Causes of Cystic
Acne
When it comes to acne, most people go through a period of their
lives when they have mild to moderate acne breakouts. For some
people, however, their acne occurs in a particularly severe
form known as cystic acne. The causes of cystic acne are not
entirely known because it is not clear why some people get this
severe form of acne and others get the more mild form.
What exactly is cystic acne?
Cystic acne, also known as nodulocystic acne, is the form of
acne that is most severe. It typically shows up as extremely
deep and inflamed skin breakouts on the face as well as on
other parts of the body as well. It’s not unusual for cystic
acne to appear on the neck, the shoulders, and even well down
the back.
Cystic acne lesions can be quite large, some of them
measuring across as much as several centimeters. They are
typically filled with fluid and so they feel somewhat soft
under the skin, but they can also feel quite painful. Those
with cystic acne typically form both cysts as well as smaller
lesions known as nodules. These types of lesions are smaller
than actual cysts; they are still located under the skin but
instead of being soft they are small and hard. Nodules are also
quite painful as well.
The causes of cystic acne are much the same as regular acne.
Bacteria and dirt on the skin combine with dead skin cells and
active oil glands to block pores and create pockets of
bacterial infection. These pockets are what develop into the
cysts and nodules under the skin. Why, then, do some people
experience only mild to moderate acne while others suffer from
deep and painful cystic acne?
Nobody knows the full answer to this question. Heredity
appears to play a role in the process; if your parents,
brothers, sisters, or other immediate relatives have had cystic
acne then your chances of having cystic acne are increased.
Sometimes, though, people will develop cystic acne with no
apparent family history of it at all.
What you can do about cystic acne
The best approach for dealing with cystic acne is to visit
with your doctor or dermatologist. This is type of acne is
considered the most severe and in most cases it simply cannot
be effectively controlled using just over the counter products.
In most cases it takes prescription medication to deal with
cystic acne problems.
Whatever your doctor may prescribe, be sure to follow the
directions carefully because that is the best chance you have
for getting rid of your cystic acne. Remember, it takes some
time for even prescription medications to work so be patient
and consistent in how you care for your skin. Also, stay in
close contact with your doctor to keep him or her up to date
with your progress. It’s not unusual to need to try several
different medications in different combinations and different
strengths before you really start to see progress toward
controlling your cystic acne.
|