A Comprehensive Guide to the Effects and Side Effects of Acne Inflammation Injections — When to Get It, and Which Types of Acne Are Not Suitable? | Maypure Godeok Branch, Godeok Station Dermatology

 

Written by: Chief Director Seung-eun Jeong (Family Medicine Specialist · Maypure Godeok Branch, Godeok Station, Gangdong-gu, Seoul)
Date written: November 2, 2026

 

 

Key Summary

 

• Acne inflammation injection Insert a very small amount of diluted steroid into a large, red, swollen, hard, and painful pimple. It is an injection that quickly reduces inflammation.
• When it fits well Usually between one and three days Swelling and pain decrease noticeably.
• It is not suitable for milia, acne that has already burst and scabbed, red marks, or pitted scars.
• The most known side effect is the injection site Something that appears slightly sunken or white Recovery usually takes 2 to 6 months. Therefore, the concentration and amount are adjusted according to the size of the acne.
• Anti-inflammatory injections are an emergency treatment to stop acute acne. If it keeps appearing in the same spot, treatment involving topical and oral medications to address the cause is also necessary. It is necessary.

 

hello.

I am Jeong Seung-eun, the head director of Maypure Godeok Branch.

 

"I have a red, hard bump on the corner of my mouth; should I get an anti-inflammatory injection?" This is the most-read question on the Maypure community question board. In the clinic as well, we very frequently hear patients ask, "I have an important appointment tomorrow; can this be made to go down quickly?"

 

Anti-inflammatory injections are a quick and convenient method for acne that responds well to them, but they are not suitable for all types of acne.

Today, I will summarize when you should get vaccinated, when you shouldn't, and what you need to know after getting vaccinated.

 

 

Table of contents of this article

 

1. What is an acne injection?
2. For which types of acne is the anti-inflammatory injection administered?
3. How quickly does the inflammation subside after an injection?
4. The anti-inflammatory injection is a steroid; is that okay?
5. What are the side effects of the anti-inflammatory injection? (Skin depression · Whitening)
6. What should I do after getting the anti-inflammatory injection?
7. What other acne treatments are available besides anti-inflammatory injections?
8. I keep getting acne. Do I just need to get an anti-inflammatory injection?
9. Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is an acne injection?

 

Acne inflammation injection A treatment that involves directly injecting a very small amount of diluted steroid into each individual severely inflamed acne lesion. It is. In medical terminology, it is called an intralesional corticosteroid injection.

 

Steroids are drugs that strongly suppress the inflammatory response.

Because it is applied only into the acne rather than ingested or spread broadly, a small amount can quickly reduce swelling and pain in that area.

 

 

For which types of acne is the anti-inflammatory injection administered?

 

Acne that responds well to anti-inflammatory injections A large, red, swollen pimple that is hard and painful when pressed Nodular and cystic acne, which can be felt as lumps deep within the skin, are typical examples.

 

 

Acne condition	Inflammation injection	doing something instead
Large, red, swollen, hard, and painful acne (nodules/cysts)	It fits well	—
A large pimple that has festered and filled with yellow pus	Status report decision	Pus is drained using sterilized tools, and an injection is sometimes administered at the same time.
Small, bumpy acne (comedones)	Not right	Extraction, topical medicine to unclog pores
Acne that has already burst and formed a scab	Not right	Wound care, do not touch
Red marks and brown marks left by inflammation	Not right	Mark treatment (UV protection, laser, etc.)
pitted acne scars	Not right	Scar treatment (fractional laser, etc.)

 

It is used especially frequently on areas with thick skin and hormonal influences, such as the chin and corners of the mouth, and on large pimples that appear in the same spot every time before menstruation.

 

If you squeeze inflamed acne at home with your hands or a needle, the inflammation spreads deeper, making it easy to leave marks and scars.

If it has become severely infected, do not squeeze it; please have it treated at a hospital.

 

 

How quickly does the inflammation subside after an injection?

 

If it is a good fit for acne Usually between one and three days Swelling and pain subside first. It may take about a week for large pimples to flatten completely.

 

 

period	Commonly seen changes
Day of injection	The injection site may swell briefly or sting.
1~3 days	Pain and swelling decrease, and the hardness begins to loosen.
About 1 week	Shrinks in size and flattens. A reddish tint may remain.
After that	The remaining red and brown marks require separate fading or mark treatment.

 

Even after the inflammation subsides Red marks may remain. However, the main reason for using anti-inflammatory injections is that they help leave fewer marks and scars compared to when the wound becomes severely infected or is squeezed by hand.

 

 

The anti-inflammatory injection is a steroid; is that okay?

 

The medication used for anti-inflammatory injections is indeed a steroid. However, since only a very small amount of the diluted medicine is applied to each pimple, it rarely affects the entire body like oral steroids.

 

What you should worry about is your body rather than Skin changes at the injection site no see.

Therefore, the concentration and amount are determined according to the size and depth of the acne, and it is not repeated in the same spot at short intervals.

 

 

What are the side effects of the anti-inflammatory injection?

 

The most well-known side effect is Slight depression at the injection site (skin depression/atrophy) and whitening (hypopigmentation) It usually recovers gradually over 2 to 6 months, but rarely, it can take a long time.

 

• Skin is slightly sunken It is likely to occur when the medication is too concentrated or excessive, or when it is applied too shallowly or too deeply. Therefore, the most important preventive measure is to apply a diluted concentration, only the necessary amount, and precisely into the acne. Unlike acne scars, it usually fills in over time.
• The color faded to white It is more noticeable on people with darker skin. This also usually returns to normal gradually.
• fine capillaries : It may be visible around the injection site.
• Bruising and stinging on the day of the injection It usually subsides within a day or two.
• infection : Although rare, it can occur, so inject after disinfection.

