While this condition is troublesome, painful and acutely embarrassing it is not a serious medical condition.  However, left untreated or treated poorly, it can leave permanent scar tissue that will only resolve with coverup makeup.  As well as permanent skin scars the condition can also significantly affect the psychological makeup and development of young teenagers.

Most often cystic acne forms over the face but it can also occur on the back, chest, buttocks and thighs.  These nodules are deep, large and painful and do not usually develop into whiteheads.  Because they are the most severe form of acne, and lead to scarring and pitting, they should be treated by an experienced dermatologist at once.

In some cases cystic acne can be described as a localized infection or abscess that develops under the skin.  Most often it is common in teenagers and develops in oil docs that become clogged and infected.  However, this infection is much deeper than the usual pimple and doesn’t usually “rise to the surface” like a regular whitehead.  These nodules also can last for months instead of days or weeks.

If left untreated the nodule may not resolve on its own which can flare up again and again over time.  Never attempt to squeeze this type of pimple because it drives the infection even further into the dermal layer.  They are filled with pus and usually are at least 5 mm or more across.  Most of them also have a red or purple hue around the nodule.

People who suffer from cystic acne usually have other forms of acne as well that can be mild, moderate or severe.  If you believe you may have a cystic nodule it is important to make an appointment with a dermatologist as quickly as possible.  If you are not already a patient of a dermatologist you will find that the waiting time can be a couple of months before you’re able to get in.

Your dermatologist will be able to give you the best option available for your particular skin type, any other acne involvement and the number of cystic nodules you have.  Most of the times a dermatologist will inject the nodule with cortisone to decrease the inflammation and speed the healing process.  This also decreases the risk of scarring.

At home, you may use several different treatment options that may help your the first involves the juicing a fresh apricot and applying it over the skin.  This will often help bring relief from the pain and because it is apricots have an anti-inflammatory effect it can also decrease the swelling.  Try leaving the juice on the face for several hours before bedtime.

Another option is the use of high grade tea tree oil which has a natural antibiotic properties and will go beneath the layers of the skin and penetrate the cyst.

Once you reach the dermatologist and receive an injection or are placed on oral treatments they will evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment protocols.  If the cyst does not resolve the physician may drain it under sterile technique in the office.  This should NEVER be attempted at home because it can result in significant infection and unfortunate scarring.

Individuals who suffer from cystic acne must be careful with their skin cleansing routine, foods that they come in contact with, and other medical treatments which may trigger an outbreak.  Combining good nutrition, proper cleansing and treatment by an experienced dermatologist most individuals are able to reduce the number of cystic acne outbreaks they suffer significantly.

Have you ever pondered over why it is so? Why treating acne has been such a task for us? The answer to these questions is one: Our lacking knowledge on what is acne and how to treat it. To treat acne successfully we need to know about various facts about acne and its types. Different types of acne are treated differently, so here goes your guide on facts and types of acne.

Fact #1

When over activity of sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) in our skin, produces excess oil or sebum, and meets with the acne producing bacteria and hair follicles, a right shelter for acne is created.

This skin activity can happen on any of your body parts thus you find acne on your face, neck, back and arms also. The other names of acne are pimples and zits.

Fact #2

You can get acne at different stages of your life, but mostly in the teen age. However acne in adults and infants is also not uncommon.

Fact #3

Your acne could be inflammatory or non inflammatory. That is they may or may not be painful. But they are always embarrassing. They not only alter your physical appearance but can profoundly affect your mental state as well. They can change your outlook towards life and bring in loss of confidence and negativity.

Thus acne requires immediate medical attention. But before going for treatment, you should have proper knowledge about your acne type. Your treatment will depend a lot on the type of acne you have.

Following are the types of mild and moderate acne:

Whiteheads: When oil or sebum gets trapped in a pore, white appearances might result on the surface of the skin, these are known as whiteheads.

Blackheads: Here, the oil or sebum is partially blocked, so the oil can slip through. The black color is due to the pigmentation of the skin and not because of any dirt. Among the two, blackheads are quite stubborn and take time to clear off.

Papules: They are the tender headless bumps.

Pustules: These are the inflamed whiteheads with a red surrounding and white or yellow nucleus.

Now, let us move towards the severe type of acne, they are the nodules and cysts. They are often painful and can produce scarring as well:

Nodules: Nodules are larger bumps and can cause scarring and pain. It is strictly advised not to pierce a nodule as it can severely damage your skin. Also, it takes some time to heal up.

Cysts: All the features of cysts are similar to those of nodules except for the fact that they are a little larger in size and often have pus in them.

You can treat mild acne at home, or with the help of over the counter medications but for severe acne, always meet a dermatologist. The severe acne condition can worsen further if not dealt with correctly. It is also advisable to take prescribed course of medication for mild acne as well.