Cystic Acne Treatment

Tips / Nodular Acne Treatment /

Cystic acne is considered one of, if not the worst kind of acne. Also called nodular acne, cystic acne gets its name from the pus-filled cysts that form on the skin during breakouts. While these usually appear on the face, it’s not uncommon to see these growths on the chest and back as well. Not only is this type of acne very painful, it can spread quickly and cause scarring if left untreated, which is why it’s important to get help as soon as possible if you have cystic pimples. This article lists down the different kinds of cystic acne treatment available.

Before taking a look at cystic acne treatments it’s important to first understand the symptoms and what causes cystic acne. What distinguishes cystic acne from other kinds of acne is the large pus-filled acne cysts that appear on the surface of the skin. The pustules are often inflamed, painful, and feel hard when touched. Some people who have this condition may also feel lumps underneath the skin, although this is a symptom that not all who have cystic acne experience. Some people may also experience having their cystic acne surrounded by other types of acne, such as whiteheads and blackheads.

It’s important to get treatment for cystic acne as soon as possible, as the condition can cause severe damage to the skin, not only causing permanent scarring and forming deep pits, but also affecting the confidence and self-esteem of those who suffer from this condition. The lesions should not be squeezed, or else it can increase the likelihood of permanent scarring.

Cystic acne develops when the untreated acne pustules become further infected, developing pus inside it. The follicular wall of the acne breaks, spreading bacteria and causing even more inflammation. As a response to this, the body releases antibodies to combat the bacteria. This process can then lead to the development of acne cysts, which is the body’s natural way of preventing the infection from spreading.

There are certain factors that can make people more prone to having this condition, or exacerbate their acne problem. These include:

Overactive oil glands - Overactive oil glands are considered as one of the main triggers of cystic acne, as these can make people more prone to developing this skin condition, especially if they also have excessive amounts of dead skin cells in the pores.Bacteria - Certain bacteria can cause and worsen acne.Hormones - Hormones can also cause cystic acne, especially for women. Hormones are actually the reason why adolescents are more prone to developing acne, as they experience an increase in hormones.Genetics - Those who have a family history of cystic acne can also end up having this condition.

The above factors play a role on the types of acne cyst treatment that the patient will need to go through.

Let’s look at the different kinds of cystic pimple treatment and how to get rid of cystic acne effectively.

Antibiotics – Antibiotics can be prescribed by doctors in order to treat the infections caused by cystic acne. The downside of these medications is that these only treat the present problem and will not actually be able to keep you protected from experiencing the problem again in the future.Retinoids – Retinoids are a type of medication that encourage the growth of new cells while at the same time preventing old cells from keratinizing. These are usually applied topically and may come in cream, gel, or lotion form. Examples of retinoids include tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene. Some forms of retinoids can be taken orally.

When taking retinoids as part of your nodular acne treatment be sure to follow your dermatologist’s instructions carefully, as it is possible to experience adverse reactions when taking the medication. Some side effects include dryness of the eyes, lips, and mouth, hair loss, joint and muscle pain, and serum lipid changes. This cystic acne treatment should not be used by pregnant women, as retinoids can cause birth defects.

Hormonal acne treatment - If the acne is caused by hormonal changes, hormonal treatments can be administered. For example, some doctors may prescribe birth control pills to women in order to balance their hormones, which can then help in the treatment of the acne problem. Spironolactone can also be recommended to women who have cystic acne due to a hormonal imbalance.Injections – Intralesional corticosteroid injections may also be used in cystic acne treatment, wherein the medication is directly injected to the pustules to reduce the inflammation. This treatment lessens the possibility of scarring, which is good news for those who are prone to having scars.Laser acne treatment – Acne laser treatment can be performed not only to treat acne, but also to prevent these from forming. The laser is used to burn off the oil glands and follicle sacs in order to prevent the acne from forming. At the same time, it also triggers the formation of oxygen in the skin, thereby killing the bacteria.Microdermabrasion – While not actually getting rid of cystic acne, microdermabrasion may be administered by some dermatologists in order to minimize the appearance of scars due to this skin condition.Acne surgery – In severe acne treatment, surgery may be performed, wherein the cysts will be lanced by the doctor in order to drain out the pus.Holistic acne treatment – For those who don’t want to go through a medical procedure or use medical methods in order to treat cystic acne, there are also holistic methods e.g., home acne treatment that can be used to get rid of pimples. Most of these methods not only address the acne problem but also other health problems as well, by attempting to rebalance the body through dietary changes and other similar methods.

