Acne Cystic. How bad is it?

87

By monitor

Cystic acne on the face
Cystic acne on the face

Cystic Acne

Understanding Cystic Acne and It's Treatment

Acne can be mild to severe. It manifests itself as blemishes on the skin. It can range from a small number of pimples, whiteheads and blackheads to a large number of cysts and nodules. Oftentimes, when people develop acne, they should seek treatment especially if they are suffering from cystic acne.

What is Cystic Acne?

Cystic Acne or nodulacystic acne is a form of acne that has the most devastating effects to a person's psyche and self esteem. It is not nescisarilly uncommon, but it is rare among other forms of acne. Cystic acne can be psychologically upsetting. A person suffering from this condition may tend to shy away from people and could develop a very poor self esteem. This oftentimes affects the face, shoulders, chest and back. In some cases it may occur on the arms as well. Cystic acne is more serious than your common pimples, whiteheads or blackheads. This form of acne is rooted down to the deep layers of the skin. Oftentimes, you'd hear people complaining of pain and severe discomfort.

Cystic acne diagram
Cystic acne diagram

What are the Causes of Cystic Acne?

Cystic acne is primarily caused by excessive sebum secretion of the sebaceous glands. This creates cystic inflammations that are more painful that a common pimple. These inflammations are also large and pus filled. The common causes of cystic acne include: a. Hereditary predisposition b. Hormonal changes or imbalances c. Stress d. Medications like anti-psychotics and anti-depressants. e. Harsh soaps and make ups. f. Poor and unhealthy diet g. Popping pimples h. Lack of sleep and rest

Treating Cystic Acne

All types of acne generally require treatment. This is especially so if you are suffering from cystic acne. This form of acne should be treated early. Once a person experienced cystic acne, he or she should adopt measures to prevent its reoccurrence. It is also very important to seek treatment regarding scar tissue after the acne itself has healed. There are a variety of products and home methods available. Trying to remove the blemishes at home could lead to scarring later if you're not careful about it. Check some information on how to pop a pimple here. Take the time to do some research and be sure the method your are employing will not only heal your acne condition in the present, but protect your skin in the future as well.

Cystic acne Video

If you are suffering from cystic acne, it is important that you keep the area clean and dry at all times. Do not overdo it as it could aggravate the condition. You could also try mild soaps or antibacterial soaps, or better yet, anti-acne soaps.

If the condition is severe and could not be treated by OTC drugs, it is advisable that you seek professional help. Oftentimes, dermatologists would prescribe antibiotic treatment. There are cases, however, where the acne is severely resistant to treatment. Cystic acne can be severe but it can be treated; although, some people reports of side effects from treatment. However, these side effects would eventually subside. And once treatment is completed, the results are worth the discomfort you'd experience with treatment.

Curing Cystic Acne

 

First of all, you would need to take a good look at what kind of scars you have unfortunately accumulated before deciding on the proper treatment. Cystic acne is like a nightmare because nothing that you do has any effect on it. Nothing makes it better and everything you try just seems to make it worse. You'll find that most over-the-counter products have little to no effect on this severe type of acne. So, whereas less severe acne cases can easily benefit from home remedies or popular brand name products, cystic acne makes your life difficult by resisting just about every regular treatment.

Knowing how touchy cystic acne can be, you've probably already guessed that it's time to book an appointment with a dermatologist. The dermatologist will first prescribe some external medication to apply to the acne. From there, the dermatologist will create a custom therapy based on the severity of your acne. Without going straight to a serious treatment like laser therapy, one treatment that has been proven effective against cystic acne is the peel. There are many different formulas for peels and the dermatologist can choose one that is suitable for your condition and skin type. Peels remove dead skin cells and clear oil from pores at a deeper level than facial washes are able to. Because all forms of acne feed on oil, after using these peels most patients notice a significant difference in their acne. The key is to stick with the treatment and follow the advice given to you by your dermatologist in order to clear up your acne as quickly as possible.

