Treatment For Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne in which the acne develops into small cysts. It is also known as nodulocystic acne. This is caused by excess build up of sebum in the pores of the skin. This leads to inflammation of the skin which causes bumps or cysts on the face. These cysts can burst open and the surrounding tissues may become infected. The cysts are generally filled with pus. The occurrence of cystic acne is not only limited to the face. It also occurs on the back and the chest, arms, legs and even buttocks. Women may experience such problems during menstruation and pregnancy. Other factors like stress, diet, lifestyle etc. may also lead to the problem.

Apart from pain, another major problem caused by cystic acne is that it may cause long term scars on the face. As cystic acne is a deep rooted infection, it takes a long time to heal. This may cause scars. So to avoid scars you must be extra careful with cystic acne. For the proper treatment of cystic acne, you should consult a dermatologist and never go for self medication.

The most important drug that is prescribed for the treatment of cystic acne is isotretinoin (Accutane). It is an oral drug and is taken once or twice a day for about four to five months. It works on the oil glands so that their sizes are reduced. As a result, less oil is produced which ultimately reduces the cysts. It also reduces cell shedding. It is a very effective medicine for the treatment of cystic acne and after treatment for three to four months,the acne problem is cured in most of the cases. However,in some cases the acne may
come back after some days. In such cases additional doses of isotretinoin is required.

Treatment by Isotretinoin or Accutane has a number of disadvantages. Some of the serious side effects include an increase in blood cholesterol, lipid and tryglycerides. It may also lead to inflammation of the lip and the eye, dry mouth, itching and muscle aches. So this drug should be taken only under the supervision of a qualified dermatologist.

Posted in Acne Treatments