Get Rid of Acne Cysts Fast

If you have cystic acne, you probably already know how frustrating and uncomfortable regular flare-ups can be. What you might now know, however, is that medical expertise and widespread adoption of drugs can make acne a lot less painful and visible. You can get rid of acne cysts fast using medical options like antibiotics, retinoid treatments, and laser therapy; eating better, resting your mind and body, and regularly washing and exfoliating your skin will also help significantly.

Steps

The Difference Between Acne and Cystic Acne

1. Understand that cystic acne affects deeper skin tissue than common acne. Cystic acne affects tissue that is deeper down than its more superficial counterpart, common acne. Cystic acne is a type of abscess that occurs when oil ducts get infected, usually under the skin. For this reason, cystic pimples usually appear further underneath the surface than common pimples.
2. Understand that cystic acne, particularly, brings with it higher chances of scarring. Scarring is more common in cystic acne, doctors say, because of the collagen-damaging infection of deep tissue. Cystic acne scars come in three basic forms:
   • Atrophic scars, sunken but mostly shallow, which can be effectively treated.
   • Boxcar-shaped scars, which are harder to treat.
   • Ice pick-shaped scars, which are narrow and deep.
3. Understand that most cystic acne abscesses should not be popped. Although dermatologists and doctors alike warn against popping common pimples, many whiteheads and blackheads can be effectively popped, even if increases the chance of infection and worsens the inflammation. Cystic acne, on the other hand, cannot be effectively popped because it's further underneath the skin.
   • Lancing or draining the cyst with a sharp needle is a common medical procedure, but it should never be done at home or without the supervision of a licensed professional. Improper lancing may result in scarring or infection, and should not be attempted at home.
4. Understand that drugs and anti-scarring treatment make cystic acne much more manageable than before. Cystic acne is not the debilitating and disfiguring condition it was before. More and more cystic acne patients are getting help with treatments and drugs, although the drugs have gotten more powerful and their side effects have increased. If you do have cystic acne, know that it can be effectively treated in the right circumstances.
5. Make an appointment with your dermatologist today to discuss cystic acne. Cystic acne is much worse than common acne; common home remedies often prove ineffective and even counterproductive. There are measures that you can take at home to help treat cystic acne, but they should be coupled with medical intervention from your doctor.
   • Doctors can prescribe very strong drugs that will help you treat your cystic acne. Because they are so powerful, they are not dispensed over the counter and can't be bought in your local drugstore. Setting an appointment with a doctor will allow him or her to look at your acne, devise a treatment tailored to your case, and start guiding you to a pimple-free existence sooner rather than later.

Medical Options for Treating Cystic Acne

1. Talk to your doctor about antibiotics for treating cystic acne. For a long period of time, cystic acne was treated effectively with antibiotics. Now, most likely due to overuse, bacteria have formed a resistance to antibiotics, limiting its standalone effectiveness. Antibiotics used to treating cystic acne are either tetracyclines or erythromycins.
   • The most common antibiotics available by prescription are:
     
     • Tetracycline
     • Doxycycline
     • Minocycline
   • Talk to your doctor about possible side-effects. Side-effects of antibiotics include photosensitivity, possible liver damage, and complications with pregnancy.
2. Talk to your doctor about hormonal treatments (for females only). Like it or not, acne is effected by our body's hormones. That's why many doctors prescribe the birth control pill or anti-androgen medications to stem outbreaks. Talk to your doctor about anti-androgen medications that may limit the severity of your cystic acne.
   • Understand the possible side-effects. Side-effects include irregular menstrual cycle, fatigue, dizziness, and breast tenderness.
3. Talk to your doctor about topical retinoids. Topical retinoids unplug clogged pores, allowing other medications to come in and fight the acne-causing bacteria. Topical retinoids are usually reserved for moderate to severe acne, for which other methods of treatment have not worked.
   • Topical retinoids include:
     
     • Adapalene.
     • Tazarotene. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
     • Tretinoin. Is more effective if starting with a lower dose, and then ramping up.
   • Topical retinoids may initially make your acne worse before it gets better. Redness, dryness, and peeling appear in many cases, along with increased cystic severity in some, before getting better after several weeks to a month.
   • Talk to your doctor about possible side-effects. Side effects include photosensitivity, dryness, redness, and peeling of skin.
4. Talk to your doctor about systemic (oral) retinoids. Systemic retinoids, such as isotretinoin (also called Accutane), are extremely effective in treating cystic acne. Taken orally, usually for a period of six months to a year, isotretinoin can dramatically reduce the incidence and visibility of cystic acne, and in many cases, produce prolonged remission. In some cases, isotretinoin is looked at as the closest thing to an acne "cure" as dermatology will get.
   • Still, isotretinoin comes with some very serious side effects. These include: depression, birth defects, miscarriage, deafness, and bowel disease, among others. Talk with your doctor about using isotretinoin; only the worst cases of cystic acne, or years of trial and failure, may warrant prescription of this very strong drug.
5. Talk to your doctor about laser therapy. Laser therapy is now used not only to minimize scars caused by cystic acne, but to actually fight cystic acne outbreaks. Laser therapy does this by either burning away the follicle sac, by burning away the sebaceous gland (which produces oil), or by oxygenating the bacteria, and thereby killing them.
   • Still, there are side-effects and contradictory results, which means the treatment works for some patients but not for others. In some cases, the laser cooling system has malfunctioned, resulting in burns.

