Cystic Acne

Cystic Acne is the most sever and painful form of acne. Cystic acne break-out can lead to painful and scarring condition. It has deep rooted infection which can not be cured overnight with topical creams and gels. Infection is trapped deep inside the skin.

Outer surface of skin is characterized by the presence of pus filled red pustules and out of that cysts are formed. There may many causes behind development of cystic acne; there may be hormonal imbalance and improper hygiene of skin. Cystic acne may also be the result of hereditary condition. Mostly teenage people suffer from this kind of acne but can be seen in pregnant women also.

When break-out of acne starts, do not squeeze or pick it; it can lead to scarring, bleeding and increase of infection. Skin looks ugly due permanent scarring.

Treatment of Cystic Acne:

Cystic acne is also called the modular acne. It needs the attention and advice of a dermatologist as it is the most severe form of acne. A proper medication is required to treat it. If it is not treated properly, it can leave dark patches or scars on the skin.

If it is scratched or pricked often, bacteria get a medium to spread through hands and number of cysts increases. Dermatologist would prescribe oral antibiotic medicines to control the development of cystic acne. You can also make use of some very effective home remedies to treat cystic acne. But in case condition is too severe, do not experiment on you with various home remedies; rather consult a dermatologist who can suggest right course of action.

For cystic acne treatment, Isotretinoin is the most recommended medicine. This is the artificial vitamin A, retinoid, in the pill form. This medicine controls the excess sebum production, inflammation and clogging of pores. It is generally prescribed for 20 weeks to completely cure the cystic acne condition.

But this medicine is not prescribed for pregnant women as it may lead to birth defects in baby. There are other side effects also of this drug like depression, muscle ache, drying of lips and eyes, chest pain. In case of any of these side effects, consult your doctor.

For treating cystic acne in women, oral contraceptives are also used. These medicine act by controlling the excess sebum production and are safe to use. You may be given steroids to suppress the hormones which stimulate the sebaceous glands.

In case, cystic acnes on your face do not respond very effectively to the oral treatment, your dermatologist may treat it surgically. This type of cystic acnes may need to be drained out. It is a kind of surgery and should be done by an expert in sterile atmosphere. Do not try to squeeze yourself as it can lead to increase in infection, swelling and inflammation.

If cysts of some acne are swollen out of proportion, then your dermatologist would prefer to administer highly-diluted corticosteroid injections to reduce the inflammation and accelerate the healing process. Generally, there is no pain felt in this procedure and cyst gets cleared up in a week’s time. Also skin is prevented from rupturing and scarring. But this is not the permanent cure.

Besides, these medications, dermatologist also advices to take proper care of hygiene of the skin. You should wash your face twice a day but over washing is also not recommended. It becomes necessary after any activity which produces excess of sweat. Do not touch acne to avoid spread of infection.

Also avoid applying bath soaps and sunscreen lotions on the acne infection. Chemicals in these soaps and lotions are too harsh and can worsen the acne situation. Rather use oil-free lotions and creams.

Treating Cystic Acne with Herbal Remedies:

When cystic acne is at initial stages, then only you can treat them using the herbal remedies. Advantage of these remedies is that there are no side effects on skin and body. These remedies can be use to control the oil production, kill the bacteria and reduce the swelling and pain in cysts.

One such remedy is making use of mixture of Aloe Vera extract and dried green tea leaves. This helps the skin to purify and cool. You can use lotions containing aloe vera extract.