My fight against cystic acne
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Trust me, I’ve faced no bigger beauty dilemma than my long, drawn out fight with cystic acne. I was blessed with a clear complexion during my high school years and then suffered the occasional pimple or break out while in college, but it wasn’t until my mid to late 20’s that my skin declared war. Just when I had begun to really worry about wrinkles and eye creams, the acne appeared with a vengeance. And not just the standard, oily skin variety pimples, but the dreaded cystic acne.
How do you know if you suffer from cystic acne? It makes the standard, pop-able pimple feel like a walk in the park. For starters, they are big! While I only would get one or two at a time, the size made them impossible to cover up. Cystic acne looks and feels as if a pea has been shoved under your skin. To add to the problem, typically cystic pimples do not form a white head. There is no way for the skin to break, letting the pus out to relieve some of the pressure. That means that these little devils really hurt! The pimple will be inflamed and hot to the touch and almost pulses with pain. (When I have a good cystic pimple raging, and I work out, I can feel my heart beating through the pimple when I cool down – it’s insane). Cystic acne can also be very itchy (but whatever you do – do not scratch!) Oh, and did I mention the pimple and a good ½ diameter of skin around it will be visibly red as well? Not a pretty picture.
For some time, I tried to cure the problem with some of the common answers for acne. Regular washing and spot treatments with all sorts of harsh chemicals – from drugstore shelves, to high-end beauty lines, to the medicinal washes prescribed by my dermatologist – nothing made a difference. Actually, that’s not true, they made the pimple and skin around it even more irritated and inflamed, with flakey skin and dry patches as an added bonus. Most topical, acne fighters are not made for cystic acne sufferers and can not penetrate deeply enough into the skin to make a difference.
I spent a number of years trying out different types and levels of (expensive) antibiotics. Some people have great success with this method (or using certain birth control pills) but I was never able to find a pill that helped my skin. After three years of being on constant antibiotics, I decided it was an expense I could do without, considering I still would routinely get a cyst or two every month – often in the exact same place as an earlier cyst. This, sadly, is common with cysts and can lead to scars and uneven skin texture in areas that are continually affected.
I did find one almost instantaneous treatment in the form of cortisone shots which my dermatologist injected directly into the pimple. While painful, expensive (my shots ranged from $65 $85 per visit in Los Angeles) and impossible to hide (you’ll bleed a bit and the pimple will be even more noticeable the first few hours), these shots made a dramatic difference in the size and longevity of the cyst. I realize this solution is not right for everyone, but it can be a lifesaver when you really need that cyst gone pronto (a wedding, prom, or other big event might call for this solution).
Lately, I’ve noticed that my cystic acne has been tapering off. I can’t think of a reason why this is happening now, except that I’m getting older – um, hooray!? There really is no known cause for these suckers; genetics, hormones, stress and over active oil glands all play a part. Sadly, cystic acne does run in my family (both sides!) and I definitely notice that my cysts coincide with my menstrual cycle (it’s another side affect of PMS for me).
While I’m happy the tide of cysts has subsided, they still pop up every few months. I’ve come to accept that there is no way for me to entirely prevent them, so I have a patented plan of attack for the moment I feel one of these pimples from hell coming on. (After a few rounds with cystic acne, you should notice the little spidey-sense tingling exactly at the spot where the next one is about to pop up.) If you, or a friend or family member suffers from the same problem, try these steps for some relief:
Do Not Pick! I really mean it this time. Yes, we know we are not supposed to pick at pimples, but we all do it. Cystic acne is different. It is impossible to get into all of the infection and bring it to the surface. You will only serve to anger the pimple even more! Picking often times leads to more redness, bigger infections and a longer healing time.
Take some ibuprofen. I didn’t pick this up until years into my siege, when the nurse at the dermatologist’s office advised me to take two Advil twice a day until a particularly large cyst subsided. Doh – that totally makes sense – a few Advil’s will help with the pain and can help reduce swelling as well.
Ice it down. Soon after the ibuprofen suggestion, I had an epiphany – ice is great for pain and swelling! Let’s ice my jaw line (where my cystic pimples like to hang out) and see what happens. Halleluiah – I felt instant and long lasting relief and noticed the cyst was half it’s size after 15 minutes of applied ice. I recommended taking 15 minutes every morning and night to ice down any “active” cyst.
Avoid topical acne products. In my experience, they have no effect on cystic pimples and tend to aggravate more than relieve. I have found one, blessed exception and that is the Renee Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment. I was lucky enough to test this brilliance in a bottle (it was what prompted me to write this post sharing my “wisdom” on cystic acne) and, after 10 years of searching, discovered a topical product that actually helped treat my cystic acne. You can see my review here.
If all else fails, get thee to a good dermatologist. It can be expensive, but is worth it when it comes to this problem. I can’t recommend antibiotics or accutane (both must be prescribed by a derm), as the antibiotics failed to help me and accutane just scares me. But, every case is different and others may find some relief with them. Also, it’s great to have a good derm on hand for when the situation calls for an injection. (Most sympathetic docs will squeeze you in for a few minutes between scheduled appointments during an emergency flare up )
Shoot it up. If you can handle a needle to the face (and most cystic sufferers will try anything for a cure) there is no better “instant” solution. A good pop of cortisone to the center of the pimple should cause a drastic reduction in swelling and pain and helps to shorten the life span of the cyst.
Don’t beat yourself up. I know, cystic acne really sucks. Don’t blame yourself because there’s not a thing you can do if you’re predisposed to suffer from them. So try not to let it rule your life. And, never, ever, change or cancel plans because you can’t go out “looking like that.” Make up, hairstyles, scarves and wraps can do wonders to hide your temporary imperfection. Do that best that you can to hide it in plain site and than get out there!
Are there other cystic acne sufferers out there? Share your coping skills and solutions with us!
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I hate these things! I too started getting them about 8 years ago. the first one drove me crazy. it was on my neck and i could not figure out why this one wasn’t behaving like a normal zit. it hurt and i couldn’t pop it (yes, i know that’s bad and disgusting). The woman who waxes my eyebrows is also an aestician (no idea how to spell that) so i figured she could take care of it for me. Well she informed me that there was nothing she could personally do because it was a cyst type acne and would go away on its own. Our solution? Cover it up with a band aid! I don’t get them that often but when i do they’re always on my neck and i am so self conscience about it. I’m totally going to pick up the Renee Roulea treatment Tyna mentioned earlier. its worth a shot!
Ugg – the neck is the worst! It’s so noticable and the skin in that area is so tender and prone to scarring. Next time, try the Renne Rouleau and ice it down. Then, use the always chic scarf and tie one around your neck sort of like a necklace – no will know – they’ll just think “wow, that’s so cute!”
I never thought about icing them! My dermotologist always told me to use hot compresses, but I would always swear that would never make that big of a difference. And hands-off is such an important rule! Once I had an especially painful one on my forehead and yada yada yada and now I have a big scar on my forehead, brilliant. My boyfriend says it’s not noticeable, but I’m still horribly self-conscious about it. Damn things.