Developing a Daily Routine

1. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser. Water-soluble cleansers are gentler than harsher cleansers and just as effective.
2. Make sure to properly moisturize after each wash. Your skin needs moisture after you strip it of oil and water. Use noncomedogenic moisturizers that won't block your pores, and look for light moisturizers (especially gels) instead of heavy ones.
3. Exfoliate at least once a week, preferably with a salicylic acid-based exfoliant. Salicylic acid is a chemical peel, which means that it will peel off the dead skin on the epidermis, revealing the layer underneath.
4. Don't pick at your cysts or skin. Chances are that you have common acne in addition to cystic acne. Common acne and cystic acne can get inflamed when touched, producing more redness and irritation in addition to bumping up the likelihood of scarring when the collagen under the surface is repeatedly disturbed. As hard as it is, try not to touch your face or feel your pimples. You'll end up with healthier skin and fewer pimples.
5. Keep your routine simple. After you see your doctor and get a recommended skin regimen, keep things simple. Follow prescription advice your doctor gives you, wash your face and moisturize daily, and don't fall for any clear-skin gimmicks. Getting rid of acne takes patience, but it can be done by letting your medicine and routine work its magic.

Lifestyle Changes that Could Improve Acne

1. Pay attention to diet. For a long time, doctors and scientists were unwilling to draw a link between diet and acne. Now, doctors and scientists are beginning to reevaluate the evidence. It turns out that many studies support the hypothesis that what you eat affects how much acne you have and how bad it gets, although diet isn't the only culprit.
   • Try eating a low-glycemic diet. That means going for the whole grains, beans, and veggies before you reach for the white bread, pasta, and sugar. Low-glycemic foods take longer for the body to absorb and are usually healthier. Several studies have found that people who eat low-glycemic diets have a lower incidence of acne. Low-glycemic-load diets not only improve the health of your skin, but also help you lose weight.
   • Cut back on dairy. Studies suggest that the amount of dairy you consume does have an effect on acne. While it's unreasonable to think that completely cutting milk and yogurt out of your diet will magically cure you of acne, the evidence suggests that dairy does make your acne worse, possibly because of the hormones present in milk.
2. Cut down on stimulants like alcohol and smoking, if possible. Studies around the world have linked toxins like tobacco and alcohol to acne. And it's little wonder: smoking and drinking aren't exactly wonderful for your health. If you're a regular smoker and drinker with cystic acne, consider cutting down on these habits if you're serious about seeing a reduction in acne and an uptick in overall health.
3. Reduce the amount of stress you're under. Scientists aren't exactly sure why, but they do know that stress will cause acne to get worse. Perhaps especially in males, an increase in stress has also been linked to worsening of the severity of acne. While stress is notoriously difficult to control, just realizing that stress may contribute to acne can give you pause the next time you start tearing your hair out over a bad grade or a bad date.
   • Try to carve out time for exercising. Scientists think that regular exercise can help reduce acne by regulating hormones, bringing more oxygen to your cells, and boosting your immune system, not to mention reducing stress. If nothing else, try walking at least 30 minutes a day.
4. Get enough sleep. Increased sleep may help improve acne by limiting the amount of stress the body experiences. Scientists believe that stress can increase about 15% for each hour of sleep you lose during any given night. And, as we know, the more stress, the worse the acne. One study focusing on acne patients in Korea found that lack of sleep correlated significantly with an aggravation in acne.
5. Drink water. If you're trying to reduce the amount of sugar you take in, cut out all the sugary drinks (sports drinks, cola, sweet teas, juices) and reach for that H₂O instead. Drinking more water will help your body's blood flow and assist it removing waste material caused by metabolism.

Reducing Acne Scars

1. Try applying cortisone to reduce inflammation and fade creams to make scars less visible. Acne scars caused by cysts can be made less visible by applying cortisone and fade creams to your skin.
   • If your skin is red and swollen, apply cortisone to reduce the inflammation. Cortisone is a common medication for all sorts of skin irritations, and will be absorbed by the skin.
   • Stay away from hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is a fade cream used to lighten pigments in the skin, but which has recently fallen out of favor due to concerns about possible cancer-causing properties. Instead, opt for a lightener such as kojic acid, arbutin, or ascorbic acid.
2. Talk to your doctor about stronger chemical peels. Chemical peels use potent acid formulas to lift off the top layer or layers of skin, thereby minimizing the appearance of scars. Very strong chemical peels should be used in combination with a doctor's advice and/or guidance.
3. Talk to your doctor about dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is the process of sloughing off top layers of skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush. Blemishes on the surface of the skin are usually removed, and deeper scars are usually minimized, although dermabrasion can cause changes in skin pigments for patients with darker skin.
   • Talk to your doctor about microdermabrasion. A lighter procedure than dermabrasion, microdermabrasion is the application of small crystals onto the top layer of skin, which are then vacuumed up, along with dead skin cells. Because the procedure only removes the top layer of skin, results are generally a lot less pronounced than dermabrasion.
4. Talk to your doctor about laser treatments. Lasers blast the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heat the layer of skin just beneath it. Skin heals, lessening the appearance of scars. Sometimes, multiple laser treatments are needed to lessen the visibility of scars; repeated treatments offer subtler results.
5. For large, deep lesions or scars, talk to your doctor about skin surgery. Skin surgery is a minor surgery in which a punch excision cuts out the scar and replaces it with stitching or a skin graft.

Tips

• Try to stay optimistic about your prospects. Cystic acne responds well to strong medical treatments, giving you an excellent chance to put acne behind you for good.
• Try to book an appointment with a dermatologist, it is the only way to provide peace of mind. He will provide you with specific instructions to follow.

Warnings

• Try not to pop, squeeze, pick at, or lance cystic pimples. This could delay the healing process as well as create scars.

Related Articles

• Prevent Cystic Acne

Sources and Citations

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