Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is one of the most severe types of acne that can leave permanent and deep scars if not treated correctly. The same bacteria, P. Acnes, which causes all other types of acne, also causes cystic acne. The bacteria infect a clogged follicle and the sebum or oil plug that develops within the follicle. With cystic acne the blemish is actually much larger than just an ordinary pimple, and usually is larger than 5 mm in size. The cyst can be either pus-filled or very hard, solid material. Cystic acne is usually deeper in the follicle than a whitehead or blackhead, and is usually very painful to the touch. Often, cystic acne has a large amount of inflammation around the cyst and may protrude a significant distance from the surface of the skin.

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If you have cystic acne, it is very important to seek assistance and professional advice from a dermatologist. Cystic acne is the most likely to cause scarring; especially the ice-pick type of scarring that is very difficult to treat and is the most noticeable. Cystic acne can occur on the face, mostly on the cheeks, forehead and jaw, on the back or chest, or even on the upper arms. Cystic acne usually occurs in the teenage years but may also occur as adult acne.

Cystic acne should never be treated like regular acne. It is very important to avoid scratching, popping or squeezing of the cystic acne as this will lead to more inflammation and damage of the surrounding skin tissue. In addition, avoid wearing any type of clothing that will increase the friction on the surface of the cystic acne. This usually means wearing cotton fabrics and avoiding rayon, nylon or other tight materials. If the cystic acne is on the back, avoid using a backpack to stop friction on the shoulder and back areas.

Treatment

There are several different types of medications that can be used for treating cystic acne. Hormonal medications that are taken orally, as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory topical creams, are usually used in conjunction with each other. Most medications will need to be taken for several weeks before improvement is noted. Many people stop taking the medication before the benefits are noted, so sticking to the full course of the prescription is important.

Cystic acne seems to be the most resistant type of acne to treat and rarely responds to changes in diet. Cleaning the infected facial skin with 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide and 10% solution of the compound on the back and chest skin is beneficial in reducing the bacterial levels. Avoid using the more concentrated benzoyl peroxide on the face as it is too strong for the sensitive skin of the face.

The most important thing to remember with cystic acne is to talk with your doctor or dermatologist to decide the best treatment options.