Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentRelated Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Related Conditions
Nodular acne is the mostsevere typeof inflammatory acne. It causes solid, painful bumps deep within the skin that require professional treatment. Even with treatment, the nodules can last for weeks or months and often scar.
Over-the-counter (OTC) acne productsand home remedies won’t work on this type of acne because of how stubborn and far down in the skin the nodules are. Instead, treatments like oral prescription medications and cortisone shots are needed to get breakouts under control.
This article covers the causes and symptoms of nodular acne, how it is treated, and what you can do to cope as you wait for a breakout to resolve.
Nodular acne is also known as nodulocystic acne and severe acne vulgaris.
What Does Nodular Acne Look and Feel Like?
Unlike a classic pimple (a fluid-filled spot that comes to a head at the skin’s surface), an acne nodule is a firm lump that’s in the deeplayers of the skin. On the surface, a nodule can look pink or red. The bumps are bigger than typical pimples and can be quite painful.
Nodular acne can:
Acne nodules can appear on the face, back, and other areas of the body. You may get just a few nodules, but they are often more widespread.
Can You Drain or Pop Nodular Acne?You can’t “pop” acne nodules like regular pimples because they are not filled with fluid. The lump you feel is infected and inflamed tissue. Though it may be tempting, leave acne nodules alone. Squeezing or picking at them candamage your skin and worsen the breakouts.
Can You Drain or Pop Nodular Acne?
You can’t “pop” acne nodules like regular pimples because they are not filled with fluid. The lump you feel is infected and inflamed tissue. Though it may be tempting, leave acne nodules alone. Squeezing or picking at them candamage your skin and worsen the breakouts.
What Causes Inflammatory Acne?
What Causes Acne Nodules?
Do Certain Foods Cause Nodular Acne?Food does not cause acne, but there is some evidence that your diet can play a role in helping you manage the condition. For example, some people with acne find that avoiding dairy or following a low-glycemic diet may help.
Do Certain Foods Cause Nodular Acne?
Food does not cause acne, but there is some evidence that your diet can play a role in helping you manage the condition. For example, some people with acne find that avoiding dairy or following a low-glycemic diet may help.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get nodular acne, but there seems to be agenetic component. If your parents or siblings had acne nodules, you’re more likely to get them.
Nodular acne is more common in young males. Teens and young adult males often get acne nodules on their faces and bodies.
Adult females often get nodular acne on their jawline, chin, and neck. The acne may get worse right before a person starts theirmenstrual period.
1:32Click Play to Learn All About Nodule Pimples
1:32
Click Play to Learn All About Nodule Pimples
Why Acne Might Get Worse Right Before Your Period
Treating Nodular Acne
Unfortunately, nodular acne won’t go away overnight. It can take at least three or four months of active treatment to see improvement.
A healthcare provider trained in treating skin, hair, and nails (dermatologist) can evaluate your skin and prescribe a treatment (or more than one) that may work best for you.
Oral Medication
Your healthcare provider may recommend certain oral medications to treat your nodular acne. These include:
Topical Treatments
If you cannot take isotretinoin, your provider might have you try using a combination of topical acne treatments and antibiotics. For example, prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide may help clear up acne nodules and treat inflammation when it’s used with oral antibiotics.
Prescription topical treatments with salicylic acid can also be helpful, as they help prevent your pores from getting clogged.
Cortisone Injections
Cortisone injectionscan treat a single painful acne nodule. The injections can help the nodule heal faster, but they won’t clear up nodular acne breakouts.
Cold Compress
If your acne nodule is swollen or painful, try applying ice to reduce the inflammation.You could use an ice roller on your face or wrap ice in a thin cloth and apply for no more than 10 minutes at a time.
Other Therapies
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there is limited evidence that skincare procedures like peels, laser therapy, or photodynamic therapy are effective nodular acne treatments. You can ask your provider if they would recommend them in your case.
Complementary or Alternative Therapies
The AAD concluded there is not enough evidence to support using complementary or alternative medicine treatments (like essential oils) for nodular acne.
You should not try these therapies without talking to your provider, as they could make your acne worse or interact with a prescribed treatment you’re already using.
Does Nodular Acne Scar?Acne nodules are so deep in your skin that they can scar—even if you don’t pick at them. The best way to reduce the chances of scaring is to see a provider and start treatment as soon as you can.
Does Nodular Acne Scar?
Acne nodules are so deep in your skin that they can scar—even if you don’t pick at them. The best way to reduce the chances of scaring is to see a provider and start treatment as soon as you can.