 

The more frequently you are hit in the same spot, the greater the likelihood of such changes occurring.

Therefore, the method of "stopping it with an injection every time it flares up" is not recommended.

 

 

What should I do after getting the anti-inflammatory injection?

 

Leave the injection site as it is without squeezing or rubbing it. This is the most important thing. Washing your face and applying light makeup is generally possible on the same day, but please follow the instructions given by the hospital.

 

• Do not press or squeeze the injection site with your hands.
• Please take a break from harsh products like exfoliants and scrubs for a few days.
• Apply sunscreen thoroughly to prevent red marks from darkening into brown marks.
• If the swelling worsens, the pain intensifies, or the fever intensifies even after three days, please seek medical attention again.

 

 

What other acne treatments are available besides anti-inflammatory injections?

 

Anti-inflammatory injections are a treatment that quickly reduces a single large pimple, and there are specific treatments used in conjunction with them depending on the type of acne and the remaining marks.

 

therapy	Cases where it is mainly used
Extrusion	Milia (comedones), white pimples
topical medicine	Reduces clogged pores and acne bacteria to prevent new acne.
Oral medicine	When inflammatory acne appears widely and frequently
Gwangyeokdong treatment	If you want to reduce both sebum secretion and acne bacteria
chemical peeling	Cases where it reduces dead skin cells and clogged pores and helps with topical medication
Vascular laser	The red marks left behind after acne has passed

 

The appropriate treatment depends on the type of acne, frequency, and skin type, so it is determined after a medical consultation.

 

 

I keep getting acne. Do I just need to get an anti-inflammatory injection?

 

No. An anti-inflammatory injection is an emergency treatment to put out large pimples that have already appeared, but it does not prevent new pimples from forming.

 

If large pimples break out several times a month or recur in the same spot, topical or oral medication treatment is necessary to manage sebum, clogged pores, acne bacteria, and inflammation.

That way, the frequency of injections will decrease, and fewer marks and scars will remain.

 

 

Things you need to let me know before getting hit

 

• If you are pregnant, possibly pregnant, or breastfeeding
• If you have diabetes or are taking steroid medication
• If the injection site has sunken in or turned white in the past
• In cases where there are keloids (a tendency for scars to protrude thickly).
• The effectiveness and recovery period vary from person to person depending on the condition of the acne and body type.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q. Is the acne inflammation injection painful?
A. A very fine needle is inserted into the acne in small amounts, causing only a slight stinging sensation. Since the acne is already swollen and painful, you may also feel a pressing sensation.

 

Q. Does it subside immediately after getting an anti-inflammatory injection?
A. With a good acne breakout, swelling and pain usually subside within one to three days. It may take about a week to become completely flat.

 

Q. Can I get an anti-inflammatory injection for milia?
A. Milia (comedones) are not caused by inflammation but by clogged pores, so anti-inflammatory injections are not administered. Treatment involves extraction or topical medications to unclog the pores.

 

Q. The spot where I received the anti-inflammatory injection is sunken. Is it a scar?
A. It could be skin atrophy caused by steroids. Unlike acne scars, it usually fills in gradually over 2 to 6 months, but if it persists for a long time, please consult a doctor for a checkup.

 

Q. How often can I get anti-inflammatory injections?
A. As a general rule, you should not repeat the procedure in the same spot at short intervals. If you frequently experience large pimples, it is recommended to start a fundamental treatment rather than increasing the number of injections.

 

Q. Can acne scars also be removed with anti-inflammatory injections?
A. It cannot be removed. Anti-inflammatory injections are a treatment to soothe current swollen and painful acne, while existing pitted scars or remaining marks are treated separately with scar and mark treatments such as lasers.

 

Q. Is it okay to pop an inflamed pimple at home?
A. We do not recommend it. Squeezing it with your hands can deepen the inflammation and easily leave a scar. If it has become severely infected, it should be treated at a hospital using sterilized tools, and an anti-inflammatory injection should be administered if necessary.

 

Q. Can I get an acne anti-inflammatory injection near Godeok Station?
A. At Maypure Godeok Branch (Godeok Station Dermatology), we first assess the condition of your acne and determine whether it is suitable for anti-inflammatory injections or if extraction or medication treatment should be prioritized.

 

The anti-inflammatory injection For the right acne, in the right amount It is the best treatment when used.

After extinguishing the immediate fire, please proceed with treatment to prevent it from recurring.

 

This has been Jeong Seung-eun, Chief Director of Maypure Godeok Branch.

 

💬 What is the condition of my face right now?
If you have any skin concerns or questions about treatments, please leave a comment~
The director is leaving a reply 😊

 

---

Written by Chief Director Jeong Seung-eun
Maypure Godeok Branch · Family Medicine Specialist
We aim for a treatment approach that first assesses the skin condition and designs procedures tailored to specific areas. We provide comprehensive care for overall skin conditions, including acne, pigmentation, skin Botox, and lifting.

 

📍 Location · Reservation Information
Godeok Station Dermatology Maypure Godeok Branch — You can check the location and make a reservation right below.
👉 https://naver.me/5PlGkFl9

 

References
- Reynolds RV, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 (American Academy of Dermatology Acne Treatment Guidelines)
- Zaenglein AL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 (Intralesional steroid injection and risk of skin atrophy)

 

※ This article provides general information regarding acne inflammation injections and does not recommend any specific procedure, guarantee effectiveness, or replace consultation with a professional.

 

#GodeokStationDermatology #GodeokDermatology #GangdongguDermatology #AcneInflammationInjection #InflammationInjection #AcneInjection #PustularAcne #CysticAcne #ChinAcne #AcneSteroidInjection #InflammationInjectionEffect #InflammationInjectionSideEffects #InflammationInjectionDownfall