Does anyone know anything for Cystic Acne by any chance? like a treatment or regimen?

[FLUFFY25]

 I HAVE SEVERE CYSTIC ACNE AND IT HURTS I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. DOES ANYONE LIKE ME HAVE ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD HELP OUT ON SOME TIPS OR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO CONTROL THE ISSUE....PLEASE AND THANK YOU EVERYONE 

[beautyaddict989]

Going on the pill was super helpful for my cystic acne. Also, not eating gluten helped clear my skin up. I would try seeing an esthetician before a dermatologist. I struggled with acne most of my life and had very little luck with dermatologists even though I tried a lot of different ones. I'll list below the routine I swear by. I discovered it by reading online about Shani Darden, a celebrity esthetician. She has a lot of super famous clients (Jessica Alba, Chrissy Tiegen, Lea Michelle, Shay Mitchell, etc.) on a routine similar to mine. It is very expensive, but its the only thing that truly works for me and I've tried everything including prescriptions so it ultimately saves me money since I don't have to go to a dermatologist.

Morning:

- iS Clinical Cleansing Complex $40

- iS Clinical Active Serum $130

- Control Corrective Matte Day Cream SPF 30 $32

Evening:

- iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

- Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel pads extra strength $88

- iS Clinical Active Serum (this stuff is AMAZING)

- Resurface by Shani Darden Retinol Reform $95

- Control Corrective Oil Free Healing Lotion $29

Unfortunately, everyone is different but this combo seems to work well for a lot of people. Just take it slow and introduce one new product at a time to let your skin adjust. Good luck!

[humblebee]

I don't get regular cystic acne, but have had a couple of cystic pimples pop up before. The latest one was pretty angry, and I actually mixed 1 drop lavender essential oil and 1 drop tea tree essential oil in a small amount of jojoba base oil and applied that as a spot treatment. I didn't think it would do anything but I was desperate. Low and behold the cystic pimple shrunk!

My skin type is quite dry with the t-zone being prone to acne. 

Something to note: I know that essential oils can be a bit much for some peoples skin. So just be aware if there are any negative effects and if there are then maybe don't continue with it. 

[pixiedust2]

@FLUFFY25 Oh I feel your pain. You already got some great advice, but I'll add a couple thoughts. 

When I switched to an oil Cleanser (Josie Maran) and started using oils on my face, my cystic acne decreased in a huge way. Now everyone is different and I can't guarantee it will work for you, but it's worth a shot. My skin was so dehydrated from the stripping cleansers I was using, plus all the acne products. I bought the mini kit with the Cleanser and the oil and I noticed a difference within 10 days. I always thought oil was the enemy, and I wish I'd realized sooner how much my skin likes it. 

Also, I swear by La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. I was ready to start acutane when I read about it. It was brand new to market and since I'd tried everything else under the sun, I gave it a try. It is like a miracle for me. I still get cystic acne BUT it's much, much smaller, less red and doesn't hurt. And I only get a couple a month instead of daily outbreaks. I use it every other night because I switch off with a retinol product. It's the only Benzoyl Peroxide product that's ever worked for me without drying out my skin. They found a way to penetrate the BP deeper into the skin instead of just sitting on top. Something technical I can't remember right now. I had some minor dryness the first week but I stuck with it, kept using Argan oil as a moisturizer and I had pretty incredible results within three weeks. 

I would definitely see a dermatoligist if you if you haven't already and go by their recommendation, but these two things might help you. I understand what a nightmare cystic acne can be. It runs in my family, all the women on my mom's side suffer with it. And different things have worked for all of us, so it's hard to find the magic bullet. I hope you find something that works for you soon! Hang in there!

[Mkg823]

If you have recurring cystic acne, you really should see a dermatologist. Cystic acne is often caused by hormones, and they can prescribe you treatment that will help. Skincare products sold by Sephora (and other stores) are for treating general acne. 

I'm 25, and suffered severe break outs and cystic acne throughout my teenage years. When I was about 18, I was diagnosed with an endocrine disorder called Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Severe breakouts and cystic acne are not the  only symptoms of the condition, but my endocrinologist determined it to be one of my symptoms. Thanks to the diagnosis, i finally received treatment - a prescription for a med called spironolactone, but also known as aldactone. it has worked wonders on my skin. 

[FLUFFY25]

Thank you both for your reply's i do have my plastic surgeon that gives me a Vi-Peel every month to treat and control it. But i will take also into consideration all the information both of you lovely ladies have provided me. Thank you again @Titian06 @lylysa

[lylysa]

P.S. I forgot to add to my below post regarding changing out sheets/pillowcases below to help cut down oil and bacteria transfer. Try to look into anti-microbial pillowcases! While this won't be the cure-all to the cystic acne, it certainly helps to have any outside elements work toward supporting healing and repairing skin. Skin Laundry's Sleepcycle Pillowcase has silver ion technology that combats bacteria on skin's surface so you're at least getting an element of cleanliness as you sleep, this is especially good if you sleep on your side as your face comes in contact with your pillow directly.

While I do not suffer from cystic acne, I did receive the pillowcase from Sephora as gratis (thank you so much again, Sephora!) and at the time I just so happened to be tackling a cluster of 5-6 stubborn blemishes that would keep re-appearing just when I thought they were done for. In addition to the pillow case I used spot treatments and was diligent with cleansing and care for my skin, so again, the pillowcase itself wasn't the miracle product, but I did notice that in the mornings when I woke after using it, the blemishes seemed less red/inflammed and their life cycle was shortened and they're just about all gone without rearing their ugly heads again!

[Titian06]

@FLUFFY25 - @lylysa is correct.  I had cystic acne from age 10 to about 35 (I'm 52).  See a dermatologist or other skin care professional.  I cannot stress this enough.  There are no over-the-counter remedies for cystic acne.  The tips lylysa gives in the last paragraph are great.  Finally, don't give up!  It took years before finding something a medication that worked for me.  Hopefully it won't take that long for you, but don't give up; keep pursuing every option available--it's out there!

[lylysa]

Hi, FLUFFY25!

Cystic acne can be quite difficult to tackle via over the counter products and treatments alone as its tie-in with internal causes and means will only allow so much to be done externally. 

I would recommend seeking a consultation with a skin care specialist or dermatologist first. They will be able to provide guidance on how to proceed and from there you can also inquire about what over the counter measures can further assist based upon their insight.

Some basics to follow would be to opt for sulfate-free cleansers to avoid being harsh or stripping to skin as it's already quite sensitized with the acne and to always moisturize (utilizing SPF in the day time is especially important to protect and shield skin from further damage from UV rays and environmental aggressors). Be sure you're also washing your pillow cases regularly to avoid constant oil/bacteria transfer, wipe down your cell phone with an anti-bacterial wipe or even a bit of rubbing alcohol to tackle germ transfer onto skin, avoid touching or picking at your face/skin (especially if your hands aren't washed), and be sure you drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet so your body is able to process better foods to sustain your health.