Cystic acne is painful and embarrassing. You can read more about it here, including treatments to clear up those deep pimples.
Recognizing cystic acne
Acne is the most common skin problem in North America. Almost every teenager will have acne at some time, and an increasing number of adults suffer from acne too. The ordinary forms of acne include small bumps, called papules, pus-filled lumps often called whiteheads, and the dark accumulations of oil and skin cells known as blackheads.
Cystic acne is different from the usual spots and much less common, although it can go with more familiar types of acne. Acne cysts are large, painful nodules that may occur singly or in large numbers.
They may be more than one centimeter in diameter, with multiple cysts sometimes combining to form larger ones. They are filled with whitish or yellowish pus. Pus consisting of dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria.
Causes
Nobody knows for sure what causes acne, including cystic acne. The doctors believe that hormonal changes during adolescence cause changes in the oil-secreting glands in the skin. An increase in the oil creates a welcoming environment for bacteria, which infects the skin and cause pimples to form. Hormonal changes can also cause acne during pregnancy.
Other contributors to acne are:
Oil-based cosmetics
Some hair products
Some drugs, including steroids and vitamins B-2, B-6 and B-12.
It is probably also a genetic component. While keeping the skin clean can help reduce acne, excessive scrubbing can cause inflammation and make acne worse.
There seems to be no clear reason why some people get cystic acne and some do not. It’s probably a combination of heredity, the strength of the person’s immune system and other factors that are not well understood.
When the doctor
Cystic acne is always a reason to see a doctor. Over-the-counter treatments are unlikely to make it go away. The deep cysts can result in significant scarring, and the big, red bumps can make a person very self-conscious.
If your pediatrician or family doctor could not help, the next step is to see a dermatologist.
Treatment
The usual treatment for cystic acne is a combination of current drug and antibiotic pills. Current treatments (creams and ointments applied to the skin) will help with blackheads, pimples and whiteheads, but they can not penetrate into the cysts to kill bacteria.Antibiotic taken by mouth helps the body fight off the bacteria effectively.
Hormone therapy, such as control pill or a drug called spironolactone, can also contribute to some people. These drugs reduce levels of hormones that contribute to acne.
Treatment can be frustrating at first, because it can take weeks or months for improvements to be visible. It is important to continue reading through this early stage and to work with your doctor about when to try another option.
Current medication choices are:
Benzoyl peroxide, which kills the acne bacteria.
Retinoids, which helps keep pores clear.
Options for antibiotic pills are:
Minocylcine
Doxycycline
Tetracycline
Erythromycin.
About Accutane
If other treatments have failed, doctors may recommend Isotretinoin (brand name Accutane). Accutane causes long term changes in the oil-producing glands, and for many people it can cure acne completely. It is not always used as first line treatment, but because it can cause very serious side effects, including serious birth defects. Girls and women using this drug must be extremely careful not to get pregnant.
Other possible side effects are dry skin, sensitivity to sunlight, elevated triglycerides, liver damage, pancreatitis, and eye problems.
Treating Scars
If not treated early, cystic acne can cause scars. Many people see a darker area of skin after a pimple heals. This is not really a scar and will usually be gone in about a year. However, the cysts cause deep pits in the skin that may persist for a lifetime.
Treatment of these scars that involves either methods that smooths out the skin or injections to fill in the pitted areas.
Dermabrasion and laser treatment to remove the top layer of skin to smooth out scars. As the skin heals, the scar be gone completely, or may be shallower and less noticeable. These methods do not work well for deep scars.
Collagen or fat injections to use natural substances to plump up the skin at the base of a scar. Collagen can come from cows or from donated human tissue. Fat can be taken from the body. Both fat and collagen will be absorbed by the skin over time and the injections must be repeated every two months. Some newer products, made from synthetic materials, can take longer.
About Cystic Acne Skin Care
Cystic acne is a drastic form of acne that involves extreme inflammation and redness of the skin. It is usually experienced in the face. Teens most experienced cystic acne. Those who suffer from cystic acne often experience large amounts of both nodules and cysts (hence the name). Cystic acne is very painful to the touch and pick at it often can result in deep scarring and dark marks. However, there are recommended skin care regimens that can help with treatment and management of a cystic acne condition.
Considerations
The skin formula is a good method for the treatment of cystic acne. It is very popular and those who use it are experiencing very few negative side effects. The shell formula helps to eliminate dead expertise that exists on the skin’s surface. It also cleans infection from the innermost parts of the thick layers of the skin. The skin formula is a steam method that opens the pores and cleans out the infection. After a relaxing and cooling balm applied to the skin. The heat applied to the skin increases blood circulation and draws out dirt in the skin.
Potential
There are also various home-made herbal treatments that have great potential to clear up your skin. One example is a mixture of dried green tea and extracts of Aloe Vera. This mixture helps to thoroughly cleanse and cool the skin down. Aloe vera is a great ingredient to get rid of acne, as many professionals recommend gels containing the ingredient for acne elimination. Herbs are great for protecting open pores from receiving new bacteria.
Theories / Speculation
Exfoliating is a great way to keep clean and healthy skin, and can also greatly help to reduce cystic acne. Be sure to find an exfoliating product that contains salicylic acid, which is a common anti-acne treatment. This prevents dirt and debris from the compile and build on your facial skin.
Prevention / Solution
There are some things you can avoid to prevent flare ups of cystic acne occurs. Avoid extremely heavy, scented facial skin moisturizers are a good idea. Also, always be sure you use sunscreen during the day, and keep your skin as easily as possible.
Expert Insight
If you still have problems managing your cystic acne problems after trying all the above methods out, it’s a good idea to consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist will likely give you a prescription for an oral drug that is the popular Accutane or antibiotics with sulfa bases.