Cystic Acne Treatment – Options for Patients

Posted by Phil Bishop

All individuals with cystic acne — the most severe form of acne — should consult with a dermatologist about their cystic acne treatment options. Often times, due to the severity of the disease, more aggressive treatment regiments will be necessary. Moreover, patients should begin treatment early in the course of the disease, in order to limit the high potential for scarring.

Objective

The objective of this website is to educate patients about the various treatments options available for severe acne.That being said, each individual is different, and there is no one universal treatment that will for everyone with cystic acne.

General Cystic Acne Treatment Tips

There are some general things that people with cystic acne should try to do, such as:

1. Find a Good Topical Cleanser

Patients should try to find a topical solution that has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid based solutions contain both of these properties, and are often good starting-points for patients with cystic acne. Cetyl-based solutions, such as Cetaphil, can also reduce the rate of inflammatory acne.

2. Wash All Affected Areas

For optimal results, wash all affected areas two times a day, in lukewarm water, with a mild skin cleanser that has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Also, don’t use cleansers that are astringent, and don’t wash the affected areas in a vigorous manner, as this can lead to skin irritation.

3. Only Use Oil-Free Products

It’s important to only use oil-free make-ups, moisturizers, etc, if you have cystic acne.

4. Wear Sun Screen

Prolonged exposure to uva and uvb rays can aggravate acne, which is why it’s important to wear sunscreen. Again, make sure the sun screen is oil free.

Common Cystic Acne Treatments

Although benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products can be effective, they’re often not enough to treat severe acne. Accordingly, the following treatment options may be considered:

Prescription Topical Solutions

Over-the-counter topical solutions are often insufficient for treating severe cases of acne. If a patient has used over-the-counter products to no avail, dermatologists may then prescribe topical retinoids, azelaic acid, differin, or a prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide solution.

Redness and swelling are the most common side effects of these products.

There are a number of topical treatment options available, all of which work to varying degrees of effectiveness. In some cases, prescription topical solutions may be enough to treat a patient’s acne; in other cases, topical products alone may be insufficient and other forms of treatment will be necessary.

Oral Antibiotics

If a patient is unresponsive to creams or lotions, then their dermatologist may elect to prescribe a course of antibiotics. For patients with severe acne, Tetracyclines (tetracycline, minocycline, docycyline, etc) are the most commonly prescribed oral antibiotics.

Tetracyclines are an effective treatment option for many patients. Typically, these antibiotics will reduce acne lesions by about 50% within a few months. However, bacterial resistances are fairly common, so patients may need to try a few different antibiotics to find one that works.

Oral Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives work by reducing testosterone levels, which, in turn, can reduce acne-rates in patients. Obviously, they are only used to treat acne in women.

Side effects: Though birth control pills can often effectively manage acne, there are many potential side effects. In some cases, especially in the early stages of treatment, the contraceptives may exacerbate acne in patients.

Laser Treatments

Cystic acne treatment via lasers has become quite popular in recent years. These lasers can often treat, but not cure (results usually last about six months), patients suffering from severe cases of the disease. Many of these lasers are relatively pain-free.

Additionally, laser treatment offer patients convenience, as often times these procedures are quick and require little-to-no downtime afterwords. However, it should be noted that, unfortunately, these laser treatments aren’t covered by insurance.

Benefits of Laser Treatment

1. Lasers can often treat acne and acne scars simultaneously.

2. Lasers can control acne for about 6 months in a very high (up to 80%) percentage of patients.

3. Most of these lasers are non-ablative (non-burning), which means that they don’t injure the skin and have minimal side effects.

4. The cost is generally fairly reasonable, starting at about 1,000 dollars per round of treatment. Moreover, many dermatologists offer payment plans to help ease the financial burden of these procedures.

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroid injections are effective for reducing the size of acne cysts, and have played a major role in treating severe acne over the years. Corticosteroids are particularly effective in cases where patients have large cysts that require immediate attention.

For many years, cortisone was the standard corticosteroid used on acne cysts. However, many people have reported allergic reactions to cortisone. Consequently, other corticosteroids, such as hyaluronic acid, have become more popular for treating severe acne.

The cost of these steroid injections is usually quite reasonable, ranging between 50 to 75 dollars per injection.

Cystic Acne Treatment – Conclusion

It’s important that all patients discuss their treatment options with an experienced dermatologist. Previously, treatment via accutane was the gold-standard treatment for severe acne. But now, as the drug becomes more difficult to obtain, other treatments are utilized more frequently and are often preferred by practitioners and patients alike.

Next —> Effective OTC Products for Cystic Acne

Cystic Acne Treatment – More Related Topics: Cystic Acne Causes, Cystic Acne Home Remedy, Popping Acne Cysts.