Oral Acne Medications
Verywell / JR Bee
Preventing Nodular Acne
If having nodular acne is making you self-conscious, reach out for support. Your feelings are valid and normal, but tell your healthcare provider if you’re having a hard time coping with the pain and stress of acne nodules.
How Acne Can Affect Your Mental Health
Some types of acne are similar to nodular acne. These include:
Summary
Nodular acne is severe acne that causes hard, painful lumps deep within the skin that often scar. Several factors contribute to nodular acne, including overactive oil glands, an increase in androgen hormones, a buildup of dead skin cells, and high amounts of acne-related bacteria on the skin.
A dermatologist is the best healthcare provider to diagnose and help you manage nodular acne. You will need treatment, including prescription oral medication. Be patient—these treatments can take months to work.
Sebum, Acne, and Your Skin
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org.Acne: Overview.Zari S, Alrahmani D.The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2017 Dec 5;10:503-506. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S148499American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?.Kurokawa I, Nakase K.Recent advances in understanding and managing acne.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-792. doi:10.12688/f1000research.25588.1Dreno B, Bagatin E, Blume-Peytavi U, Rocha M, Gollnick H.Female type of adult acne: Physiological and psychological considerations and management.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2018;16(10):1185-1194. doi:10.1111/ddg.13664.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Amer Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037National Library of Medicine.Isotretinoin.Baldwin H.Oral antibiotic treatment options for acne vulgaris.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):26-32.Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it.Zhang X, Zhang Z, Tao H, et al.Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin.Skin Research and Technology. 2023;29(11):e13513.Geng R, Sibbald RG.Acne vulgaris: Clinical aspects and treatments.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2024;37(2):67-75. doi:10.1097/ASW.0000000000000089University of Wisconsin.Primary lesions.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org.Acne: Overview.Zari S, Alrahmani D.The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2017 Dec 5;10:503-506. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S148499American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?.Kurokawa I, Nakase K.Recent advances in understanding and managing acne.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-792. doi:10.12688/f1000research.25588.1Dreno B, Bagatin E, Blume-Peytavi U, Rocha M, Gollnick H.Female type of adult acne: Physiological and psychological considerations and management.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2018;16(10):1185-1194. doi:10.1111/ddg.13664.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Amer Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037National Library of Medicine.Isotretinoin.Baldwin H.Oral antibiotic treatment options for acne vulgaris.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):26-32.Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it.Zhang X, Zhang Z, Tao H, et al.Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin.Skin Research and Technology. 2023;29(11):e13513.Geng R, Sibbald RG.Acne vulgaris: Clinical aspects and treatments.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2024;37(2):67-75. doi:10.1097/ASW.0000000000000089University of Wisconsin.Primary lesions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
InformedHealth.org.Acne: Overview.Zari S, Alrahmani D.The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2017 Dec 5;10:503-506. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S148499American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?.Kurokawa I, Nakase K.Recent advances in understanding and managing acne.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-792. doi:10.12688/f1000research.25588.1Dreno B, Bagatin E, Blume-Peytavi U, Rocha M, Gollnick H.Female type of adult acne: Physiological and psychological considerations and management.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2018;16(10):1185-1194. doi:10.1111/ddg.13664.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Amer Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037National Library of Medicine.Isotretinoin.Baldwin H.Oral antibiotic treatment options for acne vulgaris.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):26-32.Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it.Zhang X, Zhang Z, Tao H, et al.Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin.Skin Research and Technology. 2023;29(11):e13513.Geng R, Sibbald RG.Acne vulgaris: Clinical aspects and treatments.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2024;37(2):67-75. doi:10.1097/ASW.0000000000000089University of Wisconsin.Primary lesions.
InformedHealth.org.Acne: Overview.
Zari S, Alrahmani D.The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2017 Dec 5;10:503-506. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S148499
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can the right diet get rid of acne?.
Kurokawa I, Nakase K.Recent advances in understanding and managing acne.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-792. doi:10.12688/f1000research.25588.1
Dreno B, Bagatin E, Blume-Peytavi U, Rocha M, Gollnick H.Female type of adult acne: Physiological and psychological considerations and management.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2018;16(10):1185-1194. doi:10.1111/ddg.13664.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Amer Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-973.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
National Library of Medicine.Isotretinoin.
Baldwin H.Oral antibiotic treatment options for acne vulgaris.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):26-32.
Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Dermatology: how to manage acne vulgaris.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-8-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-8-6
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it.
Zhang X, Zhang Z, Tao H, et al.Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin.Skin Research and Technology. 2023;29(11):e13513.
Geng R, Sibbald RG.Acne vulgaris: Clinical aspects and treatments.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2024;37(2):67-75. doi:10.1097/ASW.0000000000000089
University of Wisconsin.Primary lesions.
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