Before using any of these cystic acne treatment methods, be sure to consult with your doctor about it, even if you’re planning on using the holistic system. This is because the effectiveness of the various treatments can vary from one individual to another, and what may work for one person may not have the same effect on another. By working together with your doctor, you will soon be able to come up with suitable cystic acne remedies that will help you get rid of your acne problem.

Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment For Acne

Acne is a very common skin disease that is caused by excessive production of sebaceous oil. Although anyone can be affected by acne, it typically affects those in their teenage years and early 20s. Although acne can appear in many different forms, severe acne will often result in permanent scarring. To reduce acne scarring and help heal acne, many dermatologists are using the technology of pulsed dye lasers.

Pulsed dye lasers emit concentrated high-energy beams of light, which target the skin’s blood vessels. As the light penetrates the skin, it converts into heat resulting in blood vessels being destroyed, without damaging healthy skin and tissue. Because the laser uses a specific light that is only absorbed by blood vessels, it is very effective at preventing healthy skin from being harmed. Pulsed dye lasers are adjustable to control the intensity of the light for optimal results.

The results of having pulsed dye laser therapy on acne are the reduction of visible acne and less redness of acne scars. Acne scars result when capillaries break during the healing process, leaving the appearance of redness. During a pulsed dye laser session, the broken capillaries are heated, causing them to coagulate and be absorbed by the body. This removes the redness caused by acne scarring. Pulsed dye laser therapy also reduces the production of sebaceous oil and kills bacteria that cause acne. It additionally helps to remove dead skin cells from the outer surface skin layer. As the dead skin cells are removed, collagen production is stimulated, resulting in healthy new outer skin.

During a treatment with pulsed dye lasers, a device that resembles a wand is moved over the surface of the skin. The wand emits a wide range of pulsed light, treating large acne areas quickly. The procedure requires no anesthesia and normally only takes from 20 minutes to an hour to perform. Discomfort is kept to a minimum as the laser wand emits a cold spray directly before the pulsed light, reducing the sensation of pain. Some patients do experience a slight stinging or pinching sensation during treatments. For maximum results, several treatments are usually required although this depends on the severity of the acne and the scars. Patients will be required to wear dark glasses during a treatment to reduce the risk of damage to the eyes from the laser light.

Patients who decide to have pulsed dye laser therapy will be instructed to apply a sunscreen to their skin each day for at least a month prior to their first treatment. This is to prevent any tanning from occurring, as these treatments are ineffective on tanned skin. Furthermore, these treatments when used on tanned skin could result in the skin becoming permanently damaged.

Common side effects of pulsed dye laser treatments include temporary redness of skin, minor bruising and perhaps a slight amount of swelling. These side effects usually last for about 1 to 2 weeks following treatment. No scabs or scars occur from these treatments. Treatments do not require any downtime by the patient and they may return to their normal activities immediately. Following treatments, patients should use a high SPF sunscreen daily and avoid the sun as much as possible. Pulsed dye laser treatments are considered one of the safest treatments available as they are very gentle on the skin and provide exact precision in targeting only damaged blood vessels.

Studies that have been completed on pulsed dye laser treatments have resulted in conflicting reports, according to the American Association of Dermatology. One such study that took place in the United Kingdom consisted of 41 patients, all having acne. Of the 41 participants, 51 percent experienced a reduction in acne lesions. Another study that took place in the United States consisted of 40 participants who had acne. The study was done using the pulsed dye laser treatment on only one side of the participant’s face. Treatments were continued for 12 weeks. Following treatment, researchers found no improvement in the treated side when compared to the untreated side. A third study was performed by the Yale University School of Medicine. The study consisted of 14 participants with mild to moderately severe acne and acne scars. This study found that after using one treatment that combined pulsed dye laser treatments with the topical medication, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), treatments were effective on all participants with a visible reduction in acne as well as scarring. The conclusion of this study reported that patients with inflammatory facial acne who were treated a single time using pulsed dye laser therapy, experienced an improvement, which was apparent 12 weeks following the treatment. No serious side effects were reported. Because this form of acne treatment is new, it is still regarded as an experimental treatment for acne.

The typically cost of a pulse dye laser therapy session that consist of treating one small area cost about $100 according to a California dermatologist. To treat a larger area such as the face, neck and the chest, the cost can be thousands of dollars.

According to the latest research reports on pulsed dye laser treatments for acne, treatments are effective when combined with ALA topical medication. These treatments have shown to be effective at reducing scarring that resulted from acne. Additionally, the John Hopkins Cosmetic Centers deems pulsed dye laser therapy as the best treatment available today for the treatment of acne scars.

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