SURGICAL
TREATMENT OF ACNE
Comedone
Extraction (Acne Surgery)
The
top of the comedone (e.g., whitehead, blackhead) is opened
by the tip of a scalpel blade or a needle. Local anesthesia
is not used. A comedone extractor applies even pressure
to the surrounding tissue to push out, or extract, the zit's
contents. A physician generally performs this procedure
in his or her office.
Attempts to perform this procedure on yourself maybe dangerous
(e.g., cause infection), or leave permanent scars behind.
Intralesional
Corticosteroid Injection
This
treatment is used in the management of painful nodulocystic
acne lesions. The pain and swelling is decreased and there
may be less scarring. The medication used is a steroid,
often triamcinolone acetonide, which is injected by a needle
into the based of the acne nodule. Injections may be repeated
in 3 weeks.
