"Acne keeps coming up in the same spot. Is there no way other than squeezing?"
"I heard little bumps or syringoma around the eyes don't come off well even with a laser — is that right?"
These are questions people carrying recurring sebum and little-bump concerns often ask.
Hello, I'm Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been asking about Agnes ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
I completely understand that frustration of it coming back even after squeezing or applying medication.
But let me honestly start with why Agnes takes a different approach to what lasers couldn't do, and how Agnes differs in its working method from ordinary treatments that 'burn the surface.'
Agnes Targets Only the Target With an 'Insulated Needle'
Let me first sort out the core principle.
Agnes is a treatment that precisely delivers radiofrequency (RF) heat to a target inside the skin through a fine insulated needle with only its tip exposed.
The body of the needle is insulated, so it protects the surface epidermis as much as possible while concentrating heat only on the deep target the needle tip reaches.
So unlike a laser or ordinary radiofrequency that stimulates the surface broadly, it has a strength in targeting a narrow, deep target like a point.
This is why it has many uses when you need to handle a 'specific target,' like a sebaceous gland or a small tumor.
The Reason It's Used for Recurring Acne
Acne that chronically comes up in the same spot is often caused by overactive sebaceous glands.
Agnes is used in an approach that selectively targets those sebaceous glands with an insulated needle to reduce their activity.
Since it handles only the problematic target without broadly burning the surface, it's a way of approaching areas with frequent recurrence in stages.
That said, it isn't an all-purpose treatment for all acne, and depending on the inflammation stage or cause, it often has to go together with medication or other treatments. (The degree of response varies by individual)
It's Also Used for Syringoma and Milia
Syringoma or milia that come up like little bumps around the eyes can be hard to clear in one go with a surface laser alone.
Syringoma is a benign tumor originating in the sweat glands that settles down into the deep layers and is distributed as multiple bumps, so it's a lesion approached with a management concept rather than finished in one go.
Agnes can reach these deep targets with an insulated needle, so it's used to handle them in stages over several sessions.
That said, the deeper and more numerous they are, the more the sessions increase, and it's good to know in advance that it's closer to managing it lighter than a cure.
Don't forget that a diagnosis to distinguish what kind of lesion it is comes first, before removing it.
Start Knowing the Downtime and Number of Sessions
Since Agnes handles deep targets through a needle, swelling, fine scabs, and redness can show for a few days after the treatment.
These usually settle over time, but the recovery period differs depending on the area and intensity.
And rather than ending in one go, it's often done over several sessions at intervals depending on the depth and number of targets.
So rather than expecting "everything cleared in one go," you'll feel more at ease seeing it as a process of handling it in stages. (Recovery and response have individual differences)
People in These Situations Should Check One More Time
Agnes isn't a treatment casually recommended in every situation.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, if there's an active infection or blisters at the treatment area, if you have a keloid constitution, or if you use a metal or electrical-current-related medical device (like a pacemaker), it's safer to consult first.
Also, even if it looks like a little bump, the approach differs if the lesion type is different, so a differential diagnosis comes first before removing it.
If it's recurring acne, the order is to look at the cause together rather than finishing it with a single treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How is Agnes different from a laser?
A. The biggest difference is the way the energy is delivered. A common laser delivers light energy through the surface, while Agnes delivers radiofrequency heat directly to a target inside the skin with an insulated needle that has only its tip exposed. The characteristic is that the needle body is insulated, so it protects the surface epidermis as much as possible while targeting only the deep target. So it has high usefulness when you need to handle a narrow, deep target like a sebaceous gland or a small tumor. That said, rather than which method being better, the choice varies depending on the target you're handling and the condition, so it's right to decide after a diagnosis. The degree of response varies by individual.
Q. Does the acne disappear in one go?
A. Agnes is a treatment that approaches recurring acne by selectively targeting overactive sebaceous glands, but it's hard to see all acne disappearing in one go. Acne tends to be chronic and recurring, with sebum, hormones, and lifestyle habits intertwined, so it's hard to remove all the causes with a single treatment. So depending on the inflammation stage and cause, it often goes in stages together with medication or other management. Rather than making it never come up again forever in one shot, it's closer to an approach of handling frequently recurring targets and managing a clear state. The progress and result differ from individual to individual.
Q. How long is the downtime?
A. Since it's a treatment that handles deep targets with a needle, swelling, redness, and fine scabs can show for a few days right after. These usually settle over time, but the recovery period differs depending on the treatment area, intensity, and number of sessions. If a scab forms, don't force it off and leave it to come off naturally so the scarring burden is reduced. Refrain from activities that raise heat, like saunas or intense exercise, for a few days right after the treatment, and paying attention to UV protection and moisturizing helps recovery. If you have an important event, we recommend having it done with some time to spare.
In Closing
If I sum up today's content in one line, it's this.
Agnes is a treatment that targets only the deep target while protecting the surface with insulated-needle radiofrequency, so it's used for managing 'specific targets' like recurring acne and syringoma.
If you've grown weary of concerns that keep coming back even after squeezing, it's good to start from looking at the cause together rather than finishing it with a single treatment. Please also remember that there are individual differences in the number of sessions and the result.
This isn't an article recommending a treatment, but an informational article we've put together for your reference while preparing to open.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading this long piece. This was Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)