Treatment for cystic acne

Preventing Cystic Acne

While it may be very difficult to prevent this type of acne altogether, there are some helpful tips you can follow so that it doesn't spread and become worse. And if there's one thing that acne likes to do, it's spread! If you don't want to see acne multiplying, then keep your hands and nails away from your skin. Squeezing acne, especially cystic acne, often makes the situation much worse. By doing so, you are helping to transfer the bacteria that acne enjoys to other parts of your skin. Don't forget that a large amount of bacteria lives under your fingernails and by using those to pop your pimples you are making the problem twice as bad. Aside from the acne spreading, cystic acne is particularly disturbing in that after you've removed the pus from the affected areas, you are left with horrible pit holes in your face that can look even worse than the actual acne. So rule number one is to leave those pus-filled eyesores alone. The only time they should be touched is by a dermatologist who will do so in a sterile environment with sterilized equipment. Cystic acne can be treated in most cases while it is still in its original form with prescription medicine and peels. However, once you have turned your face into a mine pit, the only way to get rid of these permanent scars is by looking into an expensive treatment like laser therapy or dermabrasion. If you're not too keen on either of those treatments, it'd be best to resist the urge to start destroying those cysts by yourself.

So long as you're very careful in how you handle the portion of your skin that is affected by cystic acne, you should be able to work in a successful treatment without going through all the scarring and expensive bills that you would have had to pay had you taken matters into your own hands.

Comments

SweetiePie profile image

SweetiePie Level 6 Commenter 4 years ago

Interesting hub and educational for those suffering from acne.

monitor profile image

monitor Hub Author 4 years ago

I know what you mean. Me, I was lucky my Mum kind of figured it out. But many suffer today. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the comment.

nikoman profile image

nikoman 4 years ago

Thumbs up to you. It's a shame to see young kids get scars from their acne and shatter their self-confidence in the process.

papasmurf profile image

papasmurf 4 years ago

For those of us who have been spared from this level of acne we should truly feel fortunate.

monitor profile image

monitor Hub Author 4 years ago

Never a truer word spoken. Thanks for the comment.

Wormis 4 years ago

I was very lucky not to have it really bad as a kid, but I had a friend who had it horribly. It seems like he never 100% recovered from the damage it did to his self esteem. He started taking drugs a few years later, but it was a tough road for him before that. Nice hub. Good for anybody with children soon to be teens.

CarmenVj 3 years ago

Wow! I think this is a real bad chemical imbalance. If one works on their diet, this would help. First one should go on a full colon cleanse. Then start eating the right foods. Vegetables, no fat. This can be eliminated once one changes their diet. I had a bad acne problem years ago and once I changed my diet, I have eliminated my acne problem. You have to stick with this new diet. And juicing is excellent. My opinon, I believe one can solve their acne problem through diet. Once I changed my diet in what I ate, that has help me tremendously.

ryanenglish profile image

ryanenglish 3 years ago

Thanks for in-depth information about acne cystic.

Raffaella 3 years ago

For my cystic acne, only a endocrinologist with special expertise in female hormone problems is been successful with Diane-35, a drug used to treat severe, stubborn acne.

Adrianna 3 years ago

Informative and educational article. Get to know a lot about about cystic acne.

Lady Guinevere profile image

Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago

Wow a great hub. Thre is something else that I wrote a hub on that I have and it is Rosacea. There are medical studies into all this that are as late as last year. I have a link to the study on my hub about Rosacea. I don't go out that often either. You can also see a mild case in the hub about my 1st grandson.

Lady Guinevere profile image

Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago

Nikoman,

Adults get this just as much as teens.

jennifer v. 3 years ago

great hub, i learned something new lol

britneydavidson profile image

britneydavidson 3 years ago

great hub...excellent information....this will really help me lots..thanx for sharing such a great information...

nick 3 years ago

try vitamin b5 which helps reducing the oil production and helping to reduce the size of pores.

Sherrie 3 years ago

This information was very helpful.

MONIQUE 2 years ago

I have severe cystic acne,and rosacea. It seems,that what ever I take for the acne makes the rosacea worse-and the oppisite is also true. My face may not break out for years,then,boom!! If I get pregnant(I am now) ,it flares up again,worse than before..I have tried everything over the counter.If I coud find something to take the redness,and swelling out that would be a great help.Does anyone have any tips??

woah 2 years ago

i have bet suffering frm a few pimples sum r white but most of em r just bumps idk what those bumps r butt there my skintone and i put face wash and toner on evry day.i get breakouts on my nose and under my left eye and a few by my eyebrows sum 1 help??

