Adult cystic acne is generally formed in sweat ducts. Whereas, other forms of acne are primarily found in hair follicles. The result is that cystic acne in adults is a particularly deep and difficult form of acne to deal with. Finding the right treatment options can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re dealing with.

Here’s the deal, it’s not even the fact that the acne is so deep rooted that is the major issue. The biggest issue is that acne is usually considered to be a problem for teenagers. So, having acne vulgaris (adult cystic acne) is extremely embarrassing, which is why it’s important to find a good and fast treatment for it.

Don’t Pop Pimples… Ever! (especially this type)

One very important thing to know about cystic acne is that you can’t pop it. It is too far beneath the surface of your skin. In fact, if you do try popping it then you could actually just irritate it more and push it deeper, creating a bigger problem.

Although cystic acne scars can be quite large and even disfiguring, they are also treatable. In fact, if you only have moderate cystic acne you can treat it fairly well on your own. All it takes is some benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide can be obtained from any drugstore in a cream form. However, your doctor can also prescribe an extra-strength benzoyl peroxide cream, if need be. Just be careful because using it will make you more likely to get sunburns and dry skin. Sunscreen and a good moisturizer will be important additions to your skin care program if they’re not already a part of it.

Tougher Zits Require Tougher Treatment

Of course, some cases of cystic acne do require tougher treatment. One of the best acne treatments used to be antibiotics. However, the unfortunate fact is that bacteria responsible for the problem have become immune to most antibiotics which in turn makes these types of treatments useless.

The best alternative that comes in a cream or gel form is vitamin A-based retinoid cream. Retinoids help to prevent blockages in hair follicles, which can sometimes cause cystic adult acne. They can also fortify your skin in general. However, retinoid creams and gels can sometimes make your skin redder for a while before they actually make the redness go away. So, be sure to stick with them for a while, if you try them at all.

The Last Resort

If your cystic acne is particularly bad, you may need to take oral isotretinoin as a last resort. It is sometimes known as Accutane. However, the medication can cause nose bleeds, birth defects, liver damage, dry skin or other potential side effects. You need to weigh all of your options carefully with your doctor or dermatologist before you choose to try it and most people will want to try everything else first as opposed to adding a prescription drug to their treatment plan. Sometimes you need it, but it’s great when you can avoid it.

As you can see, adult cystic acne is no fun, but it is treatable. You just need to take the proper steps based on the severity of your outbreak. It’s also worth noting that it is an embarrassing condition, but it isn’t life threatening. Just take it one day at a time and you’ll soon have it under control.