Cystic acne is one of the most severe type of acne.
Its severity is due to the fact that cystic acne penetrates deeply within the skin layers. The infection is much larger and more painful compared to regular types of acne.
Acne cysts are formed when sebum cannot adequately flow to the surface of the skin. Injuries appear in the cells lining the walls of the sebum canals. When this happens the immune system responds sending its army of defender cells that issue chemicals to eliminate what is causing the damage: the sebum.
The skin pores also get clogged by the accumulation of excess sebum (oil) which becomes, in turn, a rich feeding ground for microbes that reside within the skin follicles or on the surface of the skin. The cycle gets aggravated by the chemicals produced by the breakdown of sebum that happens while those microbes are feeding themselves on. Your immune system keeps sending its own defender chemicals that destroy everything there including functional cells and you are left with scars or tissue loss.
Retention keratosis aggravates the condition. This occurs when the skin cells especially those lining the gland are eliminated inadequately. Improper replacement of cells leads to blocking of the skin follicles. Also, dead and flawed cells become an easy target for microbial infections. The infection spills to other follicles which increases the inflammation and redness. Localized swelling is also observed.
Hormonal imbalance only adds to the woes. Augmented secretion of sebum can produce frequent flare ups if the sebum ducts are not clear for the outflow to reach swiftly to the surface of the skin. The skin becomes extremely sensitized and the cysts become susceptible to secondary infections. The lifestyle and the genetic background of a person also influence the severity of acne.
Acne cysts take a lot of time to heal since the infection is profoundly seated. Another problem with acne lesions or cysts is that they can lead to the formation of permanent scars. This happens due to sheer negligence on your part or careless therapy procedures. Ugly skin discoloration can also appear.
Medical treatment is the best method to eliminate cysts and lesions. Most dermatologists prescribe Isotretinoin for effective elimination of the cysts and the lesions. This solution is marketed as Accutane, and is one of the popular acne drugs. The success rate of Accutane is as high as 80%. It acts by reducing the size of the oil glands thereby regulating acne production. Severe secondary effects like depression and suicidal thoughts have been detected in some patients. The drug should not be used by pregnant women as it can damage the overall development of the child.
Another therapy available is cortisone injections. They are extremely effective, painless and yield instant relief. Cortisone minimizes the inflammation, swelling and redness. This therapy is known as the intra-lesional corticosteroid treatment and deals with treating acne lesions, cysts and scars.
A new cystic acne treatment cream is now available to treat cystic acne and the imperfections it leaves behind. This and other face products offered by the same company have been made with natural ingredients, and they ensure a scarless healing and the recovery of healthy skin affected by scars, dry skin, dermatitis, eczema, keratosis, and the list goes on.