Acne Scar Prevention Starts With the Acne: Our 2016 Bacteria Study
In 2016 Sports Chosun reported that WELLS had started a clinical study of acne bacteria. Here is why that matters for anyone worried about an acne scar.
Why does an acne scar story begin with acne bacteria?
Hello, I'm Dr. Won Woo Choi, a board-certified dermatologist and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I trained at Seoul National University Hospital, hold a Ph.D. in dermatology from Seoul National University, and lead CutisBio Co., Ltd., a skin biotech company.
Patients who come to me about an acne scar often want to jump straight to the laser, and I understand why.
My answer is that the best acne scar treatment starts one step earlier, with the acne that causes it. A scar that is still being made cannot be finished. If breakouts keep inflaming the same skin, any scar work is racing against new damage.
That idea is why WELLS has been interested in what lives on acne-prone skin for a long time. In August 2016, Sports Chosun (스포츠조선) ran a short report with the headline that WELLS had started a clinical study analysing acne bacteria. This post explains what that interest means for patients today, and how we approach acne and acne scars in Seoul.
What did the 2016 report say about WELLS and acne bacteria?
The headline was simple: WELLS was putting a clinical study of acne bacteria into motion. I will not add details here that the report did not give, because a research story should not be dressed up.
What I can tell you from our own records is that in 2016 the clinic took part in an acne microbiome study with research institutions in the US and Luxembourg. Since then, WELLS has carried out IRB-approved skin-microbiome research together with CutisBio, the company I lead, comparing healthy skin with skin affected by acne.
In practice, this research background shapes how we think rather than adding a test to every acne visit. For a patient, the useful result is a plan that deals with oil glands and inflammation first, then the acne scar.
Why does acne turn into an acne scar?
Generally speaking, scars form when inflammation reaches deep enough to damage the collagen under the surface. Red, painful, recurring breakouts are the ones most likely to leave marks or depressions.
Squeezing, picking and long gaps without treatment tend to make this worse. The longer the same area stays inflamed, the more chance the dermis has to heal unevenly.
Not every acne scar looks the same. Some are shallow and wide, some are narrow and deep, and some are flat brown or red marks left by inflammation rather than true depressions. The difference matters, because each type responds to a different treatment, and a plan built for one can do little for another.
- Inflamed, painful breakouts that keep returning in the same area
- Marks or small depressions that remain after spots heal
- Acne that has not settled with home care or over-the-counter products
- Breakouts on the back and chest as well as the face
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth seeing a dermatologist before you think about scar treatment. Controlling active acne is the first step of acne scar care.
How do we treat active acne at WELLS?
Our personalized acne treatment is chosen by the type of acne, and it aims at the sebaceous gland, where oil production starts. A dermatologist first decides whether your acne is mainly inflammatory, mainly comedones, or both.
| Treatment | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold PTT | Gold nanoparticle ampoule activated by laser to shut down the sebaceous gland | Weekly for 3–5 sessions, little disruption to daily life |
| Blue PDT | Light treatment without a photosensitizer | Post-treatment pigmentation is unlikely; you can go out straight afterwards |
| Acne toning (1450 nm) | Heats the sebaceous gland with little pain | WELLS has ten years of clinical data with this laser |
| Aladdin and FCR peels | Exfoliate dead skin cells and stimulate collagen | Also used for back and chest acne |
The price for acne treatment is confirmed at consultation. Weekly treatments such as Gold PTT need you to be in Seoul for several weeks, so tell us your dates before you plan around them.
Not sure whether to start with the acne or the scar? Send a clear photo without makeup and your dates in Seoul, and a dermatologist will suggest where to begin.
Send a photo on WhatsAppHow is an acne scar treated once the acne is under control?
Once breakouts have settled, we turn to the marks they left. Our main tool for acne scar and enlarged pores is Fractional Picosecond Laser Treatment, described on our acne scar and pore page.
It creates optical breakdown (LIOB) inside the dermis with almost no heat damage to the surface. There is no oozing and no artificial skin dressing, and any redness usually clears in 3–4 days, which suits people on a short trip.
Deep, depressed scars may also be filled with Juvelook (PLA + hyaluronic acid, KFDA-approved), which fills immediately while stimulating collagen. Depending on scar type and pore condition, we may combine Mosaic fractional laser, microneedle RF, Aquapeel or the Clarity dual laser. Results are shown to you with a dermatoscope, so you can see the change for yourself.
What should you expect from acne scar treatment in Seoul?
Acne scar treatment improves the look of scars gradually; it is planned over sessions rather than finished in a day. How far a scar improves depends on its type, its depth and how your skin heals, so individual results vary.
It also helps to be realistic about timing. Collagen remodelling continues for weeks after a session, so the skin you see on the flight home is not the final result. Planning the acne scar work across more than one visit to Seoul usually gives a clearer picture of progress than squeezing everything into a single stay.
- A board-certified dermatologist examines your acne and scars before anything is chosen.
- Active acne is controlled first, so new damage does not undo scar work.
- Scar treatment is matched to the scar type rather than one laser for everyone.
- Prices for acne and acne scar treatment are confirmed at consultation.
If you would like the longer clinical guide, my colleague has written about Korean acne scar treatment, and my own notes on why we test skin before treating are in skin analysis in Seoul.
How do you plan an acne and acne scar visit from abroad?
Start with a message, not a booking. Send a photo and your travel dates on WhatsApp, and tell us what you are currently using for your acne so the dermatologist can plan how to continue it.
At the clinic, a dermatologist examines your skin and confirms the plan and price. WELLS has been in Apgujeong since 2008, about five minutes on foot from Apgujeong Station (Line 3), Exit 3. You can read about our team on the doctors page.
Tell us your dates and send a photo of your acne or scars. We reply in English with a suggested starting point and appointment times.
Plan my visit on WhatsAppSend a photo, find out where to start
Send a clear photo of your acne or scars without makeup and your dates in Seoul. A dermatologist will reply with where to start, what it involves, and available times.
Message the clinic on WhatsAppReplies on WhatsApp · prices in KRW, excluding 10% VATBefore you message us
What did Sports Chosun report about WELLS in 2016?
In August 2016 it reported, in its headline, that WELLS had started a clinical study analysing acne bacteria. That same year the clinic took part in an acne microbiome study with research institutions in the US and Luxembourg.
Should I treat my acne before my acne scar?
Usually yes. Scar treatment works best once active breakouts are under control, because new inflammation can leave new marks.
How long is the redness after acne scar laser at WELLS?
After Fractional Picosecond Laser Treatment, any redness usually clears in 3–4 days, and no artificial skin dressing is needed.
How much does acne scar treatment cost at WELLS?
The price for acne and acne scar treatment is confirmed at consultation, once a dermatologist has seen the type and depth of your scars.
Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.
Dr. Won Woo Choi
- Board-certified dermatologist in Korea; trained at Seoul National University Hospital
- Dermatology residency, Seoul National University Hospital; board certification in dermatology in Korea
- Ph.D. in Dermatology, Seoul National University
- Former clinical instructor, Seoul National University Hospital
- Adjunct professor, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital
