Acne comes in many forms. If you have experienced it, or presently struggle with an ongoing battle against it, you have probably experienced many varieties. Small whiteheads and blackheads to aesthetically distracting whiteheads are painful to look at, much less touch. While such acne can be chronic in nature and can range in severity from occasional inflammations to chronic and continuous breakouts, most of this acne is effectively treated with quality external acne care systems. When the onset of acne happens deeper in the skin, it becomes a severe problem, creating acne cysts, or a condition known as nodular or cystic acne.

What are Acne Cysts?

An acne cyst is formed in the same manner as other forms of acne, yet the difference occurs at the level of the acne infection. Most acne occurs within the outer layer of the skin, within the hair follicle, near the pore opening at the surface of the skin. Cystic acne or an acne cyst occurs much deeper, in the skin’s dermis, where the skin is separated from muscle, bone and internal organs by a subcutaneous layer of tissue. When an acne infection occurs here, having developed from dead skin cells, acne bacteria and sebum (skin oil), an acne cyst can develop. There are varying degrees of acne cysts, or cystic acne, and they should all be taken seriously.

Treating an Acne Cyst

One thing you must never do in attempting to treat an acne cyst, or any form of nodular/cystic acne, is squeeze, poke or pop. Such improper treatment methods will only serve to make the situation worse, as it can spread infection in the area, or cause an additional inflammation. These problems can eventually lead to severe, acne-related scarring.

To treat an acne cyst, it is highly recommended that you seek the counsel of a dermatologist to outline the best course of treatment. If acne cysts become chronic issues, many dermatologists will prescribe an oral medication to reduce the production of sebum, helping to fight against the onset of acne. Unlike acne that occurs on the surface of the skin, an acne cyst can’t be effectively treated with external creams and spot treatments.

One thing you can do to help combat acne before and after visiting a dermatologist is drink more water, and develop a gentle and effective daily skin care regimen to prevent inflammations. All acne forms in the same manner, therefore a quality acne prevention method will work to prevent whiteheads, blackheads and the dreaded acne cysts which can be painful and quite severe to the overall health of the skin.

A Quality Acne Prevention Regimen

Beginning an acne treatment regimen with a daily cleansing and exfoliation will help to rid the face of skin cells that are stubbornly clinging to the skin’s surface. This will help to prepare the skin for optimal growth and regeneration.

After this step, you can follow with a mild toner or astringent. These are designed to help constrict the pores, disallowing bacteria and dead skin cells from easily intruding into follicles. Completing a regimen with an application of an acne treatment product such as benzoyl peroxide will help to treat acne on the surface of the skin, while preventing additional acne from forming.