Having cystic acne is something that most people dread. Not only does it look big, red, and swollen, but it is also painful. Treating cystic acne on your own can be difficult and also unadvisable.
Not only does cystic acne affect you medically, but it can also negatively affect your mental health and self-image. With the proper treatment for cystic acne, you can get rid of it completely.
No one wishes to live with cystic acne forever. It is possible to get rid of it with the help of a dermatologist. A better understanding of cystic acne, its symptoms, and treatment are your best shots to living an acne-free life.
Table of Contents
Cystic Acne Defined
Cystic acne develops when bacteria are trapped in the pores of your skin. This triggers infection deep into your skin since the bacteria and oil cannot emerge. This type of acne is considered the most severe and painful of all.
Cystic acne doesn’t disappear on its own. It needs to be treated by a medical professional to be removed safely.
Signs and Symptoms
Cystic acne is a lump growing on your skin that often shows on your face, neck, back, arms, and chest. You may notice cystic acne developing during puberty, pregnancy, and menstrual cycles for women. Hormonal changes usually cause cystic acne.
The common symptoms of cystic acne are:
- Pain felt around the cyst
- Large and red cysts with pus
- Dark scars on the skin
- Large abscesses
Diagnosis of Cystic Acne
The best person to diagnose if you have cystic acne is a dermatologist. The dermatologist examines your skin to confirm whether you have cystic acne and rule out other skin diseases like incurable rosacea.
Proper Skincare
Taking care of your skin and having a skincare schedule is very important. With proper skin care, you are allowing your skin to recover safely from acne with minimal scarring.
Below are some recommendations on how you can take care of your skin:
Wash Your Skin Regularly
Washing your skin is the most basic skincare practice you must do daily. With lukewarm water and a mild cleaner, you should wash your skin every morning and every night.
Gently rub your skin when washing. Don’t be rough or overwash your skin because this may irritate instead of helping your skin.
Washing your skin removes excess oil, which helps minimize acne growth. Consider looking for a cleaner containing salicylic acid, which can help reduce inflammation and hinder bacterial growth. Your cleaner should also be labelled oil-free or non-comedogenic.
Choosing the Appropriate Make-up Products
If you are wearing make-up daily, you should invest in water-based products. Also, invest in make-up removers or cleaners that are oil-free.
You must remove your make-up before going to bed every single night. If you can minimize or avoid wearing make-up, that would be best for wearing make-up can eventually cause skin irritation.
Wearing Sunblock
Wearing sunblock and limiting your exposure to sunlight can benefit your skin. If your dermatologist gave you a prescription for isotretinoin, you must use sunblock. You are more susceptible to skin damage if exposed to the sun while using this product.
Avoid Touching or Picking Your Skin
Having acne on your skin can be a bother and an irritation. You might be tempted to pick on it. As much as possible, do not touch your acne, especially with dirty hands. Doing this causes inflammation, more pain, and a redder acne appearance.
Image by Kalos Skincare from Unsplash
Treatment
Diligently following your daily skincare routine is very important, but it doesn’t assure you that it can completely remove your cystic acne. The best way to remove cystic acne is through proper treatment procedures conducted by your dermatologist.
Here are some of the medical treatments available for cystic acne:
Laser
Laser treatments are effective ways of removing acne scars. If you plan to undergo this treatment, you must be patient because seeing favourable results takes quite some time.
Laser treatment promotes skin repair. Laser treatment becomes more effective if you regularly undergo treatment and maintain a good skincare routine.
Chemical Peel
This treatment helps improve the appearance of acne scars by deliberately causing damage to the skin. In the process, the skin will heal itself and will eventually regenerate.
If you are using isotretinoin, you must stop using it for at least six months before undergoing a chemical peel.
Microneedling
This treatment involves pricking the scars repeatedly with a small needle. This treatment helps reduce swelling around the scar and causes the skin to regenerate.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a process that uses local anaesthesia to numb the skin to remove the topmost layer of the skin. This way, the scarring is reduced.
The downside to this treatment, you are prone to developing other skin conditions. It is best to talk to your dermatologist before undergoing the procedure. The recovery period for this treatment can last several weeks.
Takeaway
Cystic acne can be a burden if left untreated. If you have cystic acne, it is best to visit your dermatologist immediately. Don’t wait for it to worsen, for it can affect your skin and mental health.
Cystic acne is common. It is curable, and you don’t have to suffer forever because of it. Several treatments can help you. Don’t wait another day; schedule an appointment with your doctor today.
