by Dr. Josh Axe - Used by permission
Also called nodulocystic acne, cystic acne is an intense form of acne that results in large, inflamed cysts and nodules that appear on the skin. Unlike other milder forms of acne, cystic acne is noticeably painful and occurs when oil and dead skin cells build up deep down in hair follicles or pores. Cystic acne is most common during puberty for young boys, but sadly, it can continue into the adult years, especially when there is a hormonal imbalance. For adult women, it’s common to to experience cystic acne around their menstrual cycles, especially on the the jawline and chin, which are the common areas for hormonally motivated breakouts.
Common medical treatment for cystic acne like Accutane might work, but it’s been linked to really serious side effects, including birth defects, Crohn’s disease and even suicide. (1) That’s why I always recommend trying your own home remedies for acne first. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the results.
One of the surest and best tools to fight cystic acne is to address the gut-skin connection with the use of probiotics through food, supplements and even skin care. Way back in 1961, a case report found that out of 300 acne patients given a probiotic, 80 percent had clinical improvement. (2) The idea of probiotics for skin health isn’t new, but I’m happy to say it’s getting more attention in recent years. So before you resort to picking at your skin or using dangerous topical or oral remedies, read on to learn how you can naturally treat your cystic acne and have clear skin once again.
Natural Cystic Acne Treatment
Can you get rid of cystic acne naturally? Thankfully, the answer is yes. There are many natural ways to treat and get rid of cystic acne fast. Here are the 10 most effective ones:1. No Popping
Whatever you do, please don’t try to pop your cystic acne or any other pimples for that matter. Cystic acne, unlike common acne, typically does not give you “poppable” pimples. Due to the the depth of cystic acne lesions, picking or squeezing can be completely ineffective and will likely extend healing time from days to weeks. The more you touch an infected pimple, the angrier and more unsightly it’s going to become. If you try to pop cystic acne, you’re just going to spread the breakout underneath the skin. In addition, you can easily end up with scarring that lasts well beyond the pimple, possibly even forever. Two words to remember with cystic acne: Hands off!
2. Ice It
You can apply an ice cube directly to a breakout for several seconds to constrict the small blood vessels feeding the painful cyst. The ice helps immediately decrease the size and redness of the offending acne.
3. Healthy Skin Care Routine
Maintain a simple, calming skin care routine that avoids heavy and scented moisturizers. Before applying moisturizer daily, always make sure that your skin is thoroughly exfoliated and clean. An oil-free and unscented moisturizer is a great choice.
To encourage healthy skin turnover and growth, make sure to use exfoliants that are effective but not harsh and abrasive. Some good options include glycolic acid and fruit enzymes. When you’re in the sun, the best sunscreens to use are all-natural sunscreens to help reduce the chances of acne scarring. For scars, a natural vitamin C product can help. Some cystic acne scars can unfortunately take months to heal, but don’t lose hope.
4. Mirror Mirror
It’s a good idea not to obsess over your cystic acne. The more you stare at it in the mirror, the more likely you will want to pick at it and think negative thoughts, both of which will only make you look and feel worse. Stop yourself from visually and mentally obsessing over your cystic acne, and make sure you’re thinking positive, skin-clearing thoughts!
5. Your Towels and Pillowcases
Something you might not think about is what else touches your face daily, like towels and pillowcases. To reduce the chances of irritation and sensitivity, it’s a really smart idea to avoid washing these items with strong detergents and bleaches. Instead, opt for natural and unscented laundry products, like my Homemade Laundry Soap. You also want to change your towels and pillowcases frequently to avoid the presence and spread of bacteria, which only make your acne worse.
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6. The Cystic Acne Diet
Foods to Avoid:
- Conventional Dairy: Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, conventional dairy products can be hard on the digestive system. Many people see an improvement in their acne when they cut down or eliminate dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream. If you want to check if dairy is a culprit, try eliminating it from your diet for two weeks and see if your cystic acne improves. If it does, then you know that dairy is not agreeing with you. You can choose to remain dairy-free, or you can slowly reintroduce dairy back into your diet. Choosing better-quality dairy can be helpful as well.
- Sugar: Sugar and other high-glycemic foods (like breads and pasta) can make inflammation in your body worse. The more inflammation you have, the worse your cystic acne will be. Try natural sweeteners instead. Consuming excess amounts of sugar and grain products can also feed yeast and candida in the body, increasing the presence of acne on the skin.
- Caffeine and chocolate: Many experts like to say that there is no link between caffeine and chocolate consumption and breakouts. However, there is no doubt that caffeine consumption has a direct impact on your hormonal balance. In particular, caffeine overdose can raise the stress hormone known as cortisol. By reducing or eliminating various sources of caffeine like coffee, tea and chocolate, you can help to keep your hormones in better balance and clear up your cystic acne.