I’ll most definitely have to try the Renne Rouleau! Thanks for the tips!
HOT compresses!? OMG, that sounds like a terrible idea – heat only irritates my cysts – hot showers, warm weather, etc add to the irritation. Steam and compresses may work on regular pimples – by softening the skin and helping to form a breakable white head – but won’t do the trick on cystic pimples. Try ice next time you feel one coming on and you will be amazed at the difference.
Aww, and don’t worry about the scar Miss Rebecca – I’m sure you are the only one that sees it. Plus, you have those adorable bangs – perfect for hiding any little imperfections!
i have cystic acne too and ive been trying everything and nothings working like nothing and i need to clear myself up with summer here now i need to get clear will someone please reply to this please
Ice Ice and more Ice.
ps did I tell you Ice was good.
I have been dealing with cystic acne since I graduated high school. I now have a 13 yr old daughter who is beginning to suffer as well. As you and Winnie said, they always seem to flare up around the mentstrual cycle. I am going to give Renne Rouleau a try… I’ll let ya know how it works..THANKS!
.-= jennifer´s last blog ..Our mega giveaway – $1270 in beauty products! =-.
Wow, very good, well written post! One of the best and most informative I’ve seen. I’m glad that you have gotten them under control now with the occasional one popping up. The two treatments of ice and Advil (ibuprofen) I had never thought of before now but it makes sense. Both are good for inflammation. I have a 20+ year history of back trouble and ice does wonders for that, I should have known.
Thank you for this article, I learned much from it. Keep up the good work!
.-= Kevin@Cystic Acne Home Remedy´s last blog ..Cystic Acne Cure =-.
Tea Tree Oil! Apply a dab to the cyst as soon as you feel it coming up. It will be your new best friend!! :)
PS. I’ve suffered with cysts for 2years now and this was the only thing that drastically reduced the lump within a few days. Leaves redness though.
hey, sorry, i know this is late but anyway!
i had similar experiences – from 5th to 8th grade, i had severe cystic acne. needless to say, high school was absolute hell. i did the same as you, i tried so many things that all promise to clear up acne, but nothing worked. it wasn’t until 7th grade that i finally went to a dermatologist – i was thinking it was going to get better, but it was only the beginning. he prescribed me roaccutane, and for a while it was o.k – finally there was some sign of improvment.
but thats when the side effects started – namely, the severe depression – the cutting, etc – i had it all. now, this is hard anytime, but at 12 years old…yeah. i still think it was worth it though – ive never had a pimple since.
Thanks so much for this post! Lately I am having major issues with cystic acne. As soon as one FINALLY goes away, another one pops up and they leave scars all over. My skin looks and feels horrible and I feel horrible. I am definitely going to try some of your tips.
Your welcome @Chacha and welcome to we heart this. I’m so sorry to hear you are a fellow cystic acne sufferer – they really suck! Hope these tips help – and try the ice right away – it can really make a difference in pain and swelling.
Tyna Werner recently posted..How to: build a perfectly balanced salad
Thank you so very much! I am sitting here near tears over three diagonally in a row! I’m going home to ice and ibuprofen. I was so tempted to call my dermatologist to reconsider acutane~
Gratefuly yours,
I have had problems with cystic acne since college and am now 40 years old. Thought age would decrease this irritating embarrasing buggers. Do not pick or pop as long as you can take it. I do believe hot compresses work and drinking lots and lots of water. I have had the cortisone shots and they do work although intimidating to lessen the healing time. The other thing that has actually worked for me was Proactive. Honest I am not a salesman or spokesperson for Proactive, but when I feel one coming on I use the cleanser two or three times a day and it doesn’t get huge like they usually do and is gone within four days. Not sure it would work for everyone, but it has for me.
I get these things all the time. Antibiotics work magic for me, though. Also, ice works well to bring the swelling down, but if you don’t have anywhere to go, then you should actually put hot packs on the pimple. My dermatologist recommended this. The heat helps pull out the infection. Don’t worry if the heat makes it extra red + hot. It helps to clear it up faster.
The no picking part is sooooooo hard for me. My cystic acne usually starts out as a little bump and I see it and think “oh let me just take care of this and pop it.” I’ve only actually successfully popped two cystic zits and it is a mess…..blood everywhere. But….it relieves all the pain and for some reason, it doesn’t even leave a scab.
I’ve been suffering from cystic acne for ever – dreadful! I finally found my ultimate cure. I take an ounce of witch hazel and dump the powder from an antibiotic capsule that my doctor prescribed. She told me to use after washing and toning (with witch hazel). I also get facials every 6 weeks. My face hasn’t been this clear since high school. Too bad I have the scarring. I’m just relieved it’s come to a conclusion…at least I hope! It’s been 6 mos of great skin!
I too had a perfect high school complexion straight through age 26 (2 years ago), luckily I started taking 100 mg of spironalactone and after 12 weeks I did not see a cyst again, until I stopped taking it to see if I needed it or not. I thought maybe the constant drinking of water and retin a 3 times a week was doing it maybe. Well I was wrong I did need it, and now I am just battling the hyperpigmentation left over.
I have endured cystic acne, on and off, since I was 18 yrs old. I had hoped that once I reached menopause it would go away. Fortunately I have fewer outbreaks and when I do they are concentrated in fewer areas, but the problem persists. I have tried everything. As others have said, cortisone injections directly into the cyst are best for immediate relief. When I was working, I used to see my dermatologist 2x a month for treatment. Now I deal with the problem on my own. I have the following suggestions for fellow sufferers:
ICE on 15 minutes especially at night before bedtime is very helpful. This will bring the cyst to maturity much faster.
Do Not Squeeze a cyst! That said, you need to identify when the cyst is ready to be opened, gently, without undue pressure. Apply a hot compress, touch the area and determine if the infection is spread out over a large area (not ready) or localised into a concentrated area where you see a white head appear. Even then, you need to proceed with caution. If you touch the area and feel extreme widespread soreness, do not try to squeeze. Be patient. Take Advil, use the ice to make the pain go away until the cyst can be rendered. If it is ready, very little pressure will be required. If you press and squeeze you risk spreading the infection to other areas and creating a horrible red mess.
Product To Try: Burts Bees Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil. This really helps as a spot treatment.
Foods I Avoid: CoffeeMate Non-Dairy Creamer, Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate mix, sour cream, milk chocolate (dark is okay in limited quantities)
Cover Up Product: Almay Blemish Cover Up Stick – Good color selections and it does help heal the blemish without excessive drying, while providing camouflage.
Kathryn – would you please explain your method with the witch hazel and antibiotic powder. Are you mixing this together and applying it to the infection? Thanks!
I used to get them on my back and shoulders really bad. Someone once told me to try vinegar. So about once a week I’ll take some vinegar (I use the apple cider variety) and rub it on my back and shoulders, then shower it off fifteen minutes later. It’s made a HUGE difference. It smells awful terrible but it’s worked wonders for me. It has also helped fade the scars from the visitors before. I don’t use it on my face though as the skin there is more sensitive. It will dry your skin out so I’d be careful if you have terribly sensitive skin, but it does work. I’m going to try the ice and Advil approach on this beast of a zip I’ve got right between my eyes.
