Cystic Acne Treatments – What Are the Best Ones Available?
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment, 0.5-Ounce Unit
- Effectively flattens & clears blemishes
- Absorbs excess oil
- Calms inflammation & redness
Article by Ken Fong
One of the most severe forms of acne vulgaris is cystic acne, otherwise also known as nodulocystic acne. If you become aware of cystic acne developing, you should seek treatment immediately due to long term effects it may have on your skin. Any delays in doing will increase your chances of getting permanent acne scars, since this form of acne is much more severe than other forms of acne.
What you will find in this article is a look at various forms of cystic acne treatment normally prescribed, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. That being said, it is perhaps more beneficial to understand cystic acne’s characteristics first before diving into the available treatments. The signs of cystic acne are fairly obvious- deep reddened blushes along with some papules along your face, and possibly around your shoulders or back. Even with these signs, it would not be right to call the condition cystic acne unless actual cysts develop on your skin.
Cysts, simply put are fluid-filled bumps on your skin that are soft to the touch and seem to originate from under the dermis layer. Size-wise, they are roughly the same as your average pimples, and perhaps slightly bigger. Whatever you do, resist the urge to puncture them. Chances are, you might also find you see bumps called nodules. These nodules are normally harder and bigger than cysts plus they hurt when you touch them. Realistically, nodules can take a long time to heal, even with a doctor’s help as they originate from deep within the skin structure.
From observations made of cystic acne, it appears that it is more prevalent among people with a family history of the condition. Demographically speaking, men below the age of 35 and teenagers going through puberty are the more likely to suffer from cystic acne.
Now, to dispel some myths – cystic acne does not occur due to poor dietary practices, irregular facial cleaning or even drinking overly sweet beverages. These reasons do not cause cystic acne. As explained earlier however, it does seem that genetic predisposition is one of the primary causes for this severe form of acne. The next section gives details on treatments for cystic acne available. The first thing to mention is that I highly recommend you consult a dermatologist without delay to profile your skin condition because cystic acne can quickly increase in severity. Nonetheless, details of available treatments are provided below, especially focusing on their particular negative and positive points. Here are the 5 most common treatments for cystic acne:-
a) Oral antibiotics
This form of treatment is usually available in pill form. Typically, you will be given these in blocks of 3 monthly supplies. No matter how much improvement you may see throughout the course of treatment, make sure you finish it so that antibiotic immunity does not develop in the bacteria. The antibiotic works by slowly killing ff P-acne population on your skin which in turn controls the infection.
This form of treatment works very well provided you give your doctor any details of allergies to antibiotics. The great thing about this treatment is that it should be quite affordable for most people. On the flipside, you may suffer minor side effects such as minor stomach discomfort or occasional bouts of nausea.
b) Isotretinoin
You may know these from their more common brand names such as Claravis, RoAccutane, Amnesteem or even Isotane. While slightly more expensive, these are available in pills or tablet form, just like antibiotics. Because this drug works in several different mechanisms, it works much better than antibiotics. One way it operates is by constricting your sebaceous glands to reduce the amount of sebum your body produces.
One other way it works is by reducing the size of P-acne bacteria colonies, since it possesses antimicrobial properties. A downside of this treatment is that side effects are more pronounced. It is not uncommon for the user to experience dryness in lips, skin and eyes. Another side effect reported is the dryness causing skin flaking and early stage acne breakouts. On the balance however, few other cystic acne treatments work as well as this one.
c) Oral contraceptives (for women)
This course of treatment should only be considered if you were thinking of using oral contraceptives regardless, and not as the primary acne control method. Oral contraceptives work by reducing the amount of testosterone production in your body and this in turn controls the amount of sebum your sebaceous glands
A word of caution, certain contraceptives work by increasing your testosterone levels- avoid these. Needless to say, these may actually cause your acne to become worse. When seeking advice from a pharmacist, be honest about the secondary reason you’re using contraceptives and they should prescribe the appropriate forms.
d) Surgical excision and drainage
As the name suggests, this is a surgical procedure that works on the external appearances. It is normally not recommended on cases that the surgeon deems to be non-severe since there are some risks involved. Basically, small cuts are made by the surgeon on your lesions to drain fluids within cystic cavities. This can be an expensive treatment option, but can be quite worth it as the improvements you can see are quite dramatic.
e) Intralesional injections
This method works by reducing the inflammation and size of lesions via an injection into your dermis layer. One added advantage this method has is that it has been found to reduce permanent acne scarring. On the plus side, you may see considerable improvement in your skin within a week or so, but the negative is that the procedure may be fairly painful and there may be considerable monetary costs involved.
About The Author
Ken Y Fong is passionately interested in skin-related diseases such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. His specific interests in this area is finding new ways to cure existing ailments that are accessible to the general public. Click here to learn more about the best Cystic Acne Treatments. For a great general resource in achieving acne free skin, click here for the Acne No More review.
(c) Copyright – Ken Y Fong. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
This is only spot treatment works for stubborn acnes,
There is one thing I know for the facts that acnes are incurable. But it can be under control with right products. I have battled with adult acnes, hormonal acnes. I have tried so many spot treatments, they only burns, peeling, flaking, continuing with mountains of acnes, not reducing the swelling very well. Until I went to Nordstrom and spoke with SA and she has the same problem, she suggested me this one cuz I can cover and HEALS same time! It is expensive, but I use very little, applied in the morning, then by the end of day, I only see almost gone or very tiny acnes that shrinks. I just loved it, I bought it three months ago and still have plenty left to use! I will definitely repurchase it when mine is out.
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|Great addition to Dr. Gross skincare line,
I use this product as a mask to prevent breakouts. When I do have a breakout, which is rare, it dries the pimple within a few hours.
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