The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: Treatment Options for Cystic Acne Part 1

Treatment Options for Cystic Acne

Although many people have acne problems at some point in their life, only a small percentage of acne sufferers have chronic cystic acne, also called cystic nodules, which is the most severe type of acne. Cystic acne is very noticeable, difficult to treat, and can cause permanent scarring if it is not treated properly. Because of the severity of cystic acne, extreme treatment methods are sometimes undertaken.

Cystic acne often appears as a knot or a raised lump that will take a long time to develop and form a head. Cystic acne often takes on a red or purple hue and is usually painful to the touch. Although isolated occurrences of cystic acne do occur, most people who suffer from cystic acne tend to have an all around acne problem, but because of the risk of scarring, cystic acne is the most serious variety.

Although cystic nodules are the most damaging form of acne, the composition of cystic acne is no different than the other types of acne-whiteheads and blackheads. All acne is caused by a clogged oil gland that becomes infected with a type of bacteria that feeds on the oil that is trapped under the skin. The only difference between whiteheads and blackheads is that the pores that become blackheads are open and exposed to air, while whiteheads are closed and have no exposure to oxygen. Cystic nodules are essentially the same as whiteheads in that the pore is closed, but cystic nodules form deep below the skin, which is the root of several of the problems associated with treatment.

Keep in mind, cystic nodules can form on their own, but they can also be caused by trying to pop a whitehead or blackhead prematurely. In some instances, you can pop a pimple, and cause some or all of the infection to go deeper in the skin, forming a cystic nodule. For this reason, it is important to learn the proper way to pop a pimple if this is something you do.

Although cystic acne can be prevented with over the counter treatments, eradicating existing nodules usually requires the help of a dermatologist. Because the infection is deep within the skin, treatment is difficult and can be handled in a variety of ways with some methods being somewhat extreme and hard on your body.

One of the safest ways to treat cystic acne lesions is with a cortisone shot directly into the nodule. Cortisone is a chemical naturally produced by your body to help with inflammation. However, the amount of cortisone produced by your body is relatively short acting, but its healing properties can be harnessed by administering it in the form of a shot. This is the same type of shot that is given that athletes and people with joint problems. In either case, the cortisone is injected directly into the problem area to reduce inflammation and stimulate the healing process. When used on cystic acne, the cortisone shot also breaks up the infection and begins working immediately. Most people who have had their cystic acne treated using cortisone injections see noticeable results quickly. However, cortisone shots can only be used on existing nodules and not as a preventative measure. Although the actual injection can be painful, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area, and the injection has few side effects, which is a vast improvement over many cystic acne treatments. Because cortisone is produced naturally by your body, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. One known side effects is a condition in which the cortisone crystallizes and become painful, but this only lasts for a day or two and can be treated by icing the affected nodule; however, this is the exception, not the rule. The only other unwanted side effect that comes from cortisone injections is a small white spot that develops where the shot was given, but this seems to only affect people who with dark complexions; this reaction is very rare, but it does happen.

The whole article I wrote runs into 1,500 words so I will stop here for now and call this part 1. Part to will look at the antibiotics Accutane and Minocycline, plus applications of laser treatment and other information regarding treatments for severe cystic acne

Take the responsibility to know what your options are for your personal acne treatment. At http://acnerelieftips.com you\'ll find information on home remedies, over the counter medications, prescription treatments and more on all things about acne. Not a sales page

Causes of Cystic Acne
The causes of cystic acne are an overproduction of sebum and a buildup of bacteria in the skin, which may be influenced by th...

Causes of Cystic Acne
It took scientists years to determine the causes of cystic acne. Cystic acne works when tiny holes in your skin, called pores...

When Acne Meets Light Therapy Treatment
If you have ever experienced acne or still suffer from it, you will know how much of a misery it can turn r your life into. ...

What Is Acne Laser Treatment?
Acne laser treatment is a method that has helped millions to get rid of acne. Each year, individuals find out that the over ...

How To Prevent Acne
Then the dreaded acne struck. I would rather die than face family and friends with those ugly blotches all over my face. Th...

Tips For Best Natural Acne Treatment For Your Skincare Needs
When you are looking for the best natural acne treatment there are multiple options depending on the type of acne situation y...

Different Types of Acne Treatments
There are many different types of acne treatments. They range from over the counter medicines to those that are only availabl...

Treatment of Acne with Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is probably the most widely used treatment for acne because of its antibacterial and drying properties. It i...

Get Rid of Acne Fast
Acne is a skin disease caused by blockage of skin follicle ducts. This blockage traps the sebum produced resulting in the in...

Natural Acne Treatment Information
Do you have mild to moderate acne? Have you tried every over-the-counter medication in the store? Does it seem to not only re...

Acne Scars Is There Hope?
It is estimated that eighty percent of people between the ages of fourteen and twenty suffer from acne. For most of us, acne ...

Having Acne Isn’t The End Of The World
What Is Acne?Acne is a skin condition that occurs due to the overproduction of oil by the oil glands of the skin. Acne is not...

Acne Medication - Great Results are Worth The Wait
Acne medications are sometimes advertised as overnight cures. The first thing that Acne sufferers need to know is that acne m...

Adult Acne Options
Acne problems are commonly faced by many young adults and teenagers today. Some people develop acne even at forties and fifti...

Thinking of Taking Accutane for Your Acne?
Nodular acne and cystic acne are some of the most painful forms of acne possible. Nodular acne appears as solid, domed lesio...

Adult Acne Treatment
Acne is a type of skin lesion infected by a bacterium called P.Acnes. The lesion is formed due to blockage of sebum follicle ...

The 5 Best Acne Scar Treatments
A lot of us have suffered from acne at some point in our life. Most of us had acne problems during the dreadful adolescent y...

The Myths And Facts About Acne!
There are many millions of people that suffer from acne everyday! Acne is a very common thing and almost everyone at some po...

Get Rid Of Acne Scars
Almost everyone experiences acne at some point in life. For some, acne is nothing more than an occasional annoying and embarr...

Natural Acne Skin Care Treatment-Cure Your Acne From Your Home!
Some of the methods may sound down right ridiculous and we acne-plagued bunch are brave enough to try any methods that work. ...