Cystic acne can be caused by a variety of factors
Hormone imbalance – particularly fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone. Certain medical conditions, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome. Medications such as testosterone, lithium and steroids can aggravate acne. Environmental risk factors.
Taking care of your skin is the best way you can help prevent cystic acne. Aim to: Wash your face once a day in the evening. Use a cleanser that removes excess dirt and oil, but isn't excessively harsh or drying.
Sometimes bacteria can also get trapped inside the pore, creating a localized infection that makes the area red and slightly painful. Although these pimples should not be popped, they are easier to deal with or treat and will usually go away after some time. Cystic acne, on the other hand, does not go away by itself.
Topical antibiotics: Topical antibiotic products can kill the types of bacteria that may cause or worsen severe acne. They can also help to prevent more pimples from forming. Benzoyl peroxide: This ingredient helps to kill bacteria and prevent pores from becoming blocked.
Cortisone
If you need a cyst gone fast, or if your cystic pimple won't go away, you can visit a healthcare professional for an injection of a diluted cortisone medication called Kenalog. They'll inject the medication directly into the cyst, shrinking it on the spot.
“For a pimple emergency, I recommend that you see your board-certified dermatologist for a cortisone injection,” Turner says. “This involves the injection of a drop of a potent anti-inflammatory to help shrink down the pimple overnight.” It's a drastic approach, but it the best and quickest way to guaranteed results.
Acne often disappears when a person is in their mid-20s. In some cases, acne can continue into adult life. About 3% of adults have acne over the age of 35.
Your acne appears around your chin and jawline. One of the telltale signs of a hormonal breakout is its location on the face. If you're noticing inflamed cystic acne on your chin or jawline area—anywhere around your lower face, really—you can bet your bottom dollar that it's probably hormonal acne.
Hormonal acne can start in the teenage years and continue in to the 20's and 30's. Hormonal acne may also develop for the first time over the age of 20. Hormonal acne can also develop perimenopause and menopause.
Once developed, cysts can take weeks or even months to clear. They can leave permanent acne scarring on your skin, including red marks, brown marks, pits, indents, or icepick scars. Cystic acne may improve over time, but in some cases, it can last for years and affect large areas of the skin.
Try applying a topical spot treatment with an active ingredient such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. By applying an over-the-counter spot treatment directly to your skin, you can help shrink that sucker down.
Usually the first choice for treating acne is a tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) or a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin). A macrolide might be an option for people who can't take tetracyclines, including pregnant women and children under 8 years old.
Fluctuations of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can cause zits and pimples to pop up. Typically, these fluctuations happen mostly during menstruation cycles, pregnancy and menopause. During these times of increased hormones, the body produces more sebum, an oily, waxy substance.
Acne commonly starts during puberty between the ages of 10 and 13 and tends to be worse in people with oily skin. Teenage acne usually lasts for five to 10 years, normally going away during the early 20s.
Normal sebum secretions help protect the hair follicles and skin, but overproduction of sebum and overgrowth of skin cells can cause the pores to become plugged. This can create the perfect conditions for the overgrowth of P. acnes. Cysts are the most inflamed, ruptured type of acne.
Vitamin A, D, zinc, and omega-3s are the most widely used vitamins for treating acne.