Thanks for the suggestions. I am definitely going to try icing and ibuprofen to fight out out with these 4 massive cysts that are eating up the sides of my neck.
I am so frustrated and near tears. I had acne as a teenager and then it cleared up once I went on birth control. I went off birth control about 5 years ago (killed my emotions and sex drive) and slowly but surely, I have developed cystic acne. Have tried almost every stupid prescription out there and dietary changes. Nothing seems to work and it’s so hard not to feel like everything you do is wrong.
The only thing that provided me with 2 years of PERFECT skin was Accutane. I know, it seems scary, and there seems to be a lot of ‘scare propagandha’ out there but honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. MY boyfriend had bad acne too so he went on it at the same time and we both agree we were so happy we did. The only side effects were dry lips and I occassionally had dry eyes. Neither of those symptoms have persisted after.
What’s crushing though is that 2 years later the cysts are coming back. Slowly but steadily, they are back. Now I have 3 on one side and 1 on the other and they HURT.
Not sure what I’m going to do. I don’t want to go running back to Accutane but at the same time, these monsters are just unbearable and I can’t stand the thought of just ‘tolerating’ them for years. I am going to look into that Renee stuff.
Good luck everyone!
Just discovered this post. I’m going to try the Renee treatment on one cyst I’ve had for a few months. These can be very hard to remove…
That being said, having suffered with cystic acne all my life, I recently discovered that milk is the cause. It makes sense since I was allergic to milk as a child but didn’t think about the effects it would have in my adulthood. I’ve quite drinking or eating anything with dairy and haven’t had a new cyst for 4 months. Prior to the non-dairy diet, I would get a cyst every 2 weeks. Anyway, if you’ve been a long time sufferer, maybe avoiding milk will help you too.
Tyna, thanks for your blog! I could to practically everything you spoke about. I have always had clear skin, but I have noticed that since I turned 35, my hormones have definitely affected the oils in my skin. These little things are INTENSE! I have used ice and ibuprofen and you are right that it does make a big difference in being able to tolerate the pain as well as lessen the size. I look forward to trying the solution you mentioned as well as the Tea Tree oil mentioned by a few others.
Thanks to you and the others for sharing your struggles and remedies!
My cystic acne was totally gone after going gluten-free for two weeks and sticking with it since. It’s worth a try!
After reading this, I feel as if I am writing my own life story. I have gone through the pain where I feel I cant even go outside because how horrible I feel they look. I end up cancelling plans and running home after dinner. The cortisone shots works, I just wish they would help prevent future breakouts. After reading the article, I grabbed a bag of frozen peas, and am currently laying down on the couch with my chin on top. ( and typing!) I hope this works, because this is freezing! I just ordered your recommendation- like you said, I am willing to try anything. I have gone from high end products to just neutragena. I’m glad to find there are others out there with the same pain.
I’m getting more and more certain that I suffer from cystic acne, because it’s getting more and more obvious. My “pimples” are deep and combined with the unbelieveable urge to prick them, I always have open wounds.
I should really try the icing thing tonigh, because I feel another one coming. Also, I can obviously tell that it’s SO much worse in my pill-free week where I’m getting my period. Sadly, the cysts last so long I only get 2 weeks in between my break-outs.
i too have suffered and while i have found icing to be the best affordable solution, at some point, i have to go outside and face the world (no pun intended). makeup is a must, but i don’t want to use anything that will further irritate it, so i use boo-boo cover-up b/c it has antibacterial, antiseptic and other healing ingredients.
Thanks for the post! Really good reading other peoples comments,gives me hope. I suffer from really bad cystic acne, only effects me on my jaw-line. It throbs and itches a lot. But I’ve never tried to pop one, so I’m hoping it doesn’t scar too badly!.. What I found out which helps me is. Lay off the alcohol, regular exercise, drink plenty of water and always try and think positive.. After all they do say stress causes spots. I’m about to start my course of ro-accutane. Slightly pessimistic but heard its worth it! Tried every other oral medication!! So might as well give it a go!
Thanks again. Glad to know there’s places like these. Makes a difference.. Good luck guys
Thank you so much Tyna for writing this. Prior to reading this I was feeling really depressed about my resent breakout of cystic pimples. It doesn’t help that I’m a long time acne sufferer. I thought I was cured after a steady relationship with acctane, and two years of awesome skin. But my skin reverted to its youth post college graduation. I typically hate acne blogs as they’re never really hopeful or offer any good advice, but I genuinely felt you wrote this article for people like me who just want to hear from someone who understands. I also love (sad enough) the comparison of a cystic pimple to a pea shoved under your skin.
i used to horrible cyctic acne growing up, but it has since tamed down because I use the Shielo Complexion Moisturizer. I do not even get breakouts – you really should try it.
this product stops them and the price is great, considering it actually works.
highly recommended.
seriously, your story made me teary-eyed and i almost started crying (it might have something to do with the fact that im on my period.. but still, it was moving). i always feel like no one ever knows what im going through (now im crying..)and that no one will ever understand how much this hurts me, physically and emotionally, but reading this made me realize that im really not the only one. At the end you inspired me a little to not hold myself back. so many times again and again i have stayed home from a party or event because of my acne. and that alone is hard enough (and embarrassing) to admit. along with admitting to the fact that i literally search acne-related information maybe 5 or more times a day. im paranoid and obsessed. its gotten to me and its all i think about all day long, especially because im at school and because im constantly around people who have to look at my face. and of course i feel like im the one who should apologize for making them look at something so disturbing.
anyway, thank you. i feel like i should make more of an effort to focus my energy on something that i can change: my attitude towards life for example, instead of trying to cure something that i CANNOT control. ha, i think i just took my first step:) thank you so much this was extremely helpful!:)
Thanks for the post and comments! It’s good to know we’re not alone! After years of suffering in college I tried Accutane. For me, the side effects were awful. A year later I saw a proper dermatologist, not a regular family physician. Knowing I wasn’t a fan of Accutane, he prescribed Differin, a topical cream. I would apply just the smallest amount on my trouble areas every night at bedtime, the only side effect was some dryness. Within a month my skin had cleared up. I used Differin for nearly a year without any painful cysts. Eventually I stopped using it and my skin has been fine for the last couple of years. Now I have a huge cyst and it’s so painful. If an effort to minimize the pain I picked at it, applied heat, salt, acne gel, etc. It’s sad when you get to a point where you don’t care about the damage you’re doing to your face, you just simply want it to go away so badly. I saw a doctor today and she said there’s nothing to do other than ice and Advil, which I’ve been doing all day. However, reading these posts have made me feel better, reminding me that others deal with similar issues, and I know I need to be patient and remember I could have worse problems than a pimple, regardless of how painful and frustrating it may be. For those looking for a solution, and not willing to take Accutane, I highly recommend Differin, it worked wonders for me.
