely remove acne scars, but it can make them less visible and can also minimize any pain caused by them. Additionally, it may not be recommended for people with darker skin tones, very wrinkled skin, or active acne. It’s important to consult our specialists to understand the acne treatments available for you at our clinic.
Acne Extraction Treatment
If cystic acne becomes too painful and interferes with your daily life, our clinic in Bangkok also offers a procedure called acne extraction treatment to provide relief.
Acne extraction is a medical procedure that clears the pores of the comedones that have formed in the skin with the help of sterile tools. Extraction helps the acne heal faster and prevents new breakouts from forming. In some cases where comedones have caused a pustule or papule to form, removing the plug reduces the size of the bump on your skin and helps reduce the skin inflammation.
Our specialists employ magnification during acne extraction to clearly visualize and thoroughly clean clogged pores. Pre-treatment solutions may be used to ease the extraction and reduce the risk of bruising. This procedure treats active breakouts and serves as a preventive measure. When combined with our other treatments, it accelerates improvement in affected areas.
Acne Cortisone Injection Treatments
Nirunda Clinic in Bangkok offers cortisone injection treatments that can lessen the swelling, inflammation, and pain of cystic acne. Cystic acne occurs when a combination of oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells gets trapped in your pores. The treatment consists of a diluted corticosteroid, which is injected directly into the swollen acne nodules. It can be very effective at shrinking the nodules and providing pain relief.
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that mimic the body’s natural cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands. Some of the more common corticosteroids include cortisone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone. Corticosteroids reduce the activity of the immune system, which decreases inflammation, a by-product of the body reacting and fighting bacteria and foreign substances in the skin.
Roaccutane Treatments for Acne
Roaccutane acne treatments, the brand name of Isotretinoin capsules, are also available at our clinic in Bangkok. This can be an effective treatment for severe cases of acne. However, taking the capsules can have serious side effects, and our doctors will have to determine whether Roaccutane is the right treatment for you.
You’ll undergo a blood test before you start the treatment and have regular appointments at our clinic during treatment to check for any side effects. The treatment will start to take effect after a week to 10 days, and your skin may get worse before improvement is seen.
Acne Scar Treatment
Our clinic in Bangkok also offers effective acne scar removal treatments, including Intense Pulsed Light therapy, Radiofrequency, and subcision scar removal treatments. These treatments effectively remove the black and red colored scars, spots, and blemishes from your skin.
Our IPL and RF treatment works in two ways. The IPL causes the scarred skin color to lighten, while the RF stimulates the growth of collagen in the underlying skin. At Bangkok clinic, our subcision scar removal treatment involves inserting a small needle into the skin directly under the scar. A dermatologist uses the needle to break the fibers that connect the scar tissue to the underlying skin so it can be lifted off of the surrounding tissue. The use of the hypodermic needle also stimulates the growth of collagen in the surrounding skin, which provides further healing benefits.
Pre- and Post-Treatment Care
Before Treatment
Prior to starting any acne treatment at Nirunda Clinic in Bangkok, our dermatologists will assess your skin type, medical history, and lifestyle factors to determine the best approach. You may be advised to avoid direct sun exposure, stop using retinoids or harsh exfoliants, and refrain from facial waxing or chemical peels for a few days before your session, especially if laser or chemical treatments are part of the plan.
After Treatment
Post-treatment care depends on the type of acne therapy you receive. For laser treatments, extractions, or peels, you’ll need to avoid sun exposure, intense physical activity, and using harsh products that may irritate sensitive skin while you’re receiving acne treatment at our Bangkok clinic.
Patients may be advised to avoid using makeup for 24 to 48 hours following more intensive treatments. Additionally, use gentle cleansers, moisturize regularly, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, and follow aftercare instructions.
Potential Side Effects of Acne Treatments
While acne treatments at Nirunda Clinic are administered under strict medical supervision, some side effects may still occur depending on the individual and the procedure. You may experience redness and mild swelling, especially after laser or extraction treatments. Although rare, you might see some bruising in some areas following cortisone injections or extractions.
There may also be temporary skin sensitivity, dryness, peeling, or flaking during recovery after chemical peels. If post-treatment care isn’t followed correctly, there may be some hyperpigmentation or light scarring on the treated areas. Most of these side effects are temporary and subside with proper care and follow-up guidance from our dermatologists.
Expected Result Timelines
The timeline for visible results depends on your specific acne condition and treatment plan. Consistently following your dermatologist’s plan and maintaining a suitable skincare routine will yield the best long-term outcome. Here’s a general timeline:
- Topical or oral medications: It typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to start seeing noticeable improvement.
- Cortisone injections: Shrinking of cysts through cortisone injections at our Bangkok clinic usually takes effect within 24 to 72 hours.
- Acne laser treatment: Initial results may appear after 1 to 2 sessions, with full effects visible in 2 to 3 months.
- Acne scar treatment: Noticeable changes often require multiple sessions spaced weeks apart. Full results, especially for deeper scars, can take several months.
- Roaccutane treatment: Improvement typically starts after 1 to 2 months, with a full course lasting 4 to 6 months of daily intake.
Acne Prevention Tips
You can avoid bad breakouts and recurring cases of acne by looking after your skin and living a healthy lifestyle. Diet-wise, reducing your consumption of sugar, flour, milk, salty food, sweets, and deep-fried food can help improve your skin.
Choosing hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic creams and other skincare products can help prevent acne inflammations. Avoid taking drugs containing steroids, as they can lead to increased pore blockages and cause acne breakouts. Avoid using sunscreens and moisturizers when you’re experiencing acne inflammation. Sunscreens with a high SPF factor are more likely to block pores.
Avoid squeezing and picking whiteheads and blackheads. Your fingers can introduce more bacteria to the affected areas. Picking blemishes also leads to atrophic scarring. To learn more about acne prevention and the variety of acne treatments available at Nirunda Clinic in Bangkok, make an appointment with one of our skilled specialists today.
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