Key Summary
Gangnam Unni and Babitalk compiled 2,832 active acne treatment reviews. The most frequently mentioned treatment in reviews is extraction, and 39 of the 72 reviews that directly wrote the order started with extraction.
- Treatments with the most reviews: There were 1,295 extractions, 639 acne injections, and 544 acne laser treatments.
- It differed depending on the type of acne: Comedonal acne received extraction, while inflammatory acne and cystic acne received a lot of injections.
- There were 2,055 reviews for only one treatment, and 750 reviews for two or more treatments. The percentage of people who responded that one treatment was effective was 83%, two treatments was 90%, and three or more treatments were effective in 83% of cases.
86% of reviews about the effect said it was good. However, since 99% of the reviews written within a month were written within 1 month after the procedure, it is not possible to know from the reviews whether it lasts long.
What treatment is most common in adult acne reviews?
Extraction was the most common with 1,295 cases, followed by acne injection with 639 cases and acne laser treatment with 544 cases. This is based on 2,807 treatment reviews, and if there are multiple treatments in one review, they are counted individually. Reviews are collected using search terms, so it is different from the actual usage rate.
| treatment | Number of reviews | ratio |
|---|---|---|
| extraction | 1,295 cases | 46% |
| acne injection | 639 cases | 23% |
| acne laser treatment (PTT, Agnes, Capri, etc.) | 544 cases | 19% |
| Other lasers and LEDs | 294 cases | 10% |
| Peeling | 293 cases | 10% |
| Skin care and scaling | 168 cases | 6% |
| toning laser | 153 cases | 5% |
| photodynamic therapy (PDT) | 98 cases | 3% |
| Herbal medicine and acupuncture | 62 cases | 2% |
| oral medication | 60 cases | 2% |
Among the 218 reviews written by adults, 78 were about extraction, 78 about acne laser treatment, and 39 about injection. The areas where acne occurred were 201 on the chin and mouth, 94 on the forehead, 77 on the cheeks, 52 on the back and body, and 45 on the entire face.
Does acne treatment differ by acne type?
Yes, in the reviews, comedonal acne received extraction, and inflammatory acne and cystic acne received injections the most. Based on 870 reviews written directly about the type of acne.
| Acne types | Number of reviews | Most Received Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| comedonal acne (whitehead, blackhead) | 410 cases | 289 extractions (70%), 64 peelings |
| inflammatory acne (red, pus-filled acne) | 276 cases | Injection 147 cases (53%), extraction 77 cases (28%) |
| cystic acne (deep and large acne) | 101 cases | Injections 83 cases (82%) |
| Mix of different types | 83 cases | 52 extractions (63%), 21 injections |
Injections were commonly used for inflammatory and cystic acne, so it should be viewed together when looking at the effectiveness ratio for each treatment below.
In what order should I receive adult acne treatment?
Out of 72 reviews that wrote their own order, 39 (54%) started with extraction. The rest started with 8 skin care, 7 oral medication, 5 peeling, 5 acne laser treatment, and 4 injections.
| Order of writing in review | Number of reviews |
|---|---|
| Acne laser treatment after extraction | 12 cases |
| Other lasers after extraction | 7 cases |
| Peeling after extraction | 4 cases |
| Extraction after acne laser treatment | 4 cases |
| Injection after extraction | 3 cases |
| Herbal medicine and acupuncture after injection | 3 cases |
The number of treatments received also varied depending on the review.
| Number of treatments received | Number of reviews | Proportion that the effect was good | Regret reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| One treatment | 2,055 cases | 83% (891 cases with effects) | 65 cases |
| Two treatments | 531 cases | 90% (290 cases) | 19 cases |
| Three or more treatments | 221 cases | 94% (139 cases) | 7 cases |
There was a high rate of good reviews from multiple treatments, but it is impossible to tell from reviews alone whether this difference is due to receiving multiple treatments. The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology guidelines strongly recommend benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and oral doxycycline, and oral isotretinoin is strongly recommended for severe or scarring acne. Because there are few stories of prescriptions for these medications in the treatment reviews (60 oral medications, 17 topical medications), the order of medications and procedures cannot be compared in the reviews.
What effects did reviewers report for each acne treatment?
Of the 1,333 reviews on the effectiveness, 86% said it was good, and by treatment, the range was 76% to 96%. 7% said it was average, and 7% said it was ineffective.
| treatment | Reviews with effects | It was good | It was average | It was ineffective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| extraction | 473 cases | 87% | 6% | 7% |
| acne injection | 337 cases | 76% | 12% | 12% |
| acne laser treatment | 336 cases | 89% | 7% | 4% |
| Peeling | 145 cases | 86% | 6% | 8% |
| Other lasers and LEDs | 195 cases | 96% | 2% | 2% |
If narrowed down to reviews of only one type of treatment, the proportion of those who said it was good was 82% (173 cases) for extraction, 71% (242 cases) for injection, 89% (192 cases) for acne laser treatment, and 81% (64 cases) for peeling. Among 142 adult reviews that described an effect, 92% reported a positive effect.
How many adult acne treatments are used, and over what period?
The average of 578 reviews listing the number of treatments was 3.1 times, and the average of 99 reviews listing the treatment period was about 18 weeks.
| Number of times received | Number of reviews | Proportion that the effect was good |
|---|---|---|
| 1 session | 163 cases | 90% |
| 2 to 3 sessions | 118 cases | 86% |
| 4 to 6 sessions | 56 cases | 89% |
| 7 or more sessions | 43 cases | 95% |
The average number of treatments per treatment was 3.4 times (243 cases) for extraction, 3.0 times (126 cases) for other laser treatments, 2.8 times (68 cases) for injections, 2.8 times (180 cases) for acne laser treatment, and 2.3 times (106 cases) for peeling. The average interval was 1.8 weeks (41 cases) for extraction and 3.0 weeks (23 cases) for acne laser treatment.
How painful is adult acne treatment?
Reviews that said it was quite painful were 23% for peeling, 21% for extraction, 15% for acne laser treatment, and 13% for injection, and 68% of reviews said that acne laser treatment was almost painless. This is based on reviews based on the level of pain.
| treatment | Number of reviews | It almost didn't hurt | It was bearable | It was quite painful |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| extraction | 287 cases | 47% | 32% | 21% |
| acne injection | 76 cases | 51% | 36% | 13% |
| acne laser treatment | 123 cases | 68% | 16% | 15% |
| Peeling | 52 cases | 42% | 35% | 23% |
In 25 extraction reviews, redness took an average of 3 days to subside.
Will acne get worse or come back after treatment?
Out of 2,832 reviews, 59 (2.1%) said it got worse, and 54 (1.9%) said it came back up. There were 21 reviews that said it went up temporarily and then subsided. Of the 77 reviews that mentioned recurrence, 54 came back and 23 were maintained.
| Reported inconvenience | Number of reviews | ratio |
|---|---|---|
| pain | 114 cases | 4.0% |
| redness | 70 cases | 2.5% |
| cost burden | 58 cases | 2.0% |
| stinging | 42 cases | 1.5% |
| Dryness and dead skin cells | 32 cases | 1.1% |
| Leaves marks or scars | 17 cases | 0.6% |
There were 92 (3.2%) reviews that said they regretted it or did not recommend it.
How much does adult acne treatment cost?
The average price per treatment written in reviews of only one treatment was about 72,000 won for extraction, about 30,000 won for injection, about 213,000 won for acne laser treatment, and about 88,000 won for peeling.
| treatment | Number of reviews | Average price per time written in reviews |
|---|---|---|
| extraction | 269 cases | Approximately 72,000 won |
| acne injection | 77 cases | Approximately 30,000 won |
| acne laser treatment | 62 cases | Approximately 213,000 won |
| Peeling | 52 cases | Approximately 88,000 won |
The review amount is not the clinic's official regular price, but the payment amount written on the platform, and the event price, VAT notation, and included management vary by clinic.
What should I ask during an adult acne consultation?
Ask first what type of acne you have and whether you should do extraction or medication or treatment first. In the reviews, the treatment received differed depending on the type, and extraction was the first step in more than half of the articles written in order.
| What to check | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Acne types | Which is closer: millet, inflammatory acne, or cystic acne? |
| order | Extraction, medicine, or procedure, which do you do first and why? |
| Count and Interval | How many times will I receive it, and how many weeks apart will I receive it? |
| medication prescription | Do you use oral medication or topical medication together? |
| worse | What should I do if it gets worse or rises? |
| price | Is it a one-time amount or a total package amount? Is VAT included? |
| Management | How do I wash and moisturize my face at home? |
How DermaFocus compares clinics offering acne treatment
The recommendation guide applies the same four criteria to all clinics.
| Comparison Items | Verification criteria |
|---|---|
| Treatment information | Treatment methods for each type of acne, whether medication is prescribed, and whether information is disclosed in case of worsening |
| medical staff | Specialist status and the actual treating clinician, verified through official sources |
| cost | Confirmation date, VAT, price conditions, management included |
| Reviews | Repeated mentions by platform, including source, posting date, consultation and explanation |
The number of reviews and specialist qualifications are not used as scores to guarantee treatment results. The role of a recommendation guide is to display confirmed facts side by side using the same standards.
How this article was reviewed
The DermaFocus editorial team compiled the reviews and research guidelines, and was not supervised by medical professionals.
- Reviews: Among the acne-related reviews by Gangnam Unni and Babitalk, we classified 3,770 (as of October 2, 2026) that mentioned acne. Among them, 2,832 active acne treatment reviews are the subject of this article.
- Analysis criteria: The treatment rate is based on 2,807 reviews that wrote about treatment, the effectiveness rate is based on 1,333 reviews that wrote about effectiveness, and the degree of pain is based on reviews that wrote about the level of pain.