Seriously, good to know we’re not alone. I was also blessed with clear skin through most of high school, had occasional break outs here and there in college but nothing horrifying. After I transitioned to a career, my skin was pretty clear for the most part and then I started dealing with a lot of stress these past few months and never in my life have I ever had an acne attack so bad.
I was so embarrassed to go home for a vacation with everyone in my family ridiculing me and blaming me, asking what on earth I did to my face. I even overhead my aunt pull my mom aside and say something along the lines of, “I’m seriously concerned for her. What if her co-workers begin to spite her because of how horrible her face has gotten?” It’s been so hard because everyone keeps blaming me like I did this to myself on purpose. I’ve already seen a doctor and was prescribed two different topical medicines and I just dropped a hundred bucks on Renee Rouleau products and to top it off, I have a wedding to attend in two days.
Ah well, at least we are not alone. And I mean…I guess it could be worse, right?
I’ve battled cystic acne for years and have finally gotten to a place where I feel like I’m in control. When things were really bad i tried doxy, which seemed to help, but i couldn’t handle the side effects. Then I got on spironolactone and got cortisone shots up the wazoo for a couple months and it helped me clear up long enough to plan a defense routine. The murad acne line worked great for me and now I do a glycolic peel and micro derm facial every six weeks and use a mild acai cleanser (super by perricone). once every few months I get a random cyst, but I have a great derm that I can pop in for a quick pop of cortisone and zap it away. The shots work WONDERS and for someone with hyperpigmentation like me, getting rid of them fast is critical. I highly recommend trying the cortisone at least once for anyone who suffers from cystic acne. For me, i can get a shot and within 24 hours the cyst is 95% gone. Plus, with my insurance i only pay a copay of $25 for the visit, regardless of number of injections (usually 1 per cyst unless its a monster). Its given me so much piece of mind no longer having to deal with the anxiety of weeks of pain and self consciousness.
Ive had cyst type lumps on my chin off and on for about 15 years. Tried everything. Phisohex (spelling?) Worked well to pit just a dab in the center of it and leave it. Ran out eventually and couldnt afford another prescription. Cipro makes it go away. Again, pricey. Antibacterial soap left on it would lessen it pretty fast but dried out my skin bad. It is effective in preventing future cysts if u lather it on your face at the start of a bath or
shower and leave it on for 10 min while washing all your other parts. Problem is i have a hard time remembering to do that.
Recently i was staining a floor and it was oil based. Got it on my
face (chin) and didnt realize it. You can guess what happened.
Took about an hour to form. All i had to clean it off was water which wasnt going to work or disteolled white vinega. Being an acid, i opted for vinegar. It took it almost completely away. Since then ive had another and after 2 days i remembered the vinegar. Id tried the ice the night before. Swelling went down until i woke up the next morning. My chin immediately had my attention. So i went for the white vinegar. Pain was gone within less than a minute. Swelling subsided within about 5 min. Heat was also gone almost instantly. I used it i think 5x that day and the next morning it was almost gone. It seems like everything i used my skin developed a tolerance for it. I hope the white vinegar remedy lasts. Hope this info helps someone on here.
Cystic acne had become the most prevalent problem specially in some women who had hormonal imbalance. This cystic acne is one great battle for everyone.:)
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I really don’t blog but I found this article to be really helpful. The ice tip makes so much sense!
In my own research I’ve found that cyctic acne is caused by a hormone called cortisol which causes the inflammation. While there is nothing you can do to stop it, here are some of the things I do personally to reduce it’s production and thus (hopefully) reduce the amount of cyctic acne.
1) no more coffee – i’ve replaced my coffee with green tea
2) Take Ashwagandha extract -which is a natural herb/stress reducer
3) Diet heavy in Omega 3 or fish oil supplements
4) sleep with a night mouth guard
5) no greasy hair product
6) running only for exercise – no weights.
hope some of this helps.
A belated thanks John for this comment. I’ve heard to cut bacl on coffee/caffeine as well – it’s just so hard for me. I need my morning cup!
And I have to ask why #4 – sleep with a mouth guard? Thanks!
I love the article! I am heading to my derm today for a gigantic cyst on my chin. I have been getting these for years and finally, I am finished with them. I don’t like birth control and am not sure I want to take any antibiotics for them. I am interested in cortizone shot.
Here is my big question – I heard they can leave an indent where the shot goes in at the location of the cyst. I am 39 years old so my skin isn’t that of a teen. When I was a teen I had beautiful skin! So – Should I be worried? Is it worth a try? How many people do you know who have had a negative outcome with the shots? Please share! Thank you!
Kelley – thanks for the nice words. I hope you had a successful visit with your derm. As for the indent issue when getting cortisone shots – I’ve never had a problem. Of course, you will have some bleeding, from where the needle goes in, for a few hours afterwords. But I’ve never had a lasting problem with my skin scaring.
In fact, my Doctor told me that the shots help break up the scar tissue that can form in the area – I’ve had issue with indents/scaring at places where a cystic pimple repeatedly pops up.
I’ve suffered from these things since high school (now just finishing college), but finally managed to control it about a year ago. For me, it seems to be all about diet. Let me explain how I’ve come to this conclusion:
Last year I got a cyst right on my nose (they always seem to pop up there) almost a week after another one had just healed (I had gone to the dermatologist for a cortisone shot for that one). Up until then, I had been told by my dermatologist that my diet probably isn’t the issue, so I didn’t think twice about it. However, at that point I was so fed up that I was willing to try anything. I decided to do a complete diet overhaul to stop the nonsense. My main train of thought was “if I eat junk, my body will try to get rid of the junk any way it can, even through my skin”. So for 1 week I cut out ALL processed foods, drank as much water I possibly could every day, and ate mostly salad, chicken, and fish. For me, this was the miracle cure.
The new cyst on my nose began to heal MUCH faster than any other cyst I had before. The rest of my face was practically spotless after about 3 days, and the new cyst was clearly dead, slowly being reabsorbed into my skin for the rest of the week. Honestly, my skin had never felt or looked better.
I’ve also noticed that consuming a lot of alcohol irritates my skin as well. The other night I went out for a few drinks at the bar (for my birthday, so it was a tiny bit more than a “few”) and woke up the next day with an irritated red spot on my nose. I knew right away what it was, and sure enough in a matter of 2 days it has grown into a cyst. My skin also seems to have tiny breakouts the day after any other time I consume more than 2 or 3 drinks at a party.
In conclusion, while it may not be the case for everyone, diet definitely has an impact on my skin. I can’t imagine all of these trends are coincidental. My suggestion to anyone who has problems with cysts would be to at least try a diet change. For me it worked better than any antibiotics or topical ointments I had tried in the past.
Thanks @MrAwesome for your interesting comments on diet and cystic acne – and I completely agree with you. “You are what you eat” is something I heard since I was 5, and it totally makes sense that the better your diet is, the better your skin will be. And while it may not be the cure for everyone, a better diet never hurt anybody!
Thank you so much for posting this! I have had trouble with cystic acne for years. I inherited it from my father who still struggles with it now that he is in his 60s. I was put on heavy antibiotics for my acne which made me dizzy and anxious all the time. Now I am off everything and I am flaring up like crazy, and I am getting married in May. Thank you for your help.
