List of Certified Acne Treatments in Singapore – Compiled by a Doctor

The most common skin condition that adolescents or adults of different walks of life encounter is acne. The number of acne cases done by dermatologists is probably more than any other aesthetic procedure they have delivered in their years of practice.

There are a lot of acne treatments available

The effectiveness and duration of treatments vary between patients. For some, their body’s response may be quicker as compared to others who may take a while to see improvements. But, did you know that sometimes successful and faster results may actually be caused by the state that the acne is at during the time of the treatment?

Confused? Here’s the explanation.

Let’s say you’ve had a breakout of pimples and on the first week you decided to try home or over-the-counter remedies to treat them. Chances are, these kinds of treatment may bring gradual improvement, but it will take a long time for the acne to completely clear out. You get impatient with the little improvement on your skin, so you decide to see a dermatologist the following week without knowing that your pimples are on the verge of drying out. The dermatologist then administers a certain treatment to your pimples, which responds faster to the product. You might think that the treatment did all the work, but in reality, the time that it was administered (which was during the stage of the pimple’s clearing out) that enabled the acne to subside fully and quickly.

Now that you have an idea about how this factor affects the faster healing of your acne, let us take a look on the various acne treatments that have been tried, tested, and certified to give quick and effective results.

What are the best and fastest acne treatments available in Singapore?

Among all the acne treatments being offered in the different aesthetic clinics in Singapore, the following have made their mark in claiming the top three spots in being able to treat acne in the best and shortest time possible:

Are treatments for all kinds of acne the same?

The severity and kind of acne are not the same for everyone. Some acne may only be mild and can be treated with remedies done at home or bought over-the-counter. On the other hand, there is acne that can be widespread and severe that cannot be treated by over-the-counter prescriptions. This is where a customized acne scar treatment plan comes in.

To explain this further, let’s take one case of acne that is considered severe. Finding cystic spots of more than five can identify this kind of skin condition. Likewise, tiny pimples that are extensive and reach over a hundred can be measured as severe acne.

The treatment of this kind of acne can differ based on the current condition of the skin. During the consultation, the doctor can assess whether the acne is on its onset or may be in for a long duration already. The treatment used for each condition is not the same.

Treating severe and long-term acne also takes into consideration a patient’s medical history, habits, and lifestyle. For people whose daily routine is jam-packed with work, clinical procedures that are called “lunchtime treatments” can be prescribed as they can be easily inserted into one’s schedule. At the same time, the treatment should have less downtime, given that the patient is always on the go. The treatment should have fewer risks and side effects.

With these considerations in mind, the following acne treatments may be combined:

• Chemical Peels
• Medical-grade Facial
• Low-level Laser Therapy
• Pico Laser

These treatments are done in clinics and fall under the “lunchtime” procedures, meaning the application only takes 30 minutes or less. When it comes to side effects and downtime, these are the treatments that have minor side effects, such as giving the face a reddish colour or minor dryness of skin, which subsides within a day or two.

Doctors may also prescribe some home regimen in addition to the aesthetic treatments done in the clinic. Facial washes that are infused with AHAs (e.g. Salicylic Acid), a moisturizer, and sunblock with a strong SPF are the common follow-ups that doctors ask their patients to do at home. Oral medications, like Doxycycline, Accutane, Oratane, or Isotretinoin can also be prescribed. Topical creams, such as Retinoids (Differin), that works by stopping the excessive production of sebum can also be included in the treatment.

My skin has cleared, is there any need to go back to my dermatologist for further treatment?

Congratulations! Your agonizing bout with acne has finally reached its end, but it does not mean that it would not recur. There is a high chance that the skin will relapse and develop acne again when proper maintenance is not followed. It is best to consult with your doctor about the treatments you can get regularly in order to keep those pesky cystic acne, comedones, and pimples at a far distance.

Doctors usually recommend the following treatments to avoid future flare-ups:

• Chemical peels
• Hydrafacial
• Pico laser

The goal of these treatments is to make sure that the skin does not collect excess sebum that is usually the breeding ground of bacteria causing pimples by controlling the skin’s oil production.

How do I deal with acne scars?

Acne scars are easier to prevent rather than cure. Most patients with acne end up with a lot of scarring because they sought treatment very late. Remember that the more inflamed the skin is, the higher the chance that it is going to be deeply damaged.

Here are a few tips to avoid getting acne scars:

1. Do get a doctor’s consultation during the onset of a pimple breakout.
2. Avoid touching and pricking your pimples at all cost! This will only worsen the situation and may lead to deep skin scarring!
3. Do not self-medicate. Always seek the advice of an aesthetic expert so your acne can get the best possible treatment.