Cystic acne is a severe form of acne characterized by painful cysts and or nodules. Cystic acne treatment should be sought as soon as possible to prevent scarring. This type of acne can occur anywhere on the body but usually the most common places are the face or back. Cystic acne is formed when oil glands are blocked and thus burst open causing the surrounding tissue to become inflamed and fill with pus. The infection to the surrounding tissue can become quite severe and painful as it is deeply rooted and the infectious waste material is unable to be discharged.
If this type of acne goes untreated it can produce long term scarring for those infected. Cystic acne treatment is usually more complex than if treating the regular form of acne. Most often Accutane will be prescribed, this is a pill usually taken once or twice a day with food and treatment can take up to 20 weeks. It may seem that your acne is getting worse when you first start using accutane, this is normal and most patients find that their acne cysts clear up after several weeks. Accutane works by reducing the size of the oil glands thus producing less oil and the spread of infection.
Because this is an extremely potent drug the side effects in taking it can be quite sever in some people. Some of these side effects can be mental problems and suicide, the patient may experience bouts of depression, mood swings, irritability, anger, loss of pleasure or interest in social or sports activities, sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight or appetite etc. Some people experience some of these effects while taking the medication or soon after stopping the treatment, please talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects. Also be aware that if you are a female and plan to become pregnant or if you are already pregnant then you should avoid any use of this medication because accutane can cause serious birth defects and or miscarriage or death to the fetus.
Another cystic acne treatment that is available is intralesional corticosteroid therapy. This involves a relatively painless procedure where each cyst is given an injection of dilute cortisone solution. The injections provide fast relief for the painful inflammations and is done right in the doctors office. This procedure may have to be repeated 1 or more times depending on the severity of the cystic acne.
Your Doctor may also opt for a surgical procedure to remove any visible blackheads and whiteheads if present. The lesion is loosened and its contents are exposed and thus removed. Infection can occur if not done properly by a qualified Dermatologist.