I have had cysts for about 10 years now. I’ve never had great skin but these just took my skin to the extreme. The first derm I went to brushed me off and told me they were zits, never went back to her. I did find a great doctor who I absolutely love. She is always willing to go that extra mile to help, especially since she knows the treatments are expensive. What works for my now is minocycline twice a day and tretonin topical cream (retin-A) twice a day. These are both a generic version which is helpful because they are cheaper with my insurance. These definitely help once they work their magic, I am usually cyst free for about 6 months or more. Then repeat. They are hard to deal with because they do hurt so much and are hard to cover but it’s a process and I just keep my fingers crossed that someday they will be gone.
I have had bad cystic acne on my chin since I was about 15, I’m now 18, and havent found anything (other than expensive prescriptions) that would clear the break outs and keep them away. I then read about using the Lady Soma Antioxidant Masque and have been using it for about 3 days now and am amazed. The stuff totally dried up my pimples and they are now scabbed over and healing.
I would not, however, recommend using the masque all over your face as it does dry out skin. Only use it as a spot treatment.
I will try the ice method with the Advil. Unless someone suffers from this they have no idea of the pain or embarassment of those horrible cysts! My skin is pretty clear but I’m always getting cysts on my chin. One will just about be gone and then another will form on the other side! The dark red scarring they leave behind too is hard to deal with.
I’ve determined that I only get them when I eat certain foods (caramel color, honey, poultry, fish, nuts, chocolate) and when I cut out those foods, and I’m talking about reading ingredients at the grocery on nearly everything I buy, I don’t have a problem. However, lately even when I’m careful on what I eat to the point of being obsessed I’m getting them again. SO that means I need to reevaluate what I’m eating to see if there’s something else to add to my “no” list.
It’s just helpful to read that I’m not the only one with this problem. I will look at the Renee Rouleau products too.
Hi @Melissa – I hope the the ice and advil suggestion help you somewhat – for me they really do help reduce the pain and size of my cysts. Plus, I just ‘feel’ them less when I follow these steps – so I don’t constantly think about that growth on my face/neck for 24 hours a day – which can be a drag.
As for the reappearance of a cystic pimple in one certain spot over and over and over – sadly that’s a hallmark of cystic acne. A pimple is basically just a clogged pore or follicle and when you have cystic acne that pore can expand many, many time it’s size. In turn, that pore and the pores surrounding it also get stretched out and damaged, leading to a clogged pore(s) – and the pimple cycle starts all over again. And it feels like you get the same damn pimple over and over. The ice may help with this, by keeping the cystic pimple size down.
Thanks for sharing your diet info – it’s interesting to learn what causes cysts for others and to see if they could be part of my issues. And remember you are far from alone in this problem!
i never had acne until after high school as well. i’m 22 now and got my first massive cyst on my cheek last fall. finally got rid of it and another popped up over this past weekend. i don’t use proactiv much, but the 2 times i have not long after one of these have popped up. my husband has been trying to get me to drink apple cider vinegar since we met, says its good for you all around. probably go out and buy some this evening. i’m going to start drinking more water as well. my mom says if i put fat back on the cyst and sleep with it overnight it will come to a head to be able to pop. also going to start taking vitamin E. as for face wash i’m probably going back to regular bar soap, and i read somewhere online that lime juice and water works as a good toner. hopefully these things will put an end to this horrible nightmare.
i started putting lavender oil on my cystic acne today. hoping it works *fingers crossed*
hi,
i was thinking about taking a scalpel and cutting directly into it to make a deep incision to release whatever is in there, maybe throw a min bandage on there who knows
anyone else ddone this?
You are lucky. I got mine injected by my dermatologist and now I have three where I used to have one. I’m so frustrated. I tend to alternate between ice and heat when mine get really bad and that does make it feel better. There’s got to be something better for us cystic acne sufferers. Right now, I swear I’m turning into a unicorn because I’ve got a beast on my forehead.
Use a combo of ortho lo retina micro doxy b complex acedopholis cetefil cleaner neutrogena moist for sensitive skin and apple cyder vinegar on a cyst for ten seconds! Been struggling for 10 years and this plan leaves me clear at 30 years old! Finally! Accutane scares me
I don’t recommend following your bit of advice of taking Ibuprofen twice daily for a the acne because you can and will inflict serious damage on your liver. Then you will not have a cosmetic issue on your hands you will have a life threatening one. Ibuprofen is extremely damaging to the liver and should not be taken casually. I just had to respond when I read that. Thanks
Hi Debbie! Thanks so much for your comment. Just to clarify, I do not recommend taking Ibuprofen on a daily basis to prevent cystic acne.
I have had luck using Ibuprofen, sparingly, during a flare-up. I’ve found when you have a big one flaring up, and you’re in pain, a few doses of Advil or the like (per my dermatologist’s advice) over a few days can reduce the swelling, inflammation and pain.
And as always, consult with your doctor when taking any medicines! I am far from a medical professional – so thanks so much for the advice!
i tried pretty much everything and then an LA doctor changed my life completely. He gave me a pill called “spironolactone” and I never got another cystic acne breakout ever again. I was on 2×25 mg of spiro a day for about 2 years and now i don’t have to take it at all.. it’s a cheap med without side effects but only women can use it.. (it gives men testicular atrophy)… If anyone has this problem they should def. give spironolactone a try
Hi k – thanks for your comment. I’ve never heard of spironolactone, but I’m glad it helped with your cystic acne problem. For our readers out there, here’s a link to the wikipedia info on this drug:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spironolactone
I know your post is an old one but I came across it in a web search. I have just grown my very first cystic acne spot. The suggestion re: ice is a life saver. It has lessened the appearance of the nasty devil already! I’m on day 2 and alredy truly sick of it! It’s unsightly – on my neck – and hurts. If it goes on too long, I’ll be off to the doctor to see about a cortisone shot. Thanks for the posting. It was very helpful – and informative. I’m wondering – how long do these usually last?
