Cystic acne: the name alone might make you cringe with pain and discomfort.
And rightfully so!

What is Cystic Acne?

Cystic acne is widely regarded as the most serious type of acne and develops when cysts form deep beneath the skin.¹ Unlike standard acne, which can be embarrassing but often isn't painful, cystic acne is deep and stubborn.Cystic acne is common in teens, women, and adults with hormonal imbalance from trapped bacteria, oil and dry skin cells.

To make matters worse, it doesn't generally go away on its own and medication is often required to clear the situation up. What happens, though, if you don't want to take medication to clear up your skin? Do you have any other options?

Luckily, the answer is yes! Here's what you need to know about how to get rid of cystic acne with home remedies.

 

If you've ever suffered from cystic acne, chances are good you've tried everything: over-the-counter treatments, prescription medications, oils, supplements, and more.

If you're like most people, though, nothing has worked. Fortunately, there's another option: at-home treatments. Here are a few things that can help cystic acne clear up, and most of them are right in your own pantry:

 

8 Home Remedies for Cystic Acne

1. Wash face with a gentle cleanser twice a day and after sweating.

Sweating, especially while wearing a hat can make acne worse, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating. Not washing your face and leaving buildup of oil and dirt will cause new acne and exasperate current ones. 

Use gentle face washes that are alcohol free containing active ingredients like salicylic acid. Avoid cleansers with harsh ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate. Products with harsh chemicals will further irritate your skin.

2. Thoroughly clean your face after using makeup. Wash your face twice if necessary.

Remember like dissolves like so oil based cleansers will be better at removing heavy makeup while a regular cleanser will remove lighter makeup. After using an oil based cleanser, it is a good idea to wash your face a second time with a gentle cleanser and then an alcohol-free toner or micellar water.

3. Use a Topical Acne Treatment

Retinoids are a hard-hitting tool that's helpful to have in your kit. Ideal for exfoliating and removing dead surface cells, these topical treatments are great for at-home acne remedies. For best results, use a retinoid at night  and then a benzoyl peroxide topical in the morning. Studies have shown that this combination is actually more effective than antibiotics for inflammatory acne.³

4. Use a Noncomedogenic Moisturizer

A common mistake that people with acne prone skin tend to make is avoiding oiliness at all cost, including moisturizers. However, moisturizing is an essential step in every skin care regimen. Contrary to some's belief, oily skin benefit from a moisturizer because it keeps their skin oil balanced. Stripping your skin of oil will encourage your oil glands to produce excess oil to overcompensate for the dry and this may lead to breakouts.

Look for a non-comedogenic moisturizer for acne.

5. Use DrFormulas Clear Skin Support

In recent years, scientists have been exploring the connection between gut health and skin tone and texture.⁴

While additional research is needed, most care professionals believe that promoting healthy gut bacteria through the consumption of natural and supplemental probiotics can help decrease skin inflammation and reduce breakouts.
With this in mind, add probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir into your diet.⁵ Some strains, such as Saccharomyces, can have clearing effects on skin, and should be sought out expressly.⁶

Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial foods like turmeric, fish oil, zinc, and probiotics can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, including on the skin.

6. Don't Pop Pimples and Use Hydrocolloid Dressings if Needed.

Popping pimples damages the skin; force applied on the pimple pushes debris deeper into follicles. Consequently, this can cause the skin wall to rupture and spill bacteria into the deeper layer of the skin.

In addition, popping or picking at a pimple can increase your chances of developing scars. After a pimple is popped, inflammation follows and this will lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which further darkens the scars. Worst yet, repetitive popping increases the chances of getting indented acne scars, which can only be improved with fillers, chemical peels and surgical procedures.

Instead of popping pimples, try using topical treatments and hydrocolloid dressings to help your pimples heal and recover faster.

7. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Diet is important to keep your skin clear. Avoid these foods:

• Refined or processed carbohydrates such as white bread, cake, white rice, and refined grains, all of which cause insulin levels to spike.
• Sugar. Anything with high sugar content such as orange juice and sodas will spike your insulin levels leading to a surge of inflammation throughout the body. This will in turn lead to breakouts.
• Fried and greasy foods such as potato chips & fries are also terrible for your skin as they contain pro-inflammatory omega-6 oils.
• Dairy foods (milk, yogurt, whey protein shakes, etc.) contain simple sugars that cause a spike in blood sugar. Dairy also contains IGF-1 that can be absorbed by your body.
• Alcohol is loaded with carbohydrates and alcohol itself is pro-inflammatory.
• Chocolate contains both dairy as well as saturated fats that are pro-inflammatory.

 

8. Protect Your Skin from the Sun

When your skin is exposed to the heat from the sun, acne tends to flare up. The heat while damaging your skin also irritates your acne. Another thing to keep in mind is that the sun darkens your acne scars and can make them worse.

Therefore, finding an appropriate sunscreen for acne prone skin is essential. In general look for a sunscreen that is noncomedogenic, has broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays, and has a SPF of 30+. Note that physical sunscreens with ingredients like zinc oxide tend be less irritating and a better fit for sensitive skin.

Healthier Skin Starts Here

While battling cystic acne can feel like an uphill fight, these simple tips will allow you to make a difference in your skin, right from the comfort of your own home.

Sources

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/cystic-acne
2. https://www.sanovadermatology.com/skin-care/the-pros-and-cons-of-triclosan-containing-skin-care-products/
3.https://www.mdedge.com/edermatologynews/article/156528/dermatology/topical-retinoid-plus-benzoyl-peroxide-beats-antibiotics
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352647515000155
5. https://drformulas.com/blogs/news/digestive-enzymes-vs-probiotics-what-s-the-difference
6. https://www.livescience.com/46502-probiotics-hold-promise-skin-conditions.html