- Low-fiber, highly processed foods: Consuming foods that are low in fiber and highly processed has a direct negative effect on your gut health, which negatively impacts skin health. When you consume processed meat products like cold cuts, breakfast cereals and microwave meals, an unhealthy shift occurs in your inner microbial colonies. This sets off inflammation throughout your entire body, which can bring on a cystic acne flare-up or make any current acne even worse.
- Fried and fast foods: These foods are also highly processed and low in fiber. Additionally, they contain a number of ingredients that cause inflammation, including hydrogenated oils, sodium, chemicals, flavorings and sugar.
- Probiotic-rich foods: The healthier your gut is, the better your balance of good versus bad bacteria. When you consume probiotic-rich foods like kefir and cultured vegetables, the probiotics line your gut and create a healthy, sealed barrier that prevents inflammation that can trigger acne. One Korean study of 56 acne patients found that drinking a Lactobacillus-fermented dairy beverage effectively reduced their total acne lesion count and decreased oil production over 12 weeks. (3)
- High-zinc foods: People with acne tend to be low in zinc so you definitely want to increase your dietary intake of zinc by consuming things like grass-fed beef, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds and cashews to prevent a zinc deficiency. Zinc also supports a healthy digestive tract, which improves skin health.
- Vitamin A-rich foods: Foods high in vitamin A like kale, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots fight infection and speed healing, two things you definitely need when you’re trying to get rid of cystic acne. (4)
- Fiber-rich foods: Consuming high-fiber foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and oatmeal encourages colon cleansing as well as the growth of good bacteria in the gut, both of which can help eliminate cystic acne.
- High-quality protein foods: Grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild-caught fish and free-range eggs are high in protein and nutrients and help balance blood sugar, a key component in the fight against cystic acne.
- Liver-supportive foods: Since hormones are processed in the liver, eating liver-supportive foods can help clear up acne. Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower as well as leafy greens and high-fiber fruits, such as pears and apple, for improved liver function.
- Probiotics (10,000 IU to 50,000 IU daily, typically two to three capsules twice daily). Taking probiotics can boost your immunity and help your internal fight against cystic acne. You can also use probiotic skin care products, which can provide a protective external shield.
- Omega-3 fatty acids (1,000 milligrams of fish oil /cod liver oil daily or 3,000 milligrams of flaxseed or chia seed oil). Omega-3 helps reduce inflammation and support hormone balance. You can also consider gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose and borage oil for hormonal balance. One scientific study specifically found that after 10 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid or GLA supplementation, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions decreased significantly. (5)
- Zinc (25–30 milligrams twice daily). Research suggests that people with acne have lower blood and skin levels of zinc. Taking zinc by mouth helps treat and reduce acne.
- Vitex (160 milligrams of vitex/chasteberry). This herbal remedy is specifically recommended for hormonally induced acne. (6)
- Guggul or guggulsterone (25 milligrams twice daily). Guggul is made from the sap of a tree native to India. For individuals suffering from cystic acne, a controlled clinical trial found that guggul supplements outperformed 500 milligrams of tetracycline. (7)
As with everything health- and beauty-related, stress only makes things worse. Find ways to decrease stress in your life because stress can cause your body to release hormones that only make acne worse. The more you relax, the better your skin will be. Try natural stress relievers to help improve your skin.
8. Sleep
Getting proper sleep on a nightly basis can help improve your overall health, including balancing hormone levels and decreasing the inflammation associated with cystic acne. You also give your cystic acne uninterrupted time to heal.
9. Exercise
Regular physical activity is excellent for the body’s lymphatic system and detoxifying your entire body. It’s also excellent for your mood and self-esteem, which tend to both take a dip when you’re fighting cystic acne.
10. Essential Oils
Essential oils like tea tree and lavender can help fight cystic acne. The best way to use essential oils for acne is to apply two to three drops topically to the area of concern. Tea tree and lavender essential oils are safe for neat (direct) application, but they can also be combined with a carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut oil if you have sensitive skin.
A scientific review of the efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action in regard to the treatment of acne with tea tree oil states that tea tree products reduce lesion numbers in patients with acne, have tolerability levels that are similar to other topical treatments, and have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities that are associated with the treatment of acne. (8)
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight when treating acne with essential oils. The UV rays can make your skin more sensitive and may lead to skin irritations or redness. If using any of these essential oils causes skin irritation, discontinue use of that oil.