I’m nearly 19 years old and I started getting the most annoying acne all over my lower face mainly on my chin, jawline and neck (sometimes had the odd one or two on my forehead and cheek) and most of them were just dozens or small pimples but I had the odd cyst or two as well. Year and half later 95% of my acne has cleared up! Want to hear my advice on how to clear up awful acne? First of all don’t buy ANY chemical product such as proactive, benzoyl etc. These things only temporarily fix your acne up for the first week or two then it all backfires even worse and the acne becomes even harder to get rid of (trust me I know) I had awful red skin that was consistently itching/ burning and just about every day my skin was popping out 5 new pimples, it was dreadful. The second thing you shouldn’t do is never try out that awful drug accutane, I never took this drug myself because many others told me what the side effect are, don’t believe me? Google it up and you will find all the results you will need about the side effects of that awful drug (some countries have already banned that drug because of that). Next piece of advice, exercise! Trust me exercising is really good, if you keep sweating yourself out by doing things such as going to the gym, running, cycling etc, and you sweat yourself out then wash yourself immediately when you’ve finished, you will start seeing results (not just for your skin but your fitness too). Next advice, diet! Avoid eating things that have sugar, anything related to diary (chocolates, milk, cheese, yogurt, cream etc), things that are too salty, if something has more then 10 ingredients in it that are hard to pronounce try not to eat it, alcohol, caffeine (like coffee or energy drinks). I know it may be hard to avoid all of that, at least try to avoid most of it, for me I was really dedicated to getting rid of my acne so I followed that diet 99% of the time (very rarely I would have any of that). Food and vitamins you should have, the best vitamins you can have is vitamin A, C and zinc , for vitamin A apples is really good for that (make sure you eat the skin on the apple too), Lemons/lime and oranges are really good for vitamin C, as for zinc try have some meat (but not too much of it though) or you can have zinc tablets (I take 1 of those tablets a day myself). Next advice, drink plenty of water! Drinking plenty of water does help guys & girls try to have an average of 8 glasses a day. Next advice, Sleep at least eight hours a day! Your body needs to rest to heal itself up! Next advice, alkaline your body, most people these days have acidic bodies which bacteria and other diseases can thrive in those environments, if you alkaline your body up to a good PH level it can skin big time (I’ve been taking that alkaline stuff by buying it from health food places) and mixing it in a glass of water once a day and it has helped my skin even more! Just be careful you don’t overdo the alkaline because having too much in your body is bad too. Last but no least, Patience! If you follow most of what I’ve said, expect to see results in 3 – 6 months or maybe even a year (depending how bad your acne is) trust me everyone, I don’t believe in a magical overnight cure as those things are just scams to me, if you want to clear up your skin follow my advice before you go spending thousands of dollars on things that may not work. I hope this post helps anyone who has had my problem, you might want copy and paste my post if you have to read over it again to remember. Also remember this “no pain, there’s no gain” doing all of this stuff I said may be really hard at first but in the end it is worth it and you will feel much more happier about yourself, in fact you will start begin enjoying doing all these healthy options once you get used to it. Good Luck!
Thank you Patrick for your precious advices! Very helpful. Thank you all for posting, I’ll try all the tips! I’ve heard about the milk and dairy, but did not believe. Now I have to try everything that could help! I’m 31 and suffering from severe cystic acne, its very painful, as you all know. It’s also very painful to look at the mirror… I want to share what has helped me also, its a gel that contains 4% nicotinamide, have you ever tried it? I have very sensitive skin, so can not use anything harsh. This works really well to slowly make the bumps come to head, to reduce inflamation, and to prevent new cysts to form. I’ve been using it for 4 weeks now, and it’s improving well. I also am taking 50mg cyproterone, and taking Dianette. Nicotinamide works as a natural antibacterial, without the side effects.
Thanks so much for your comment! I needed that encouragement. I went off benzoyl products about 3 months ago, and have no desire to go back to those nasty chemicals despite all the pressure I get from helpful people. My acne is the worst it’s ever been right now, but I tell people that I felt hard lumps underneath my skin when I was on the benzoyl cream, and I think that stuff is just coming out now. (Hopefully!) I visited a natueropath a week ago, and the only things I’d add to all the good things you said (for the sake of others still suffering) is: #1 Eat garlic- it’s a natural antibiotic, and you need it to help your skin fight the staph infection. I’m taking a whole freshly chopped clove mixed with honey 4 times a day. (Yes, that means 4 cloves per day- LOTS of garlic! And be glad when you start to smell like garlic- it’s getting into your pores to help fight that bacteria!) #2 Vitamin A in pill form- it helps reduce sebum production. (Someone with cystic acne should consult a health professional before doing this, as vitamin A in high quantities is bad for your liver. I have to take a blood test every 3 weeks to make sure I don’t damage mine.) #3 Vitamin E to protect your liver #4 Wash your face before bed with clay (I’m using calcium bentonite “Miracle Clay” mixed with water to form a gel) and then moisturize your face with almond, jojoba, or Vitamin E oil. (It’s really hard for me to wash just once a day, -I’ve always washed at least twice a day- but my face doesn’t feel as dirty as I thought it would, and you get used to the new habit after awhile). #5 Get a fresh pillowcase every night #6 Consider taking a hormone test- a high level of certain hormones can trigger your pores to produce more sebum or oil (I can’t remember exactly what it was!) and that makes acne worse.
As I said, I just started doing this a week ago- so I’m not seeing much happening yet, but your comment gave me hope and I’ll post back in a few months if this works for me. I’m still mad at myself for all those years of putting chemicals on my face- what was I thinking?!?! After seeing how they bleached all the towels/sheets/pillowcases my face came in contact with?!?! That can’t possibly be good for your skin. And then it makes everything so much worse when you go off of them. I’m living proof of that! :-/
And last but not least, don’t forget that you are SPECIAL and PRECIOUS because you are a person, made in God’s image and highly valued by Him! If you don’t know Him already, I have to inform you that you are really missing out on something. I would be SO depressed if I didn’t experience His love in so many big and little ways every day! And your looks don’t affect His love for you, and He isn’t horrified at the way you look! He’s awesome. I wouldn’t want to live without Him.
I have my first cystic pimple and it hurts to high heavens. I couldn’t figure out what is was after realizing the pimple didn’t “come to head”. After much googling I found your post….three days later. This morning I woke up w/ one on my temple. So, now I have one on my left cheek (and my daughter thinks someone hit me in the face) and on my temple. As I type this, I’m icing my face and shaking my head at all the products I’ve used over the past few days. I’ll be popping a pill or two very soon as these cysts are PAINFUL! Thanks for the information.
These are som of the best posts I’ve come accross on this topic and it’d be great if GPs offered this advice to patients – especially the health tips, ice, OTC pain killers and anti-inflametories etc – that can be done alongside any medical treatment.
My main tip is not to be ashamed or embarassed or attempt to deal with these things yourself. Generally the EARLIER you see a medical professional the better as they can often help prescribe antibiotics to kill infections in cysts and reduce the inflamation that causes the discomfort and pain. Often cysts need to be removed surgically to get rid of them prevent them re-emerging. NEVER try to do a DIY job as it nearly always makes it worse and causes scarring – I’ve learned this to my cost. Cysts can only be removed surgically when they’re not really swollen and inflamed so try to get a referal to have them removed before they become really nasty. Get a good relationship with a doctor you trust and know how the system works so you can get things moving as soon as you notice a cyst emerging.
So in summary, try all the more natural long-term suggestions mentioned above, but when you feel a bad cyst comming, get straight to a doctor to get it assessed and to put a plan in place to treat and potentially remove it. If it’s a bad one this will likely be the only thing that works so don’t wait to try everything before you seek professional help.
