Everything about Cystic Acne

Acne is often considered as the bane of adolescence and grips almost all teenagers. Furthermore, a shocking research conducted on acne reveals that the problem does not end there. Almost 96% of teenagers are affected by acne and more than 40% of the adult population suffers from cystic acne (or nodules). According to statistical data, only 10% of the total population is free from acne. It is therefore very important to deal with cystic acne in a systematic fashion as it is different from the seemingly harmless red bumps on the skin.

What Is Cystic Acne?

Acne is usually caused when your skin is constantly exposed to grime, dirt and bacteria. This leads to pore-blockages on the outermost surface of the skin. When the white blood cells attack this bacterial buildup, the defense mechanism creates several red bumps called pimples. At times, the attack could be severe and can cause cystic, pus-filled formations, which can grow up to 5 millimeters in diameter. This in turn can lead to so called acne scarring or acne scars.

How Is Cystic Acne Different From “Normal” Acne?

Acne and pimples are usually mild infections and can be treated. Cystic acne is an advanced form of acne and it occurs when the oil ducts located on the surface of the skin get clogged with dirt.  To make things worse, they could even leave the skin terribly scarred (especially for those individuals who are prone to developing keloids on their skin).

Causes of Cystic Acne

The exact causes of acne could be as varied as genetics, hormonal excesses, improper hygiene, menstrual cycle, induced hormonal imbalances, stress, or even inadequate diet. The growth of cystic acne is a result of excessive androgen production in the human body, which increases the oil production in the human skin. The main cause of cystic acne is the excess oil formation that clogs pores and leads to the formation of cystic acne.

How to Get Rid Of Cystic Acne

• Things to Avoid: Curbing cystic acne growth could be as simple as avoiding irritants on the face, refraining from steroid and antibiotic use, and maintaining proper hygiene. Cleansing routines like Epson salts or chamomile baths could also be of great help. Further, modifying your diet a bit could help you to gain a firm grip over this menace and is the best cystic acne home remedy.
• The Remedies Available: Tretinoin creams and retinol added topical application remedies are the most popular solutions for curing cystic acne. While these are considered safe and free from side effects, it is advisable that you check with your dermatologist before including them in your daily routine.

Cystic Acne Treatment

Treating cystic acne at undeveloped stages requires some lifestyle modifications and better diet. However, for extreme infections you need to undergo medical procedures:

• Medical Treatments For Extreme Infections: The key to banishing cystic acne lies in the form of 3 easy steps, which are: optimizing, balancing, and manipulating the hormones. This in turn could be achieved through oral antibiotics; tetracycline, accutane and erythromycin medications. They are also considered to be the most popular forms of acne treatment. Various treatments and surgical procedures for treating acne include micro-dermabrasion, dermabrasion, chemical skin peels, and laser surgery. Intralesional corticosteroid therapy is another solution which has a high success rate. Here, the acne is individually injected with the prescribed dose of medicine. Photolight therapy is the last option for cystic acne purging.

The above mentioned steps will help you in preventing cystic acne from exacerbating. Please remember that cystic acne is a condition that demands special attention.  Unless you are vigilant, the acne could assume a perennial stature. It is therefore advised to be aptly guarded to keep this monster at bay forever. Also, remember that you need to be very careful when you treat cystic acne mainly because this type of pimples could lead to so called “cystic acne scars”.