Medical Acne & Active Breakout Treatment

Medically supervised acne treatment combining IPL acne therapy, Photothermal Therapy (PTT), cortisone injections for cystic lesions, and personalised topical protocols to reduce sebum, bacteria, and inflammation in active acne.

Active acne — particularly inflammatory, cystic, and hormonal acne — requires a medically supervised approach that addresses the four co-factors driving breakouts: excess sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinisation, Cutibacterium acnes bacterial colonisation, and inflammatory response. Ensoul Medical Clinic's acne programme is built around this multi-factor model, with Dr Kenneth Thean prescribing combination protocols that match the acne subtype, severity, and patient skin profile. The clinic's primary acne laser intervention is Photothermal Therapy (PTT), a two-step procedure that begins with the application of a photosensitising agent absorbed preferentially by sebaceous glands and C. acnes bacteria. A targeted wavelength light source is then applied to activate the photosensitiser, creating a photothermal effect that selectively destroys the bacteria and reduces sebaceous gland activity. PTT has demonstrated efficacy in clinical studies for both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions and is suitable for patients who have not responded adequately to conventional topical or antibiotic approaches. IPL acne therapy uses the 420–550 nm blue-green light spectrum selectively absorbed by endogenous porphyrins produced by C. acnes, leading to bacterial photo-destruction without systemic antibiotic exposure. This approach is particularly suited to patients with mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne who wish to avoid oral medications. Ensoul combines IPL acne sessions with LED phototherapy (red light) to concurrently reduce inflammation and accelerate post-acne healing. For acute cystic or nodular lesions that are painful or at risk of scarring, the clinic provides intralesional cortisone injections, which reduce inflammation within 24–72 hours and significantly lower the probability of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or permanent scar formation. This rapid intervention is a key tool in scar prevention for Asian patients, where PIH risk is elevated. The medical team reviews skincare regimens and recommends evidence-based topical therapies — retinoids, niacinamide, azelaic acid, or prescription-strength actives as appropriate — to complement in-clinic sessions and reduce recurrence between visits.