Cystic Acne

Getting The Inside Scoop on Cystic Acne

In everyday life acne outbreaks can certainly put a damper on a big day or important event coming up, but they are relatively painless and can be treated fairly easily with most topical solutions. They are not much more than a minor inconvenience, unless of course it’s prom, to be dealt with some over the counter acne product.

Even though hormonal changes in the body contribute to the formation of acne there are several other factors involved that in combination cause acne outbreaks. Under most circumstances the oil, dirt and skin cells that block the pores of the skin will cause and inflammatory response by the body resulting in an acne outbreak.

Your body then tries to fight off the resulting infection and a pimple is born. As the bodies response intensifies more and more white blood cells build up in the pimple in the form of pus. You wash your face and maybe put an acne cream on with benzoyl peroxide to dry it up and that’s pretty much the end of it.

But every now and then, your skin can erupt with sore, swollen and painful blemishes better known as cystic acne or nodulocystic acne. Cystic acne, a very severe acne, manifests itself with acne cysts on the face, the chest, the back or even the buttocks. Outbreaks are in the form of cysts or nodules that form under the skin putting pressure on the surrounding tissue.

This pressure is what causes all of the pain and discomfort. If left untreated this pressure and the associated bacterial infection can cause serious scarring to the affected area. This is why it’s important to treat this form of acne as soon as possible and never squeeze or pop a cyst.

Squeezing or popping a nodule or cyst is a big cause of facial scarring in people suffering form nodular acne. It’s tempting to try to find relief form the pain by popping the blemish and relieving the pressure but the short-term relief can have long-term results that aren’t very pleasant. For example, facial scars.

What’s The Cause of Cystic Acne?

The cause of cystic acne outbreaks happens when the pores of your skin become blocked by dirt and oil on the skin. The condition is made worse by the bacteria that get trapped in the blocked pore. As the infection grows, cysts or nodules can form deep under the skin presenting itself as cystic acne.

What About Cystic Acne Treatment?

As for treatment of cystic acne, the treatment is not quite the same as for everyday acne as cystic acne goes much deeper into the skin than it’s somewhat more mild counterpart; seeking treatment from a licensed dermatologist may be the best solution for getting rid of nodulocystic acne and those painful blemishes, cysts and nodules.

There are acne products and solutions that you can try not to mention the many cystic acne home remedies that are out there. But, bear in mind that these may be hit or miss and an internal medicine might be necessary to treat your acne. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t try to use one of the many acne solutions on the market today. You may find that the over the counter acne solutions may be effective at treating the milder form of acne that can accompany cystic acne.

The reason for this is as a general rule, acne vulgaris can manifest itself differently in different people. Pimples and blackheads or whiteheads are common, but things get a bit trickier when cystic acne comes into play. Some people experience minor irritation from blackheads or the occasional pustule, while there are others still who may experience a combination of blemishes caused by bacteria trapped in the pores.

The problem with troublesome skin is that nobody is exempt from outbreaks. Additionally, some people only experience acne throughout the teenage years, but others could carry the condition throughout adulthood as well. This adult acne cysts form of acne can be every much as troublesome and aggravating as the teenage variety and may very well require a trip to the dermatologist too.

Recognizing Cystic Acne Before It Appears

Unlike most types of pimples that can appear visibly overnight, cystic acne takes a different route. In most cases the infection can often be felt before it even shows visible signs, and feels a lot like a bruise or inflammation beneath the skin. As this inflammation grows the area becomes more and more painful.

Because nodular cystic acne is so deeply rooted in the pores, outbreaks can become quite painful, inflamed and sore to the touch even before they have appeared on the surface. Seeking treatment in the early stages could clear up the pustule sooner, in turn reducing the risk of acne scarring.

There are acne scarring products and services that are quite effective at reducing or even eliminating acne scars caused by cystic acne but the best thing you can do to correct your acne scars is to not get them in the first place. It’s easier said than done and some scarring will probably still occur but if you can reduce the effect that cystic acne has on your skin the lower the chances are that those nodules will leave scars.

Nodular Cystic Acne in the Long-Term Perspective

As tempting as it is to try to get rid of pustules by squeezing them, this will often have an adverse effect on your skin and my interfere with your cystic acne treatments. This type of blemish is particularly known for causing permanent acne scarring, a condition that could be worsened by irritating the bacterial infection and further increasing the inflammation. Squeezing also has the effect of pushing the infection deeper into the skin thus making it more difficult to treat in the long run by allowing the infection to remain deep in the skin far from where topical solutions can effectively treat the affected area.

Furthermore, altered skin pigmentation has been known to occur when the infected area is continually aggravated by these infections. In the long-term perspective, it often requires cosmetic surgery to repair the damage and scarring left behind by nodular acne.

There are several different kinds of acne scars:

1. Boxcar scars
2. Ice pick scars
3. Rolling scars
4. Keloid scars

This list makes up the list of the four major kinds of acne scars that can manifest themselves in your skin. These scars will require some kind of serious scar treatment to get rid of them.

There are several different kinds of acne scar treatments for you to choose from:

1. Laser scar removal
2. Chemical peels
3. Dermal filler injections
4. Dermabrasion
5. Micro-dermabrasion (a less aggressive form of Dermabrasion)

As with most things of this nature you are going to have to discuss your options with your doctor to determine what kind of acne scarring treatment is right for you. Depending on the type of scars and the severity of the scarring he/she may recommend one kind of treatment over another.

Cystic Acne and The Significance of Good Eating Habits

Although there are a variety of factors, such as genetics and hormone levels and fluctuations, that play a role in the severity of cystic acne, eating habits may also be a significant factor in the formation of cystic acne.

Statistics have shown that the United States has the highest occurrences of problematic skin. This is due largely in part to the vast differences in Western diets as compared to diets in other countries around the world. Making small adjustments to eating habits could be beneficial to reducing the number of cystic acne outbreaks.

Drinking plenty of fresh water is always a good idea but it also has the effect of flushing out the toxins in your system, toxins that would otherwise get carried to the skin by the bloodstream. Likewise eating a nutritious well balance diet high in fiber will keep your system clean and clear of toxins that can cause acne or make acne worse.

At the end of the day it’s your skin and your body. Don’t be afraid to try different things if you think it will help with your cystic acne.