Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInflamed vs. CysticScarringCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Inflamed vs. Cystic
Scarring
Causes
Treatment
Cystic acne (sometimes callednodulocysticacne) is the most severe form ofacne vulgaris.It causes deep, inflamed breakouts on your face and/or other areas of the body, and it can leavescars. The blemishes themselves can become large, measuring up to several centimeters across.
This article discusses the causes of cystic acne and the scars it can leave. It also covers who is at risk for cystic acne along with what can be done to treat it.
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Inflamed vs. Cystic Acne
Although many people use the term “cystic” to describe any type of severelyinflamed acne, only those who develop acne cysts truly have cystic acne.
Acne cysts are the most serious kind of acne blemish. They feel like soft, fluid-filled lumps under the skin’s surface. Acne cysts are painful.
People with nodulocystic acne develop acne nodules as well as acne cysts. Acne nodules are hard, painful lumps under the skin’s surface. Much larger thanacne papules, nodules form deep within the skin and take a long time to heal.
Some skincare experts believe acne cysts are not really cysts at all, but rather severely inflamed nodular breakouts. For those who have nodules, but do not have cystic lesions, the termnodular acneis more accurate.
No matter what label you use, home treatments are unlikely to help—you need adermatologistto treat acne of this severity. Talk to your primary care provider to get a referral to someone who can help.
When to See a Dermatologist
Nodulocystic breakouts damage and destroy healthy skin tissue. Because of this, the likelihood of developingscarsis extremely high. Aggressively treating this form of acne can helpminimize scarring.
Avoid picking at or trying to pop acne cysts or nodules. Doing so can greatly damage the skin, lead to scarring, and even worsen your acne.
It’s also common for those with severe acne to have feelings of embarrassment, shame, and anger regarding their skin. Some people may avoid mirrors or shy away from social situations.
Acne can hurt self-esteem and may lead to depression.If you feel acne is greatly affecting the quality of your life, please talk to your healthcare provider. Getting treatment for your acne can help improve your self-confidence,
How to Practice Acne Self-Care
Acne—including cystic acne—has three basic causes, which include:
Inflamed acne blemishesdevelop when the follicle wall ruptures, leaking infected material into thedermis(skin). If this break occurs near the skin’s surface, the blemish is usually minor and heals quickly.
Deeper breaks in the follicle wall cause more serious lesions. Some people are more prone to developing these types of serious breakouts than others.
Genetics of AcneAcne seems to run in families. If your parents had cystic acne, you are more likely to experiencesevere acneyourself.
Genetics of Acne
Acne seems to run in families. If your parents had cystic acne, you are more likely to experiencesevere acneyourself.
Acne of this severity can be hard to control. Don’t be discouraged if the first treatment attempt fails. It may take several tries to find the treatment or combination of treatments that work for you.
Some common treatments for nodulocystic acne include:
Oral Acne Medication Options
Summary
Cystic acne is a severe form of acne that causes painful, fluid-filled bumps under the skin’s surface and sometimes scars. Nothing you do (or don’t do) causes cystic acne, though it does seem to run in families. Treatment varies depending on how severe the acne is, and ranges from oral antibiotics to surgical drainage for blemishes that are especially painful and stubborn.
A Word From Verywell
Severe acne like cystic acne is painful and can make you self-conscious. While you can’t help your breakouts, you don’t have to just live with them. A dermatologist can work with you on how to treat your skin condition and clear it up with the least possible amount of scarring, which can make you feel more confident about your appearance.
11 Best Acne Treatment Tips for Teens
3 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Living with acne.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
3 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Living with acne.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
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.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Living with acne.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Living with acne.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
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