Brandy 2 years ago

This was very helpful....It's not only kids and teens who deal with this. I am 27 years old and have always had mild acne, but after my son was born 3 months ago I got cystic acne REALLY bad like the guy in the pic and let me tell you...it has nothing to do with what you eat. I eat really well and still can't shake this stuff. And yes, it does really hurt your self esteem, so if you know anyone with it, please be kind....it's not their fault that they have it more than likely.

mzoghori 2 years ago

Its better anyway to prevent being infected than to cure. Incase yo are already infected a cream is my best advice minding that I do care for you alot.

However, you can stay fit in a life that is acne free through the following ways;

Cloth; You should avoid garments made exclusively of Lycra and nylon if you are prone to body acne since some synthetic fabrics can strap the heat and moisture against your skin. This creates a fertile breeding ground for the bacteria that contribute to acne.

For moderate exercise, use light weight, loose fitting cotton or a lycra-cotton blend. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breath and loose garments are less likely to cause friction. If you exercise vigorously and work up a good sweat, try some of the new fabrics designed to wink moisture away from your skin.

get out of wet clothes! No matter how you get your exercise- treadmill, tennis court, trail or whatever, don’t be sweaty or wet. Shower off immediately and change into dry clothes before you proceed with other chores. If this isn’t possible, change into dry clothes and wipe down as well as you can. Always use a clean towel and blot gently rather than wipe. Vigorous wiping can irritate your skin, driving make-up and sunscreen deeper into the pores.

alexis 2 years ago

I use african black soap. It's made from the shes of plantain leaves. I can only seem to find it online. I get mine from a place called coastal scents. I used it for a week and 90% of my acne cleared up. It's a little drying, but i just put a light moisturizer on and it was fine. My face still looks clearer than ever before!

hms86 profile image

hms86 2 years ago

Prevention is always better than cure. Conventional treatments out there in the market do not really cure acne and that is why new products are always appearing in the market. If the products are effective, why is it that new products are constantly introduced into the market?

I had tried tons of products but they don't provide me with the results that I want - which is to cure my acne. However I stumbled upon using holistic way to treat acne and I'm surprised how I got rid of my acne that I couldn't before.

Joseph

drakolon 2 years ago

one thing that works like a charm is oregano oil, just put a few drops on a bandage and stick it right over where you have a cyst problem, do this during the day or during the night or all the time and guaranteed, you will be rid of your cyst in 1-2 weeks. i do this constantly whenever one pops up, it's an ongoing battle, but learning this trick helps A LOT! a dermatologist wanted to put me on medication, but i started doing this and never needed it :) i'm still struggling with the oncoming horde of inflammation and whiteheads.. i use special soaps, creams, facial wash and they just keep coming! any organic advice?

Derek 2 years ago

Wow thanks a lot this article explains a lot about this severe acne. It seems to me like nothing works, but I guess I need to sleep earlier and eat less junk food. Thanks again this really helped.

E Amundsom 2 years ago

I'm glad you recommended that people go to a dermatologist. This is really a nasty skin condition that requires medical treatment.

chin acne 2 years ago

wow a really informative blog on acne! great hub and very helpful :) I found my acne would clear when trying new medications and always come back as nasty as ever. It took a long long time to clear up :(

cure 2 years ago

I have had this condition for 3 years, and I have the scars to prove it. It got so bad that I spent months hiding from public view during breakouts. I tried everything: benzol peroxide, Retin A, topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, vitamins, herbs, detox diet, everything. I became so depressed that I considered anti depressant medication. Then, my friend recomended 100% tea tree oil antiseptic. It smelled like kerosene, but I put a few drops on a q-tip, and applied it to the cysts, and went to bed. In one night, they were gone. ONE NIGHT. I couldn't believe it. I looked in the mirror the next morning, and the cysts were gone. I was so happy that I cried. My life is forever changed.

Cystic acne..... 2 years ago

Great hub on cystic acne!!! eeek it looks s painful!

I really enjoyed reading your hub, very interesting with loads of useful information on cystic acne. I especially enjoyed to acne videos!

Thanks for taking the time to write this hub!

