Cystic acne is a kind of common acne or acne vulgaris which appears as nodules or cysts under the skin. The cysts are deeper under the surface than the whiteheads of other kinds of acne. This is because they often form in sweat channels instead of follicles, though in a number of cases cysts can form in a follicle.
Adult cystic acne nodules are typically found on the buttocks, groin and armpit areas as well as the face. They are inflaming and can be painful as well as embarrassing. When they appear on the face, they can be disfiguringly large and tricky to treat. They also tend to form larger and better lasting scars than other kinds of acne.
So what are you able to do about adult cystic acne? First, let's make it obvious that you cannot pop the blemishes of cystic acne and you shouldn't even try. The inflamed matter is not near enough to the surface and you'll only push it even deeper, making the difficulty worse.
If your acne is mild, the first thing to try is benzoyl peroxide cream which you should purchase from a pharmacy or on prescription. Benzoyl peroxide is also an active element in many of the most prominent acne creams and washes . It dries the skin and increases sensitivity to the sun, so you may also must use an acne-friendly moisturizer such as jojoba oil and a sunscreen.
If you have severe adult cystic acne or if you find that benzoyl peroxide isn't effective enough, you will need to visit your physician or skin specialist for guidance. Some years ago, it was preferred to prescribe antibiotics for cystic acne, but unfortunately the bacteria that are concerned in acne have now become resistant to most antibiotics. Therefore , doctors infrequently prescribe these now.
You may be prescribed topical retinoids. These are gels and creams whose active constituent is related to vitamin A. They control the cells in the follicle and prevent blockage. Retinoids include tretinoin which is sold under the brand name Retin-A.
When you first use retinoid products on the skin you may possibly find the acne and redness gets worse before it clears up. Do not give up too soon , as the products can be terribly effective in the long term.
If you have a serious case of adult cystic acne and topical gels aren't successful in coping with it, your GP may prescribe oral isotretinoin. This has 1 or 2 brand names including Accutane. Oral isotretinoin can be very successful, clearing or significantly improving acne in around 80% of patients. In most cases the acne is cleared permanently and doesn't return when the treatment is stopped, but in about one quarter of patients, a second or third course of treatment is required after some months.
However , oral isotretinoin has some serious side-effects, so it's only prescribed in dreadful cases. The most serious effect is that it will create birth problems if taken by expectant mothers. For that reason, if active in a sexual sense ladies wish to take it, they're sometimes needed to use 2 different forms of birth control to be sure that they will not fall pregnant. Other complications include dry skin, nosebleeds and possible liver damage (although this has been disputed).
So there are lots of treatments available for adult cystic acne. There is not any need to live with it if it is causing you humiliation or depression. If drugstore remedies aren't effective, go to see your doctor to discuss possible prescription treatments for your adult cystic acne.