I get one of these cysts every month on my chin the week before my period. Years ago I went on the pill and they disappeared. In April of this year I had to stop taking the pill because it was causing my hair to thin. Last month I got my first one again, and have one now. I have tried many things as well. Ice really does work for the inflammation. Also, the skin on the inside of an egg shell will help draw the toxins out. I tried this the last time I had one. Put a piece on the cyst, leave it there for 15 minutes, and take it off. After the 3rd time it began to bring the cyst to head. Since it works like a dermabrasion it will be red for a little bit after your remove the skin. Visine that takes redness out of your eyes will take redness out of the cyst. That really does work! I did the egg shell skin this morning then put visine on. It’s 1:00 PM and can feel it but cannot see it. I also do the ice in AM and PM. These 3 things have made a huge difference. I also just read this morning from a dr to put hydrocortizone on it an night and cover with a waterproof bandaid and it will be reduced in size and redness by morning. This dr claims it works as good if not better than the steriod injections. I will try that tonight!
Cystic acne is very difficult to deal with, isn’t it?! I started getting those huge, painful breakouts during my early 20′s. They usually showed up on my chin. My college professor once asked me in front of my entire art class, “What happened to your chin?” He was standing a good 15 feet from me, which tells you how obvious my breakout was, despite me trying everything I could do cover it up with makeup. It was humiliating!
After I graduated and got married, my cystic acne continued, despite many topical treatments I tried. Cystic acne is so severe and deep, that topical treatments don’t even touch them (at least that was my experience). You have to fight it from the inside out. After much thought and prayer with my husband, we decided that going on Accutane was the next step. I know it’s a powerful drug with some scary side effects, but I was at the end of my rope and was willing to try anything. We felt like it would be a good option for me, as I don’t have any history of depression (one of the possible side effects). I was on Accutane for 6 months, and I cannot tell you how GLAD I am that I did it. It cured me of cystic acne. Seriously life-changing! I became happy again, and didn’t have to deal with the pain and humiliation of having these ugly sores on my face. The *only* side effect I experienced with Accutane is dry skin. The other more serious side effects are not very common, so talk with your Dr. about it. Don’t completely rule it out–I don’t know what I would have done without Accutane and am SO thankful I did it.
Well, 7 years and 1 child later, I am starting to get a few cystic breakouts again. But, the good thing is that since I’ve been treated with Accutane, my breakouts respond more easily to topical treatments now, whereas before, topicals did nothing. It’s becoming a bit of a struggle again, and since I am still breastfeeding my child, I cannot take anything drug-related yet. So, I’m doing what I can to keep my face clean. One tip I have: When you feel that slight “ping” of pain way down deep in your skin, and you know another one is going to be popping up, strictly do these things:
- Wash that area with a good cleanser every couple of hours, for several days
- Wipe the area with one of those pore cleansing pads (Clearasil makes them) every couple of hours as well, for several days
-Don’t touch or press on the area AT ALL (except when cleansing it)
I have successfully fought one or two away completely by doing the above. As in, the breakout never fully came. But you have to catch it in time and start this routine AS SOON as you feel that little pain coming on.
Hope this helps. Thanks for all your comments. I learned some new things as well.
I don’t know if this is true for everyone with cystic acne, but for me, it’s all hormonal. This makes it difficult to treat. I wish I had taken Accutane long ago, but I didn’t. The only thing that has worked for me is spironolactone, an androgen blocker. My skin was gorgeous and completely cyst free for years while taking this. Now that I’m trying to get pregnant, I can’t take it, so for the last 2 years, I’m back to suffering from large, painful cysts. Ice helps, as does Advil.
I forgot to mention that Amlactin, a lotion with lactic acid in it, helps, too. A dermatologist once recommended it for the breakouts I sometimes get on my–ahem–bottom. It works so well for that, I decided to try it on my jaw line. It doesn’t keep them from forming, but it does seem to lessen their ferocity and longevity.
YES! I am convinced cystic acne is hormone related. On an encouraging note for you, my sister’s acne cleared up 100% when she started nursing- and she wasn’t taking any drugs and only used a generic face wash (Equate, I think). Have you considered talking to a natueropath about your acne? I did, and it was really encouraging for me- and I think you could probably do a lot of those things even if you’re pregnant. (You can see my comment above, in reply to Patrick Horvath’s on June 16, 2012). Also, if you could take a hormone test, you may find that your hormones are “out of wack” and a natueropath may be able to help you get them straightened out. (From what you said, I got the impression that you may be having difficulty conceiving- which would also be hormone related.) I really, really hope you can find something that can really get to the bottom of the issue and help you! In the meantime, I guess we’re in this together! ;)
A dab of lemon juice or tea tree oil will help too. Thanks for the tips too. Really helpful.
What has worked for me is this:
as soon as I feel that painful cystic acne starting to form, I wash my face with regular antibacterial hand soap and I concentrate on the newly forming cyst for 3-5 minutes. When done I dry my face completely then I put a dab of tea tree oil on the cyst with a q-tip. I use the tea tree oil straight from the bottle. I developed a resistance to the burning sensation. For some this may be a little harsh and I have read about people diluting the tea tree oil with another oil like olive oil and I’ve read about people diluting with water. But this has to be put on when the cyst is starting to form. Once it becomes a full blown cyst I find that this method doesn’t work. Depending when you use the tea tree oil (in the AM for example) by bedtime you’ll notice you don’t feel the cyst anymore.
I hope I helped. I’m 33 and I’ve been suffering from this debilitating acne since I was 24. It’s really scary to know that I could probably never get rid of it but I am happy that I can lesson the lifespan by taking care of it right away. I’ve also learned something from another post where they say to use warm compress to bring it to a head. I will try that if I don’t get to it with tea tree oil on time.
Thanks everyone.
I was prescribed cephalexin for my cystic acne. I suffered for two painful weeks and this antibiotic made it burst within 2 days. Every day I was able to drain some gunk out. I had a tiny bump left under the skin but this med was a life saver for me!!!
Great supportive conversation and advice. It’s always nice to know we are not alone in this battle. I too, suffer from these little beasts.
I have found that the only thing that works for me is a strict diet, exercise and a good sleeping routine. If I eat dairy, sugar, processed food or anything that shouldn’t be eaten by a rabbit I break out for days. It has always been a constant battle. Also if I don’t get enough sleep or have a night that involves alcohol, game over. My necks is in pain with them. Now I know what the root cause is so I guess you can say it’s in my control to handle it much like any dieter would. I’m human, not always easy to stay on the strictest of diets but I try to tell myself it makes me healthy and it does clear me up.
I recently read the Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder and her diet / order of eating food has worked wonders on my skin. Green smoothies packed with blood cleaners, antioxidants and ensuring that you don’t block your digestive paths so food doesn’t start to produce nasty cyst causing chemicals in our bodies are just a tid-bit of what I learned. It’s a lifestyle change so takes a bit of getting used to but it works for me so I wanted to share. :)
I finally found the cure, and it’s so easy. I suffered for years. Every over the counter, prescription, steroid, hormonal, and antibiotic product known to man was tested on me and nothing worked. I had 6-8 big cystic acne nodules on the front of my neck all the time for probably 6 years. FINALLY a doctor told me to go to a seed and feed store and buy some NuStock. It’s for cattle, but perfectly safe for humans. It’s 70% sulfur and 30% pine oil, around $15 for a lifetime supply. Within a few days of applying it at night (and smelling like Pine Sol) I was cured. I’ve had only one eruption in the past year and that was after I stopped using it for 3 months. The doctor that recommended it said all those expensive acne products give you around 3% sulfur when you really need straight sulfur. Made sense, tried it, changed my life. For $15. Sulfur kills bacteria, fungus, yeast, virus, whatever the cause. It’s too good to be true, but it is. I hope this helps someone else.
