Cystic Acne – What is it?

Cystic Acne is an often painful and embarrassing condition.

Essentially the oil glands over produce sebum to such a degree that the gland itself becomes engorged and swollen and feels hard when you touch it.

Normally the skin is able to push any excess oil through the hair follicle and out through the pores to the skin’s surface. The inability to push the excess oil out cause the gland to swell and eventually to burst. The resulting inflammation during and after this process can turn the skin an angry res and be just as sore as it looks.

The effect of the gland bursting this far below the surface often results in the typically sunken pitted scarring.

Usually the outbreaks are caused by a surge of hormones during adolescence and we typically see teenagers suffering from cystic acne. It  can also be related to surges during the menstrual cycle in women when there is a surge of hormones. Here we would typically see an outbreak at this time which clears and then another outbreak occurs at the next cycle.

Adult acne can also occur, typically in the thirties where acne may have not been a problem in the teenage years.

Treatment options include drugs such as hormone modulating drugs, accutane and some types of antibiotic. These treatment regimes should be carefully discussed with your doctor or dermatologist and the side effects clearly understood.  In some instances the upside of clear skin must be weighed against the downside of some unpleasant side effects.

Gentle cleansing with a cleanser that cleans effectively but doesn’t leave a greasy residue and rinses away cleanly is important. Use lukewarm water and pat dry gently. A fine clay mask such as Skinsaviour rejuvenator will help draw impurities from the skin and keep the pores clear. Above all treat the skin gently – over cleansing will irritate and inflame the skin making the condition look worse. Cleansers or toners that strip the natural oils from the skin will only encourage the skin to produce more oil.