Cystic Acne – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Acne can be very frustrating. Since appearance is very important to people, acne can lower one’s self confidence. But, what is cystic acne? Cystic acne is also referred to as nodulocystic acne. It is the most severe type of acne vulgaris. If you are suffering from this condition, following are important pieces of information that will help you understand this condition better.
Nodular Acne
Causes
Cystic acne can form due to several factors. Commonly it develops when the skin follicles are blocked by dead skin cells and sebum. When Propionibacterium, a type of bacteria is exposed to the blocked follicles, irritation, redness and inflammation can subsequently follow. Another possible cause of this skin disorder is changes in hormonal levels. When the amount of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and insulin-like growth factor 1 are not within normal, cystic acne can occur. Furthermore, cystic acne can have genetic predisposition. Look at your family tree, see if mommy or daddy or other members of the family who has suffered from this type of acne. In other cases, this type of acne can also be triggered by pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Cushing’s syndrome in adult women.
Symptoms
This skin condition is often described as deep and inflamed breakouts that form on the face and other areas of the body like the back and chest. As compare to the common acne, the blemishes of cystic acne can become very large. Some may measure several centimeters across. Moreover, it feels like a soft, fluid-filled lump beneath the skin’s surface. Cystic acne can also be very painful.
Nodulocystic acne on the other hand can be a combination of nodules and cysts or nodular acne only. Nodules are hard and painful lumps found below the skin’s surface. They are larger than papules and it takes longer time to heal. Many skin experts believe that cystic acne is not really cysts but are severely inflamed nodular skin breakouts.
Treatment
If you believe that you have cystic acne, visit a reliable skin doctor’s clinic at once. This type of acne is very dangerous and it needs to be managed immediately. The doctor may prescribe you with topical medications and antibiotics. The usual products prescribed by skin doctors include Benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids and anti-inflammatories. For female patients, hormone therapies can work well because cystic acne is believed to be triggered by high levels of androgen hormones and possible development of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Furthermore, skin doctors can advise the patient with homeopathic treatment for this condition. Lifestyle modification like regular exercise is very effective in treating and preventing cystic acne because exercise can increase blood and oxygen flow in the blood. It can also help remove unwanted toxins. Another benefit of exercise is it lowers the psychological stress of the person. According to studies, psychological stress can cause this type of acne.
Cystic acne should not be ignored. If you suspect and observe any of the symptoms mentioned above, visit your dermatologist at once. Experimenting on treatments can only worsen the condition. It is best to trust your doctor’s advice.
Watch The Video And Learn More About Cystic Acne