I know this is an old post, but hopefully my experience can help others. I’m in my 30′s and still have ance problems. About 5 years ago I realized that high fructose corn syrup was causing my cystic acne. Anytime I ate something with high fructose corn syrup I would develop a cyst usually within an hour or two. I completely cut all products with high fructose corn syrup and my cystic acne cleared, but my acne in general did not. It wasn’t until about a year later that I realized it wasn’t just high fructose corn syrup that was causing my acne, it was any processed corn products (corn starch, modifed food starch, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, glucose syrup-which is really just corn syrup by another name, and maltadextrin). Now the only ance, cystic or otherwise, that I get is a direct result of ingesting one of the aforementioned corn products. I can usually tell which one I’ve ingested by the type of acne I get. I must be honest, it is very hard to avoid foods that contain corn products of some sort, hence I still have occasional break outs. Practically every premade store bought item has it. Many restaurants use corn starch to thicken sauces and breading. 90% of fast food restaurants use flavored corn syrup for their sauces, kethcups, and flavored mayos. The positive side to not being able to eat corn products, is it forces me to eat healthier. I’m also able to avoid a significant amout of trans fat too simply by avoiding products that contain corn. Having to read the label of every product you put into the shopping cart opens your eyes to what we put into our bodies on a daily basis. Its really kinda scary. Try it for a month and see if you notice any improvements.
I have suffered from cystic acne for almost 10 years. I am 35 years old. I develop hard, painful, red cysts on my chin. I understand everyone’s pain. I can always tell when one is coming. It starts with a slight soreness below the surface. It begins to get bigger and bigger with each passing day. I have had a disfigured chin and it is embarrassing. I have stayed home from events. I have hidden in my bedroom with the lights off. I am married and this has effected my relationship with my husband. He understands and thinks I am beautiful regardless, but inside I just feel ugly and horrible. I have tried every topical product, over the counter and prescription. I have tried antibiotics, which destroyed the good bacteria in my gut, and led to a candida infection which made my acne worse. I have made diet changes, vitamins, supplements, you name it. One thing that has helped if I stick with it, is cutting out all sugar and processed foods in my diet. When I developed the candida infection, I had to cut out all sugar and gluten, anything with yeast. I had to do it. I was extremely sick. I found that even though I was going through this sickness, my skin looked fabulous for the first time. It was as clear as a bell! That lasted for 4 months. Slowly, I started eating all the bad things that I had stayed away from . My acne came back. I am trying to watch my diet, but it is so hard, as I am addicted to sugar. Struggling with acne is very difficult. At time, you feel like you are the only one. I know when I went out, I would always look at people’s skin and think they have clear skin, why can’t I? It was very depressing. Especially when I knew how much I had spent on treatments and products. I am going to try the diet again. If you suffer like I do from these painful bumps, try the candida diet. You can google it. It really does help when you stick with it.
I was told there’s nothing I can’t do about my cystic acne. Then after a week of pain and embarrassment, I went to a walk in dr who gave me Cephalexin. Reduced the cyst within 2 days!
There was still a large bump left on my face. I started using the blue herbal line by kiehls and the bump has reduced 90%
Since my last post on here, I have tried something new and wanted to share it because it has really helped me. TURMERIC! As in, the spice you cook with. I was doing some research online about natural remedies for cystic acne (I’m pregnant and can’t do anything drug-related, plus I am moving away from that world anyhow). I found a forum where people were talking about using tumeric on their breakouts, so I decided to try it. It has helped more than ANYTHING else I have ever tried topically, and I am excited about the results. It’s worth a try for yourself!
Here’s what I do:
1. Melt a very small amount of coconut oil in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
2. Shake enough tumeric in the coconut oil to make a paste.
3. Put a blob of it directly on the sore spot where you feel a breakout coming on. It is KEY to do this right away when you first feel that little tinge of pain deep under your skin.
4. Put a bandaid over it and leave it there for an hour or so. Do this several times over the course of a couple of days.
I have done this with several breakouts now, and have found that each time, the tumeric (which is anti-inflamatory) reduces the pain, swelling, and redness of the breakout pretty dramatically. You may still have a partial bump that comes up, but the tumeric greatly decreases the severity of the breakouts. Almost like it makes them take 5 steps backward. It really has been amazing.
The only thing to be warned about is, the tumeric will STAIN anything it touches, including your skin. So be careful not to let it touch countertops, clothes, etc. Your skin will turn yellow for awhile, but wiping with apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball helps, as well as washing with soap and water. Because of the skin staining, it’s best to do this when you know you’ll be home for the rest of the day or night. But it is WORTH IT! I also have been using apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball on my face daily, which also seems to be helping quite a bit. It’s like a natural astringent.
Hope this is helpful to someone!
I was suffering with cystic acne horribly for the past five years. Last year I went to a naturalpathic doctor and had my blood tested for food intolerances. These are not the same as an type 1 allergy. Do some research. The test was $300. Turns out my body has an intolerance to eggs and whey. I cut those out of my diet and my skin is 100 percent perfect now. I do get a pimple once every two months if I mess up and eat a slice of cake or something. But no where near as bad as what I was dealing with before. See cystic acne is telling you that your body is having an allergic reaction to something. This is it’s way of coming out. You can eat soemthing you have an intolerance too such as eggs for me and break out 1 to 5 days later. Do research and see if it’s for you. The test is worth it and it could help you out like it did for me. I see you are willing to pay 80 bucks a shot so I am sure you would be up for taking the igl food intolerance test. Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I will be mentioning this to my doctor! :)
I have always battled acne as a teen. However, now in my *very late* 20′s, my face only seems to be getting worse…especially after I had my son- almost 4 years ago… bigger, more painful.. and I’m scared. I had a family doctor (since I was born) trying to help me battle my acne troubles since I was 13… the last idea he had was accutane… sure! I was willing, but without insurance this ‘miracle pill’ will cost me $900/ month. The closest dermatologist is 100 miles… and again, I do not have insurance.
It’s ruining my life… I have no confidence. I recently graduated with a BS in health administration, but I’m afraid I will never find a job because nobody will hire anybody with a face like mine… and anybody that wears this much makeup is unprofessional. Even my (almost 4 year old) son points out my “Boo-boos”. I often joke with my husband and tell him that God has given me an ugly face because if I did not suffer from these cysts, I would be *too* pretty.. and the world couldn’t handle it. hehehe … just joking, of coarse.
anyways. I tried all the antibiotics, creams, over the counter, prescription medication money can buy. I’ve come to the conclusion that my cysts are caused by hormonal changes… so I tried birth control, but that only made it worse. Frustrated, desperate, depressed, hopeless.