All about : Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is painful and annoying. Learn more about this here, including treatments to help clear up deep pimples.

Acne is the most common skin problem in North America. Almost every teenager will have pimples at some point, and a growing number of adults suffer from acne, too. Common forms of acne include small bumps called papules, pus filled bumps often called whiteheads, and dark accumulations of oil and skin cells called pimples.
Cystic acne is different from the usual spots and much less common, although it can accompany the most popular types of acne. Acne cysts are large, painful bumps that may occur singly or in large numbers.
They may be more than one centimeter in diameter, with multiple cysts often combine to form larger ones. It is filled with whitish or yellowish pus. The pus consists of dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria.
Nobody knows for sure what causes acne, including cystic acne. The doctors believe that hormonal changes during puberty causes changes in the oil-secreting glands of the skin. The increase in oils and creates a hospitable environment for bacteria, which infect pimples and cause skin to form. Hormone changes can also lead to acne during pregnancy.
Other factors of acne include:

    * Oil-based cosmetics
    * Some hair products
    * Some medications such as steroids and vitamin B-2, B-6 and B-12.
There is probably also a genetic component. While keeping the skin clean can help reduce acne, too intense cleaning can cause inflammation and make acne worse.
There seems to be no clear reason why some people get cystic acne and others do not. It is rather a combination of heredity, the power of the immune system of individuals, other factors are not easily understood.When to see doctor
Cystic acne is always a reason to see a doctor. Over-the-counter treatments are unlikely to make it go away. The deep cysts can result in significant scarring, and large, reddened bumps can make a person very seriously.
If a pediatrician or family doctor could not help, the next step is to see a dermatologist.Treatment
The usual treatment for cystic acne is a combination of local medical and antibiotic pills. Topical treatments (creams and ointments applied to the skin) will help with pimples, papules, and whiteheads, but they can not penetrate into the bladder to kill bacteria.Antibiotic taken orally help the body fight bacteria more effectively.
Hormone therapy, such as contraceptive pills or a drug called spironolactone, can also help some people. These drugs reduce levels of hormones that contribute to acne.
Treatment can be frustrating at first, because it can take weeks or months for improvement are visible. It is important to continue treatment with this early stage and to work with your doctor about when to try a different choice.
Options antibiotic pills include:

    * Minocylcine
    Doxycycline *
    * Tetracycline
    * Erythromycin.
If other treatments fail, your doctor may recommend isotretinoin (brand Accutane name). Accutane may cause permanent changes in the oil-producing glands, and many people can cure acne completely. It is not always used as first line therapy, but it can cause very serious side effects, including serious birth defects. Girls and women using this drug should be extremely careful not to become pregnant.
Other possible side effects include dry skin, sensitivity to sunlight, elevated triglycerides, liver damage, inflamed pancreas and eye problems.Treatment of Scars
If untreated, cystic acne can cause scarring. Many people notice a dark area of skin after a pimple heals. This is not exactly a sign and I usually go in about a year. However, these cysts can lead to deep depressions in the skin which can persist for a lifetime.