Acne Injections · Buckhead, Atlanta
The short answer: An acne injection (you might know it as a cortisone shot) is a tiny dose of anti-inflammatory medicine placed right into a painful cyst. It's $50, it takes a few minutes, and the swelling starts going down right away, with the spot continuing to improve over the next 72 hours. Think of it as the rescue move for the big, deep, sore ones.
You know the one
You wake up, touch your chin, and there it is. Not a little whitehead you can cover with concealer. The deep, sore, under-the-skin kind that seems to have its own heartbeat.
And of course it showed up three days before the wedding. Or the photos. Or the first date.
Squeezing it, piling on spot treatment and icing it all feel like doing something, but none of them really reach where that breakout lives. That's exactly what an acne injection is for.
What happens at your appointment
The whole thing is refreshingly simple:
- A quick look. Your provider checks the breakout to make sure it's the right kind for an injection and asks a little about your skin.
- A tiny dose. A very small amount of diluted cortisone goes right into the blemish with a fine needle. Most people feel a quick pinch, and that's it.
- Back to your day. It takes just a few minutes, with no downtime. Head straight back to work, or to brunch. We won't judge.
Got more than one angry spot? Multiple breakouts can be treated in the same visit.
How fast does it work?
This is the fun part. The swelling starts calming down right away, and the spot keeps getting flatter and less tender over the next 72 hours. Instead of a cyst hanging around for a week or more, you get your face back a lot sooner.
Big event coming up? Tell us when you book. If there's a wedding, a photoshoot or a big presentation on the calendar, your provider can talk timing with you so you know what to expect.
Who it's for (and who it's not)
Acne injections are made for:
- Deep, swollen, painful cysts and nodules
- Breakouts that keep getting worse even with your usual routine
- That one spot you need gone before something important
They're not the right tool for whiteheads, blackheads or small surface-level breakouts, and they don't stop new ones from showing up.
So if breakouts keep coming back, an injection is the quick fix, not the long game. Your provider can pair it with a plan that works on what's causing them, like chemical peels or medical-grade skincare.
What we do instead of picking
We know. It's so tempting. But squeezing a deep cyst pushes the inflammation around and raises the risk of a scar. Here's the game plan instead:
- Before: hands off, skip harsh drying spot treatments on irritated skin, and come in with a clean face if you can.
- After: still hands off, use a gentle cleanser, skip the sauna or hot yoga for the rest of the day if the area feels irritated, and wear SPF every day.
Is it safe?
In the right hands, yes. A little redness or tenderness at the spot can happen briefly. Rarely, cortisone injections can leave a small dent or a change in skin color right where they were placed, which is why the dose matters so much.
That's why your provider sizes each injection to the breakout's size, depth and location, and why we wait at least 4 to 6 weeks before injecting the same spot again. Every injection at Skinship is done by one of our board-certified physician assistants or medical doctors.
Quick FAQ
How much does an acne injection cost?
$50 per treatment at Skinship. How many spots get treated depends on how many active breakouts you have at your appointment.
Does it hurt?
Most people feel a quick pinch and that's about it. It's over in a few minutes.
How soon will I see a difference?
Swelling starts going down right away, and the spot keeps improving over the next 72 hours.
Can I get more than one spot treated?
Yes. Multiple breakouts can be treated in one visit. For the same exact spot, we wait at least 4 to 6 weeks between injections.
Will it stop me from breaking out?
No. It calms the breakout you have right now. For breakouts that keep coming back, your provider can build a longer-term plan with you.
Can I just walk in?
Skinship welcomes walk-ins Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Booking ahead is the easiest way to lock in a time.
Results vary. A Skinship provider will assess your skin before treatment. All treatments at Skinship are performed by licensed medical providers at 480 E Paces Ferry Rd, Suite 9, Buckhead, Atlanta.
