Causes and Treatment For Cystic Acne
Treatment For Cystic Acne, The Worst Form Of Acne To Have
Cystic acne: This is a type of localized infection (abscess) formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Cystic acne is most common in the teenage years.
Treatment includes avoiding irritants on the face, including many cleansers and makeups; and in some severe cases steroid, antibiotic or other medications. Cystic acne can cause permanent scarring in severe cases and in those who are prone to forming keloids.
Causes of Cystic Acne
* The true cause of cystic acne is often unknown. Androgens (hormones) tend to trigger in those predisposed.
* Plugging of hair follicles by a protein known as keratin causes the formation of so-called whiteheads and blackheads, which form when the plugged sebaceous glands within the hair follicles continue to secret sebum (an oily secretion). Sebum and skin cells cannot exit, thus accumulating in mass, causing the follicle to swell. If the swelling continues, it may rupture, allowing the surface bacteria (normally found on the skin) to enter and cause local infections (e.g., zits or Pimples). The zits may then enlarge and form cysts.
Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne
People with nodules or cysts should be treated by a dermatologist. For patients with severe inflammatory acne that does not improve with medicines such as those described above, a doctor may prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane*), a retinoid. Isotretinoin is an oral drug that is usually taken once or twice a day with food for 15 to 20 weeks. It markedly reduces the size of the oil glands so that much less oil is produced. As a result, the growth of bacteria is decreased.
