Cystic acne (nodulocystic acne) is a more severe type of acne. If you suffer from cystic acne you will have small cysts on your face, back, arms, chest or shoulders. The cysts are different to normal spots and are filled with white pus. These cysts can be deep under the skin and quite painful or more often visible in the face.
Cystic acne is caused by the same three things that cause normal acne: overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells in the pores and lots of acne causing bacteria (propionibacteria acnes)
You should go and see a dermatologist if you have cystic acne as there is quite effective treatment and the really nasty side-effect of cystic acne is that it tends to leave scars that are very hard if not impossible to get rid of. For more information on acne scars, browse for acne scar treatment on here.
Now, there are several types of cystic acne treatment. Before we go into this, here is a warning! Do not try and pop these cysts! It will most likely make it much worse as it causes damage to the skin and will leave you with scars.
The first cystic acne treatment is always your diet! As a general rule, stay clear of sugar, fat, processed foods, fast food and drink plenty of water, and eat lots of fruit and vegetables. The second is reduce your stress (you will probably also eat less crap if less stressed). Thirdly, you must go and see a dermatologist who can prescribe the right medication which may include antibiotics, accutane, contraceptive pills for women. In extreme cases, a doctor can also drain and extract infections by making small incisions. Your doctor may also inject medication directly into the inflammed areas.
Welcome to my website! I know how much it sucks to have acne and after many years of research and trying almost every product on the market I figured out what works and what doesn't work. When I was a model it was vital for me to fix my skin to look perfect for photoshoots - the pressure to look good was huge. Now as a Beauty Editor I love helping people find solutions for themselves. Good luck on your quest for clear skin.
Kelly ++ PS - remember to subscribe to my newsletter for special updates...
This website is not a medical reference, rather a starting point for further research.
Authors are not qualified doctors or pharmacists. Always consult your doctor before starting any course of treatment.
