If you are tired of acne breaking out randomly, clap your hands! *clap, clap!*
It has happened a lot of times, at least with me, that after a long time of clear, bumpless skin, just before some main event, would acne bumps come and pays a visit! It feels like it was waiting for me to let my guard down, and the moment I did that, here comes the devil! Oh, the vicious thing! But the thing more vicious than regular acne is cystic acne.
Cystic acne is the worst of them all. It really is. Do you know why? Well, unlike other forms of acne (blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, and the ever so infamous-never-pop-it-pus bumps), cystic acne can’t be treated with the same ointments and serums that you topically apply in other cases. That is because cystic acne is rooted deep within the skin tissue, with no direct connection to the surface.
But don’t worry, I have got your back! As someone who has been a regular host for the devil acne, I have got a few tricks under my sleeves. So hold your horses, cause I am just about share ways that might help at treating them. But first, we gotta learn a thing or a few about cystic acne. You know, “know thy enemy!”
What Is Cystic Acne?
Most severe of all acne forms, these are deep, red, pus nodules that form on the surface of the skin. If being painful wasn’t enough, these bumps leave behind scars and brown spots that take their sweet time to go away. In short, they are just a nuisance.
What Causes Cystic Acne?
- Blocked Pores:
The pores are always creating sebum and some areas, like the T-zone, can tend to be oilier. All this sebum, when combined with dirt and dead skin cells, can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, and cysts.
- Hormones:
Cysts are large pimples under the skin. As they grow, they become inflamed. However, after the inflammation is soothed, the sac of pus still remains, which can become inflamed again. They also have a knack for visiting again at the same spot. These can be hormonal due to imbalanced androgen levels.
- Continuously Touching Face:
If you are constantly touching your face, wiping away sweat with the back of your hand, or not disinfecting your phone regularly then please, for the love of god, stop! You are basically inviting the little devils to reside in your skin by creating the perfect environment for them. Dirt on your fingers transfers bacteria and oil to the skin. Plus, touching the skin stimulates the blood flow, which causes inflammation. This promotes more blockages, resulting in breakouts.
How To Get Rid Of Them?
- Don’t Pop It!
First and foremost, no matter how appealing it may seem, DO NOT pop it. Do not even touch it. Cystic acne legit cannot be popped, as the problem is way too deep within the skin. Trying to squeeze the cyst out will only push the inflammation further. Just let it be!
- Cortisone Injection
A cortisone injection involves a low-dose steroid that is directly injected into the zit to decrease the pain and inflammation within a few days.
- Cool It Down!
For years, our ancestral grandmas have passed the knowledge of putting ice on your face. Ice helps in constricting the blood vessels and brings down the swelling a bit. Why is it important to bring down the swelling? Well, the reason cystic acne is painful is because of swelling and inflammation in the tissue. So, wrap up an ice cube in a clean paper towel or napkin and hold it against your stubborn acne for 1-2 minutes max.
