Acne Injection
Targeted Relief for Painful, Inflamed Acne
A deep, painful acne lesion can seem to appear overnight—and may take weeks to settle on its own. An acne injection is a quick, physician-administered treatment designed to calm inflammation, reduce tenderness, and help a stubborn lesion begin healing more quickly.
What Is an Acne Injection?
An acne injection involves placing a small amount of diluted Kenalog®, a corticosteroid medication also known as triamcinolone, directly into an inflamed acne lesion.
The medication works locally to reduce the inflammation responsible for the lesion’s swelling, redness, and discomfort. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and many patients notice that the treated area begins to feel less painful and appear flatter over the following days.
What Types of Breakouts Can Be Treated?
Acne injections are most appropriate for individual lesions that are:
Deep and inflamed
Painful or tender
Firm, swollen, or cyst-like
Slow to improve on their own
Becoming increasingly irritated
This treatment is intended for larger inflammatory acne lesions, such as nodules or cysts. It is not typically used for blackheads, whiteheads, small surface pimples, or widespread acne.
The Total Illusion Difference
At Total Illusion, acne injections are performed by Dr. Eakin with careful attention to medication concentration, placement, and the characteristics of your skin.
Because an acne injection treats the individual lesion—not the underlying reason you are developing acne—we may also discuss factors that could be contributing to recurring breakouts, including:
Hormonal changes
Stress and cortisol
Skincare products
Inflammation
Nutrition and metabolic health
Prescription or over-the-counter medications
Our goal is not simply to calm today’s breakout, but to help you better understand your skin when acne becomes persistent or recurrent.
Calm the Inflammation. Support the Healing.
A painful acne lesion does not always need to be squeezed, picked, or covered while you wait for it to improve. A targeted acne injection may help reduce the inflammation and discomfort so the area can begin healing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Many patients begin to notice less tenderness, swelling, and redness within 24 to 48 hours. The exact response depends on the size, depth, and severity of the lesion.
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The injection is intended to reduce inflammation and help the lesion heal faster. It may not make the area disappear immediately, and individual results will vary.
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After care instructions are straightforward and allow you to return to normal activity in 24 hours. Therefore, our doctor will go over instructions with you before treatment. Also, you will also be given written and digital copies for your convenience. There is generally little to no downtime. You may have temporary redness, tenderness, mild swelling, or bruising where the injection was placed.
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Possible risks include temporary skin thinning, a small indentation, or a change in skin pigmentation at the injection site. These effects are uncommon but may take time to resolve if they occur. Careful dosing and precise placement are important for reducing these risks.
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The most common side effects are temporary and include minor pain and some swelling at the injection site. In addition, minor bleeding and bruising can occur. Other side effects although rare can occur which include muscle weakness, loss of strength, droopy eyelid or blurred vision. But, all of these are temporary.No. Small surface blemishes, blackheads, whiteheads, or areas that appear infected may not be appropriate for treatment. The lesion will be evaluated before the injection is performed.
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No. It treats a specific inflamed lesion. Patients experiencing frequent, widespread, or persistent breakouts may benefit from a more comprehensive acne evaluation and personalized treatment plan.
