Cystic Acne Treatment

Cystic Acne, often called Nodular acne, is possibly one of the worst forms of Acne a person can get. It is named due to the cyst like formations that appear underneath the skin.

Cystic acne can be very painful as it tends to extend past the original spot into surrounding tissue and are one of the main causes of scarring in acne patients.

To understand how the cysts are formed you must first understand how acne develops. The first stage is when a pore becomes clogged with dirt or oil, this can lead to a white or black head. If an infection occurs it can turn into a spot or pimple. This pimple can then turn into a more aggressive spot called a Cyst. This is where bacteria, oil and white blood cells flood an existing spot and into surrounding tissue.

Generally most cystic acne will be inflamed and painful and treatment can be difficult, but it is possible.

A combination of different methods are usually used to tread this kind of acne. Firstly an antibiotic to help combat the underlying bacterial infection. Secondly a topological agent that is applied to the skin to help dry out the spot.

Sometimes a steroid called corticosteroid is injected directly into the cyst and whilst it is a radical measure it will significantly reduce the size of the cyst and can help reduce scarring.

For really bad cysts they may need to be drained by making a surgical cut in the cyst itself. This is a delicate procedure and should be carried out by a professional only as can cause damage or scarring when done incorrectly.