Cystic Acne Symptoms
Acne vulgaris is the medical name for common acne. Acne conglobata, or cystic acne, is a more serious and more rare form of acne that occurs mainly in young men, but it can affect people of both sexes and various ages. When you have cystic acne, your skin’s pores get clogged with oil and dead skin cells and become inflamed. It becomes cystic acne when the pore ruptures underneath the skin, which causes the inflammation to spill out into the surrounding skin tissue. This chain reaction can continue in the skin, triggering wider inflammation, spreading more acne bacteria and more breakouts. Next, your body forms a cyst around the area to stop the inflammation from spreading further.Symptoms of cystic acne include:
- large, red and painful breakouts on the face, chest, back, upper arms, shoulders and/or thighs
- nodules that appear as raised, red bumps that generally do not have a whitehead showing
- lesions that are usually felt beneath the skin before they’re seen
- more visible acne that produces cysts and nodules in addition to papules and pustules
- breakouts that are painful to the touch or even when not touched
- decrease in self-esteem and mood and increase in psychological distress, especially when cystic acne occurs on the face
Cystic Acne Root Causes
Cystic acne can be caused by or related to: (9)- Genetics
- Hormonal changes, including polycystic ovary syndrome
- High levels of humidity and sweating
- Pore-clogging and irritating face and body care products
- Some drugs and chemicals (for example, corticosteroids, lithium, phenytoin, isoniazid), which may worsen or cause eruptions that are similar to acne
It’s most common in teenage boys and young men. It’s believed that hormones called androgens can play a part in the development of cystic acne in teens when there is an increase in androgens. This increase leads to changes in your skin that can result in clogged pores and acne.
Cystic acne doesn’t only affect men, though. For women, hormone changes that trigger cystic acne can be brought on by menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Cystic acne is also more common among women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome.
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Cystic Acne vs. Rosacea
- Acne and rosacea are two of the most widespread dermatological conditions.
- It can be difficult to tell the difference between rosacea and acne.
- In the earliest phases of rosacea, the patient may notice gradual reddening of the skin, often mistaking these changes for acne, sunburn or dermatitis.
- The two disorders may be especially confused when the term “acne rosacea” is used, a phrase that was once frequently used to describe what’s now known as subtype 2 (papulopustular) rosacea, which may include bumps and pimples that appear similar to acne.
- Rosacea is a chronic disorder that occurs primarily in the central portion of the face and usually includes redness, flushing and blushing, and bumps (papules) and pimples (pustules). Rosacea can also involve the eyes and even a bulbous nose.
- Though both conditions may involve bumps and pimples, the causes and biochemical processes are different for each. Cystic acne is a product of many factors, involving the hair follicles, hormonal stimulation of oil gland cells and bacteria. On the other hand, recent research has found that rosacea appears to be linked to a dysfunction of the body’s natural immune system and should thus be treated with anti-inflammatory agents rather than antibacterial agents.
- Cystic acne predominantly affects teenage boys and young men in their 20s (as well as women with hormonal issues), while rosacea predominantly affects women of northern or eastern European descent, especially those who are blond and fair-skinned. With rosacea, women ages 20 to 60 are the predominant epidemiological group.
- Approximately half of all people with rosacea develop eye involvement, called ocular rosacea, with chronic tearing and eye dryness, a gritty sensation within the eye, flaking at the base of the eyelashes (called blepharitis), and recurring sties.
- An anti-inflammatory diet can help both cystic acne and rosacea. Also, changing your diet to remove any allergens, sensitivities or common gut irritants can help both problems.
- People who are predisposed to acne or rosacea can experience flares as a result of a shift in gut bacteria and subsequent inflammation.
- Healthy signals produced by probiotics can stop skin cells from sending “attack” messages to the immune system that result in flare-ups of acne or rosacea.
Cystic Acne Final Thoughts
Getting rid of cystic acne and the scars commonly left behind can take time, but a natural and holistic approach is your best and healthiest bet. Once you get rid of your cystic acne naturally, try my Acne Scar Removal Face Mask to help get rid of any visual reminders of your battle with acne.Cystic acne can be really challenging to manage, especially when it starts to take a toll on your mood and self-esteem. It’s important to talk or journal about your challenges and try your best not to let cystic acne define you. Put your thoughts and efforts toward making positive changes to your life, knowing that getting rid of cystic acne is within your control and can soon be a character- and knowledge-building part of your personal history.
Once you’ve made your cystic acne a problem of the past, it’s absolutely key to stick with a healthy diet and lifestyle, drink plenty of water, and keep up a simple, natural skin care routine. Clear, healthy skin is a reflection of good inner health so if you continue to make healthy choices on a daily basis, then you’ll have no problem keeping cystic acne away for good.
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