Jessie 2 years ago

I used to have really bad acne, and I had spent $1000 (no joke!) on skin care. Until my friend Told me about a fantastic cream call Duac. You have to get a script from your doctor, but it is the best stuff, it really did help and my skin is 100% better :D

Tosha 2 years ago

Great hub, you have some really great infomation here. Thanks for the tips, I will be sure to share this information with my friends and family.

acne on chin  23 months ago

ooooo these are some seriously nasty and painful looking pictures and videos. great acne blog by the way.

HanaBannana 21 months ago

I've had acne for 8 years, 8 years of my life shying away from the world so self conscious and withdrawn. I'm 21 now and the problem escalated and I started getting cystic acne, it's not as terrible as that photo up there but together with 6 acne cysts, small white bumps and scarring from previous acne cysts it's very noticeable and looks yuck! For women birth control may be able to help the problem considerably, since I'm not going down that route and having have taken many antibiotics I will be visiting the dermatologist who will hopefully prescribe me accutane. For all of those without acne, you're so lucky, it's a constant battle but hopefully I'll be free from it by the time I'm 22, fingers crossed!

Ed 21 months ago

I have generally clear skin, but acne comes of from time to time, mostly around my mouth and upper forehead. They usually go away within 3 days, and if I'm lucky, overnight, but I get cases if mild cystic acne from time to time, maybe 2-3 times a year, and it lasts for up to 2 weeks. The cystic acne isn't very prominent, but you can see it. It feels like a small lump underneath my skin and is almost impossible to treat. Sometimes a bit of the pus rises to the top and I can pop it properly. It's quite an annoying problem.

guy looking for the best acne treatment 21 months ago

i get so frustrated when i have breakouts out of nowhere, i know i am not suppose to pop them but i do. The picture at the top has me changing my tune

acnecare.co 21 months ago

After seeing the photo at the top i feel bad for the big deal i made out of the single pimple i had show

Adam 21 months ago

Oh man. Cystic acne sucks. Been there, done that. Thanks for supplying the info for those who are still suffering tho'.

Cheers

nita 20 months ago

my husband had cystic acne as a teen and still gets the odd big pimple but his parents tried all natural stuff first then finally roaccutane. that worked for him after months trying other stuff he had results strait away. it does have precautions etc. but if u just want it gone... look into it. hope this helps.

get rid of acne overnight 20 months ago

That picture you have on cystic acne is really scary m8!

Hopefully the treatment works for that.

kimh039 profile image

kimh039 Level 6 Commenter 18 months ago

I've known a couple people with severe acne. I like how you presented the information here with utmost respect for those afflicted. Thank you.

almasi profile image

almasi 16 months ago

Thanks for sharing such useful info in a sensitive manner.

Jc from acne vulgaris 11 months ago

Worst form of acne one can get

diamond 11 months ago

i have cystic acne..sometimes it clears up...then when it comes back..its ten times worse..my skin is almost permanently damaged and full of hyper pigmentation..my skin feels rough from the scabs that get left behind...i recommend maca powder to balance the hormones...and half your weight in oz of water daily it worked for me while i was in the military...great read!

brennawelker profile image

brennawelker 10 months ago

Great.

Hubbswriter profile image

Hubbswriter 6 months ago

Very nice and indepth, found some useful info here

Ry B 6 months ago

Wow... That really is the worst form of acne that I've seen. I've seen severe acne, but nothing like this.

Would it be possible to use some of your pictures for my blog?

http://www.scene-makeup.com

I am branching off into skin care and this is exactly the type of information I am looking for.

meeechelle 4 months ago

Hey thanks for actually showing what the cyst loks like beneath the skin i always felt a ton of popping when i use to pop my acne and i understand y. Thanks

KittieL 3 months ago

I have had bad cystic acne on my chin since I was about 15, I'm now 18, and havent found anything (other than expensive prescriptions) that would clear the break outs and keep them away. I then read about using the Lady Soma Antioxidant Berry Masque and have been using it for about 3 days now and am amazed. The stuff totally dried up my pimples and they are now scabbed over and healing.

I would not, however, recommend using this masque all over your face as it does dry out skin. Only use it as a spot treatment.

Bridget 2 weeks ago

I am pregnant and so my derm has said there is nothing they can do until after the baby is born. It is so so terrible, I can't leave the house. And I have a really bad problem with not popping or squeezing them, I just can't leave them alone even though I know that it is the worst thing to do. They are so big, so painful, so unsightely and so many. I am so depressed, it has been 6 weeks now and no improvement. :(

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