What Is Cystic Acne? Treatment and Prevention
What are acne cysts, and how do you treat them? Here’s everything you need to know.
The threat of acne can strike fear into the hearts of many.
Most of us have had to deal with these facial breakouts at one point, and they’re a blow to our self-confidence and personal style. However, the severity of these pimples can vary. One of the worst options is an acne cyst.
Here’s how to shrink a cystic pimple and some different methods for acne treatment.
What is cystic acne?
Most pimples form when sebum or dead skin cells clog your pores. This can cause whiteheads or blackheads, two noninflammatory types of acne. You’ll also find:
Papules, which are inflamed pores.
Pustules, which are inflamed and filled with pus. (Papules can become pustules if they accumulate pus.)
Nodules and cysts, which sit beneath the skin.
Cystic acne, however, sits even deeper than nodules. When your pores fill with pus, it causes them to swell up. The result is an overly tender oily surface, and if the papules pop or the infection spreads, they can cause scar lesions.
Unfortunately, severe acne can last for months or years. A dermatologist is often needed to put it under control. However, we should further clarify the difference between an acne cyst and an acne nodule: both sit under the skin, but cysts contain pus. Nodules are solid, so even if you try to pop them—and we know you’ve got the urge—it won’t work.
What are the causes of acne breakouts?
Like your everyday pimple, acne cysts are clogged pores, often caused by too much oil. People with oily skin will experience more breakouts. Sometimes a poor diet or another skin condition can cause acne, too, but there isn’t always a clear cause.
The additional causes of hormonal cystic acne are more complex and explain why everyday skincare products aren’t the best treatment options.
Leading causes include:
A hormonal imbalance in the sebaceous glands that usually starts at puberty. Hormonal changes are often reflected in our skin.
Pregnancy or menopause.
Excess oil on the skin because of high humidity levels and persistent sweating.
A bad reaction to topical creams or cleansers. If you notice your over-the-counter items are causing side effects, stop using them. Always check the ingredients of your beauty products before buying.
Prescription drugs. If your medication contains corticosteroids, isoniazid, phenytoin, or lithium, it may worsen the whiteheads on your skin. Acne medications can also worsen acne before you see improvement.
Another factor that increases your risk for cystic acne is genetics. If your parents had bad acne as a teenager, you’re more likely to see it pop up on your own face, too.
What does cystic acne look like?
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When figuring out the type of acne cysts you have, look for:
Wider acne pits.
Deep, small holes in your skin. Think pockmarked, “ice pick” scar tissue texture.
Raised, red patches of skin, where the flesh has swollen around an infection.
Beyond being painful to the touch, cystic acne can cause anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues related to your appearance. Normally, acne cysts sit under the surface of the skin, but sometimes they breach the surface. When they do, they look like a boil.
Where do acne cysts develop?
While cystic acne often appears on your face, it can pop up on your arms, chest, neck, and upper back. Sometimes it’ll spread in multiple places simultaneously, especially if your skincare issues are severe. Back acne is especially common if you have long hair or you workout frequently. Make sure you shower and put on clean clothes after any exercise.
If you aggravate the acne by poking at it, squeezing it, or having fabric rub against it repeatedly, this can also accelerate the process.
How to get rid of a cyst
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You’ll find acne treatments available at most drug stores or grocery stores. Common options include:
Steroids. Your doctor must inject these at a dermatologist’s office, or they might prescribe a steroid cream.
Retinoid cream, lotion, gel, or foam. Retinoids, or vitamin A derivatives, help to unclog your pores and promote cell turnover. Start slowly with retinol products, as they can be very irritating.
Birth control pills. Birth control methods help you regulate hormonal imbalances if you're a woman. Other contraceptives might be used to regulate your hormone levels, too.
Oral antibiotics. These can be combined with other treatment methods to control your acne vulgaris.
Benzoyl peroxide. This ingredient reduces bacterial inflammation. It can tackle whiteheads and blackheads and be purchased from drugstores in either water or alcohol-based solutions.
Exfoliants. For oily skin, exfoliants like salicylic acid can prevent acne formation by removing acne-causing bacteria and excess oil from your pores. These products can be drying, so consult with your dermatologist if you’re struggling with a severe form of acne.)
Isotretinoin, or Accutane. A well-known remedy infamous for its ability to effectively reduce acne. Accutane should never be used by a woman at risk of pregnancy, as it can cause disastrous side effects for unborn children. Other side effects include chapped lips, joint pain, and liver damage.
Spironolactone. Like Accutane, it reduces excess oil on the skin. However, it’s rarely prescribed to men, as it can lead to gynecomastia.
Cystic acne prevention
The harsh (but well-meaning) truth about hormonal acne is that you’ll never be free of some of those hereditary risks. Unfortunately, your complexion can simply come down to the luck of the draw.
You can take preventative steps to ensure that your day and night skincare routine doesn’t make things worse:
Wash your face in the morning and evening with a foaming cleanser to remove excess oil. Avoid heavy-duty scrubs, as the rough texture of the soap can irritate lesions.
Never wear makeup to bed. Make sure you use gentle makeup products, too.
Use moisturizing products, regardless of your skin type.
Don’t pick at your skin; it can worsen your acne scars.
Wash your hair regularly, and keep it away from your face. Excess oil around the hair follicles can aggravate your acne.
Stop eating foods with a high glycemic level.
These preventative tips should be combined with assistance from your dermatologist and a healthy dose of sunscreen. Sunscreen will become an essential skincare product, as many acne treatments make you extremely prone to sunburn.
Even better news? With proper treatment, most people can reduce the long-term effects of cystic acne, and the scars can fade with time. Are you looking for other healthcare products to keep your complexion fresh and healthy? Gopuff is happy to assist by delivering those products straight to your door.