- Study: The evidence source is Part 1 of the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology acne treatment guideline indexed in PubMed.
- Limitations: Reviews are collected by treatment name and acne search term, so the number of cases for each treatment is not the utilization rate, but the composition of the collected reviews. 99% of reviews were written within one month after the procedure. Due to the small number of reviews using age, only 218 reviews were written as adults and 16 were written as teenagers, and there were 60 reviews about oral medication.
- Personal Information: The original text of the review, the author, and the name of the clinic are not included.
Frequently Asked Questions
In what order is adult acne treatment usually performed?
In the reviews, most often it started with extraction. Of the 72 reviews in order, 39 started with extraction, and acne laser treatment after extraction was the most common at 12. Because most reviews concern procedures, the order of oral medication and topical medication cannot be determined from the reviews, and the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines strongly recommend benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoid, and oral doxycycline.
What is the most common treatment for adult acne?
Extraction was the most common with 1,295 cases, followed by injection with 639 cases and acne laser treatment with 544 cases. Comedonal acne was extracted 70%, inflammatory acne received injections in 53% of reviews, and cystic acne received injections in 82% of reviews.
What is the effect of adult acne treatment?
Of the 1,333 reviews about its effectiveness, 86% said it was good. By treatment, 87% were extraction, 89% acne laser treatment, 86% peeling, and 76% injection. However, 99% of the reviews were written within 1 month after the procedure.
How many adult acne treatments are commonly reported?
The average number of sessions reported was 3.1 and varied from 1 to 7 or more. The average of 99 reviews regarding treatment duration is approximately 18 weeks. The average interval was 1.8 weeks for extraction and 3.0 weeks for acne laser treatment.
Does adult acne extraction hurt?
Of the 287 extraction reviews, 47% said it was barely painful, 32% said it was bearable, and 21% said it was quite painful. There were 25 reviews that said the redness subsided in an average of 3 days.
Does adult acne get worse or come back after treatment?
Of the 2,832 reviews, 59 (2.1%) said it got worse, and 54 (1.9%) said it came back. There were 21 reviews that said it temporarily rose and then subsided.
How much does adult acne treatment cost?
The average price per treatment written in reviews of only one treatment is about 72,000 won for extraction, about 30,000 won for injection, about 213,000 won for acne laser treatment, and about 88,000 won for peeling. Please check the event and value-added tax conditions together as this is a review price, not the clinic's regular price.
Can adult acne require only one treatment?
There were 2,055 reviews of only one treatment, which was the most, and 83% said it was effective. Two was 90%, and three or more was 94%, but it is impossible to tell from the reviews alone whether this difference is due to the number of treatments.
What is the most recommended treatment in adult acne reviews?
Based on reviews, the most recommended treatments are extraction and acne laser treatment (PTT, Agnes, Capri, etc.). Among treatments with more than 300 reviews, these had the highest positive-effect rates, and 54% of the reviews in order started with extraction.
- Extraction is the first treatment to be received. The share reporting a positive effect was 87% (473 cases), and the average price per treatment is about 72,000 won, which is lower than that of laser treatment. In the comedonal acne reviews, extraction was the most common with 289 cases (70%). However, 21% of reviews said that it was quite painful.
- Acne laser treatment is the next step after extraction. 89% (336 cases) said it was good, and 15% said it was quite painful. The laser order after extraction was the most frequent with 12 cases, and the average cost per time was about 213,000 won.
- A lot of people received injections for inflammatory acne and cystic acne. 53% of those with inflammatory acne and 82% of those with cystic acne received injections, and 76% (337 cases) said they reported a positive effect. Since the treatment is mainly for large lesions, it is difficult to simply compare it with other treatments.
Although 86% of the reviews that wrote about the effects said they were good, most of them were written immediately after the procedure, and this ranking is based on reviews and not medical superiority or inferiority. Since drug prescriptions cannot be compared due to a limited number of reviews, please also ask about topical medication and oral medication recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines during your consultation. Before treatment, check the type, order, frequency and interval of acne, guidance on worsening, and price conditions.
Sources and verification dates
- Reynolds RV et al. Acne treatment guidelines, J Am Acad Dermatol 2024 (PMID 38300170)(confirmed 2026-10-02): Systematic literature review, 18 recommendations and 5 practical principles, strong recommendation for benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoid and oral doxycycline, strong recommendation for isotretinoin Recommended (severe acne, scarring, failure of standard treatment)
- Gangnam Unni review and Babitalk review (platform review, confirmed on 2026-10-02): Based on classification of 3,770 acne-related reviews. The original text of the review is not included.
Editorial responsibility and relationships
DermaFocus has no advertising, contract, or affiliation with any clinic or manufacturer mentioned in this article, and has not received any money or sponsorship. This article is a compilation of information needed to select a procedure and does not replace a personal diagnosis or treatment plan.