Home Remedies for Cystic Acne

Most commonly seen in teenage boys and young men, cystic acne is considered one of the worst breakouts to attack the skin. Perhaps you’ve inherited your less than smooth skin from the family tree or your teenage years aren’t treating you right, but cystic acne can strike anyone. Breakouts can cause damage and devastate healthy skin tissue, making home remedies for cystic acne a much-wanted solution for clear skin when over-the-counter or prescription medications prove too harsh.

home_remedies_cystic_acne

What is Cystic Acne?

Developing on the face and other regions of the body, cystic acne (or nodulocystic acne) is the most severe form of acne vulgaris [1]. Characterized by deep, inflamed breakouts, the blemishes that follow are often large and can measure up to a couple of centimeters. Cystic acne causes soft lumps (called cysts) to form under the surface of skin. Bringing about great pain, cysts are filled with fluid containing white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria [2].

Causes and Symptoms

There is no magic formula that creates cystic acne – the same factors that are at the root of other forms of acne are to blame: overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells in pores, and a high amount of acne-causing bacteria called Propionibacteria acnes. Ignore the myths that state eating candy and drinking soda has brought on your case of cystic acne. You’ve done nothing to cause your problematic skin. Cystic acne is usually an issue in patients who have parents that have battled the same condition, as hereditary plays an important role. Other factors associated with cystic acne include:

• Stress and hormonal changes – adolescence, menstruation, and pregnancy
• Excessive washing and scrubbing of the skin
• Squeezing and picking blemishes

Cystic Acne Home Remedies

From simple kitchen remedies to using fruit to rescue your skin, home remedies for cystic acne can help treat inflammation, soothe painful cysts, and prevent future breakouts. Below you will find a couple of suggestions for rebuilding healthy skin:

a) Baking Soda and Sea Salt:

Mix a small amount of baking soda with water and apply to affected areas no more than once or twice a week. Another remedy involving baking soda calls for the mixing of a small amount of baking soda and sea salt together with water to create a paste that treats inflamed cystic acne.

b) Apple Cider Vinegar:

Prevent future breakouts and stabilize the natural pH of your skin by applying apple cider vinegar as a toner.

c) Do Not Squeeze:

Resist the temptation to squeeze an acne cyst, as you will only increase your chances of suffering a deeper infection and painful inflammation. Additionally, the scars left behind are oftentimes irreversible.

d) Honey and Aspirin:

Clear your complexion by using honey and aspirin for a combination remedy. Crush an aspirin and mix with water until a paste is formed. Apply to the face and rinse off. The aspirin acts as an effective exfoliant. Follow-up with an application of honey, which offers a moisturizing, antibacterial treatment.

e) Egg White:

Some people have reported results in treating their cystic acne by applying egg whites to the skin.

f) Aloe:

Rubbing aloe vera juice on cysts may help speed up the healing process.

g) Mango:

Orange or yellow-orange fruits and vegetables have a reputation for replenishing the skin. Create a mango paste for your face to soften skin, achieve a natural glow, and open clogged pores that can lead to or worsen cystic acne.

h) Reduce Friction and Sweating:

Friction and excessive sweating can cause pores to become clogged and more susceptible to cystic acne. Reduce your chances by taking a break when bike helmets, backpacks, tight collars, or headbands are causing undue irritation to your skin.

i) Lemon Juice:

Mix lemon juice with water to treat the inflammation of cystic acne.

j) Say ‘No’ to Oil and Grease:

Using oily or greasy cosmetic products (even some sunscreens) can contribute to your cystic acne. Choose noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic cosmetic products to prevent a breakout.

k) Gentle Cleansing Habits:

Gently wash and cleanse affected areas a couple of times per day. Make sure to avoid drying out the skin and causing irritation.

l) Wash Off Make-Up:

Women, don’t forget to wash off all of your make-up before going to bed or you run the risk of clogging pores.

Resources

[1] http://acne.about.com/od/acnesymptoms/a/cystic.htm

[2] http://www.acne.org/types-of-acne.html

You may also like -

Home Remedies for Chest Acne

Home Remedies for Back Acne

Home Remedies for Acne Scars

Home Remedies for Acne

71 CommentsPosted in Physical Health

Missy

I have battled with it forever. When my ob/gyn put me on Progesterone it went away! Mine was definitely hormone related.
rebecca

I’m 25 and have recently been suffering with cystic pimples. I usually only get one at a time, either on my chin or right smack in the middle of my forehead. I’ve been taking a lot of vitamins, and I feel like that has actually made it worse, though I can’t pinpoint an exact vitamin. I’m currently taking: vitamin b, a prenatal (not for pregnancy, but because I heard it’s great for skin, nails and hair) gabba, and fish oil. I also just got back on a birth control just to try to control my skin. Has anyone noticed vitamins causing more flare ups than usual? When I get smaller zits, I use these options frequently:
-Cut up a raw potato and put the juice either on pimples or all over face. Leaving it on for too long may cause dry skin if you have naturally drier skin.
-Egg whites
-Honey
-Milk (sometimes I make a mixture of all three and it does wonders to maintain my clear face. Doesn’t do much when I already have a pimple)
-Tomato works well to really dry it out
-YOGURT! This is fantastic for smoothing your skin if it’s drier than usual. This will also make your pimples come to a head. I will put it on at night and within minutes it will be dry. I sleep withit on. In the morning, apply a warm wash cloth. Often times this will bring the pimple to a head. I feel like it does reduce reddness as well.
-If you’re a popper (like me) I suggest putting just a dab of Neosporin directly on the pimple. Do not over do or it will dry it out too much
-I currently have a cyst zit on my forehead. I popped it with a needle and has since just gotten more irritated. Now it’s huge, inflammed and red. I plan on putting ice and a quick face mask of milk and honey before work to try to reduce it a little bit.

Hope these tips have helped. Good luck to all.
Jessica

I have suffered cystic acne for a few yrs.I have 2 cystic bumps on my face rite now.I believe they were caused by the foundation I was using(I normally wear powder makeup)But anyway try this method:Tea Tree Soap(u can ge it from Dollar General or Fred’for a $1.00)Witch Hazel(dosen’t matter how much it costs)Benzol Peroxide(On the spot by Nuetrogena).wash your face with Tea Tree Soap,use a cotton ball for the witch hazel,wipe over cystic acne with cotton ball,and lastly dab a smal amount of benzol peroxide on the cystic acne.Hope this method works. it did for me for at least 2-3 months. dont know what went wrong but I will keep everyone posted on whether it was the foundation.
jinnefer

im 18 years old but im very sad of these rubbish things i always squeez my acne and they puted alot of spots on my face when iwas 13 years old they start coming on my face i did alot of things but no one was helpful idont know what shoud i do but i suggest u do not squeez ur acne it was my own expereince
nya

i’m 19yrs old n suffered from cyst acne for 7 yrs. i had consulted many doctors(like from Ayurvedic,homeophatic allophatic),but nothing worked.Then my brother suggested me AC Persol gel(benzol peroxide)and the medicine dose showed a excellent result and since i have a habit of squeezing my pimples i had marks on my face.So,for my marks i used aleo vera gel(patanjali).The result is great…..just try it…..
snevans

Benzoyl peroxide cream and face washes will not get rid of the acne problem, it will only dry out your skin, which is extremely irritationg. The only thing effective to get rid of cystic acne is internal medicine such and minocycline, doxycycline, and Accutane. Accutane (Isotretino) is the last choice however, since it is so powerful. I took multiple acne medication and had benzoyl peroxide cream and nothing worked until Accutane. Do not let the fear of false stories keep you from trying Accutane. Me and my father both used it when we were 17 and have not had any negative side effects. Trust me, it’s your only hope to completely CURE cystic acne. And girls, use a water-based makeup.
Bonnie

My son had severe cystic acne and we went to the dermatologist and he said that the only hope for him was the latest form of Accutane (Isotretino). After we read the side effects, I was too scared to let him go on it. He was concerned as well. After many hours and research on the internet, I came across Leung’s acne protocol using high doses of vitamin B6. He is a biochemist from Hong Kong who did research and published an article in Orthomolecular Journal. Many people use this protocol. My son’s skin is not totally clear, but using the protocol made an amazing difference. Within 6 months, his level of severity diminished significantly. On this protocol, you will be starting with 10g of B6 divided into 4 times a day. Dr. Leung assures in his writings that this is perfectly safe. Do not use the time released b6 and do not use Pantethine. Use only regular b6 as pantothenic acid. I wish I had started my son on this protocol immediately at his first signs of cystic acne. It would have saved his skin from much scarring. Someday, we will have his face sanded or whatever they do to remove the scars. By the way, Dr. Leung also says to stay away from fried foods and chocolate. You can look up the Leung acne protocol on the internet and find out why high supplemental B6 works. Good luck!!!
nigsy

I have had acne since i was 14 i am now 28.been on all sorts of tabs and creams. over the last few years i have had cysts on my throat area andthe back of my head. i have had surgery but when i get my monthly hair cut it looks like i have been bottled on a nite out!!! so no more surgery . my spots are fine get the odd one ere and there and have the scars to show i was a sufferer BUT my cysts will not go. i have quit smoking 8 weeks ago after 9 years and have had an outbreak of white heads and more bloody cysts. i have read websites and every one is saying apple cider vinegar.. my dad races pigeons and he gives it to them. says its great gets all the crap out of you. i have 1litre bottle on order shud be here in 3 days i will give it a month and give u all an update… THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE TO CLEAR MY CYSTS
Michelle

Well, right now I have big pimples under my nose and on my jawbone. I cover it well with makeup. But it’s a bummer when I wash my face. I see my acne. But, here are some tips that may help some of you. I always take off my makeup first with a small wet napkin, (the ones that come in packs of 30), then wash my face with a gentle cleanser like Neutrogena. Pat dry with a towel. Apply Neutrogena acne toner. Then moisturize, (again with Neutrogena), and if you’re irritated, dab on some zinc oxide paste. It’s the main ingredient in baby rash creams, so its not difficult to find.
I do this everyday, but this cysts showing up are killing me! I did the aspirin/honey mask a few times now, but I don’t see change. I think another option might be is to vaporize your face with lemongrass. To open up the pores or something. I’ll check up on that.
Mike

I am a 19 year old that has been dealing with severe cystic acne for about 5 years now, I’ve been using internal antibiotic for almost two years straight religiously, and it’s taken a toll on my body but has done almost nothing to cure my acne, acutane was an option but the side effects were haunting and the whole treatment process was ridiculous, monthly blood test to check my liver? Anything that’s that bad for the human body is not worth it to me, so I’ve come to the conclusion internal medicine is not the path for me. My father introduced me to Dr. Mercola, who practices a lot of homeopathic medicines, he went through a similar condition, so I trust his words. I’ve stopped all internal medicines and cortisone injections and went a more natural route, I cut bread and other major carbohydrates out of my diet, NO FAST FOOD, no soda, no candy, and avoid high fructose corn syrup/sucrose, and I’m mindful as to how much Aspartame I take because it also has harmful side effects, but anything that’s labeled “sugar free” has aspartame in it. Just with this “simple” diet my cystic acne has almost disappeared. Hope this helps you guys because depression was also a side effect of this terrible condition, but my hopes are high now, and hopefully yours will be too, good luck!
Kristin

I have been battling cystic acne for 6 months. Probably my strongest recommendation for everyone is DO NOT USE ACCUTANE! I always have had pimples but they didn’t become cystic until a few months after I got off Accutane. My skin was beautiful while I was on it but I had a hard time enjoying it because I was depressed…from the accutane. Because I do battle with depression I have found all prescription drugs have only increased my depression to almost a non-functioning level. I have tried a few natural remedies (via a visit to my community natural store) to help with my skin but still with no improvement. I’m at a loss…I’m thinking about making an appointment with a Naturalpathic Doctor to see what can be done. I’m scared to go on anymore medication for my face, because it seems to only be a bandaid. Everytime I have come off of any medication for my face it seems my acne becomes more and more severe. Because we are all different people the cause and solution to the acne will be different for all of us but I think these posts are great to open the door to new ideas and who knows, maybe the solution for some of us. Good Luck everyone! I hope one day we can all have freedom from this.

Brady Angelica87

I’m going to agree with you, Kristen. Accutane is a horrible drug. I am 24 now, but have battled with cystic acne since 19 and then was finally put on Accutane for 5-6 months after I was 21. It worked…barely. My skin was thin and fragile, I was depressed all the time, I was extremely sensative to the sunlight, my high blood pressure sky-rocketed. Promtly before renewing my next Accutane batch, I stopped cold turkey. And not just Accutance…all drugs/medications. I find it easier to eat healthy and let my skin do its own healing. I wish you fortune and peace.

nigsy

Following my last post about apple cider OMG it works!!!!! my littlr lumps under my jaw have vanished my lumps on tje back of my head are narly gone and i had a huge cyst on my throat area. it has nearly gone! it amazing.. i have discovered apple cider vinegar is…cider vinegar same thing. u can buy it is asda for 79p for 350ml or online a 1ltr tub for a fiver p&p 3 quid. so dont be stupid like me who bought online buy from asda……. the tip take it 3 times a day.. 2 big tablespoons with water or sime kind of juice I.E apple, raspberry & cranberry etc…i have been drinking in shot glass with juice…cant hack water. the taste is mingin but just neck it!!! then get a tiny bit and dab it on with an ear bud to infected area.. skin will go a bit red so dont do it before going out. only done this for 4 days and results are amazing. im so happy i may of finally found the cure!!! oh and i have been told it makes acne scars dissapear. so dab on. if u have very sensitive skin add a drop of water… hope it works for you all!!!!!!
voltron

I am 40 years old and have had acne since I was 13. I always thought that it was a teenager problem and would go away when I got older and was not that severe at first and I only got it on my face. When I turned 19, it got worse. I started to get acne on my back, chest and upper arms as well as my face. I never got really bad on my face but on my back it got severe because it was they cystic acne and left scars. These scars will heal but could take months or even a year or more to completely disappear. The problem is that before the old scars are gone, I have a new breakout so the cycle never ends and I always have old scars with some new acne. It goes in cycles. It will let up a bit and start to clear. Then I will have another breakout. I recently had a breakout on my back area but not as bad as in the past. For the past few years my face area has not been to bad of a problem but two days ago I had a big breakout on my forehead and some acne behind my ears. Some of it is the cystic type but I find my facial acne will heal much faster than acne on my back area. I expect to have acne for the rest of my life now. I always thought that my acne would go away when I got older but as each decade passes I am disappointed that it just won’t go away.

For treatments I use three things. In the shower I use a acne facial cleaner. After the shower I use a disinfectant acne cleaner that is applied with a cotton ball and last I apply an acne cream medication. I have been using the Proactive system because it has these three items in their system. Seems to speed up the recovery time.
Voltron

I would like to add something to my post above. Before my last breakout, I had just finished a day of hard work loading Christmas tree on a truck. At the end of the day my muscles were very sore from all the work and I was hungry so I ate two large cheeseburgers and drank a pop. The next day I had the acne outbreak on my forehead. I have read that diet does not affect acne but I do not believe this. When I eat certain foods, my skin is affected. Greasy foods seems to make my skin oily for a couple of days after I eat it. I think the food I eat can cause acne and the sore muscles cause more hormones in my body while the muscles are healing. Combined, these two things caused the outbreak.
Mary

Elise, thank you for notifying us of the ingredient in makeup that may cause static acne. Last year I walked into Sephora and asked the first associate I saw to help me with a good makeup for acne. She immediately took me to cover fx. It is pretty pricy but I was desperate. Within a matter of weeks I was getting compliments on my skin. It is the acne face primer by cover fx that offers natural ingredients that both calm and fight acne. Also, I only use Cetaphil facewash. My mother also suffered from acne (including cystic) in the seventies and Cetaphil was her facewash of choice. And yes, water water water! I also believe a good collection of clean washcloths are very important. Wash the washcloths ALONE (I.e. not with socks, etc.). Good luck to everyone. I know this is difficult, but you will make it.
Anonymous

I’m 16yrs old and i’ve had cystic acne since I was about 7. I’ve always been a little overweight. My acne has never ever been on my face. It’s only appeared in hidden areas that sweat more. This, as you can imagine, makes it all the more painful. Under my arms and between my inner thighs. I’ve noticed that whenever I lost some weight it wasn’t nearly as bad. Anyway, my point is, I went to a dermatologist and he said it could take years with his all of 7 different pills, cremes and alcohol bath water. I want something that won’t interfere so much in my daily life and take over every spare minute I have that will still be effective and fast. I’m sick of it adding on to my basic teen depression and insecurities.
Help?
Danielle

APPLE CIDER VINGER!!!!NATURAL ANTI BACTERIAL, BALANCES THE pH LEVELS(RUB WITH A BIG COTTON BALL)
ONLY COOK WITH EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (HYDRATES THE SKIN INSIDE OUT)
WATER WATER WATER
AND I USE CLEARSAIL MARKS AND SCARES WASSH AND MASK(MESSAGE YOUR FACE BLOOD CIRCULATION IS GREAT!!!)
but really everyone i read your tip and I know exactly what your talking about & how feel and this works.and i read that TURMERIC IS THE NEXT THING IF THIS DOESN’T WORK.
ITS WILL WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!~*~*~*~*~.::TRY ME::.~*~*~.;:TRY ME::.~*~*~
Sara

I have had cystic acne and boils for years I am now 30 at 14 I had a cyst in the back of my throat that I had went to the Er for strep by the time it was diagnose wasn’t able to breath effectivly and almost had to be intibated it was very scary. With cysts they are in a pocket in a casing under your skin so they have to make sure not to break that sake or it is very likely to come back. I have tried every treatment under the sun for them. Solydyn worked really well but I also got roseaca and age spots so with the antibiotics definetly no sun but my dermatologists also said you cant be on antibiotics for a long period of time so she referred me to a cosmetic dermatologists for laser therapy and chemical peels. Good luck to everyone it’s a long never ending road
jake

I’m 17 and I got my first cyst when I was 13. I have one cyst on my chin right now. I think the primary reason I get them is because I touch oil or grease on a car then touch my skin and it developes a cyst. Its really big and stresses me out even more because I m self counsious. Now that I have it I feel like their is nithing I can do and its driving me nuts. I am on doxycylin which works farely well. Typically that is the only medicatio I use. Hopefully lemon juice will help clear it up for christmas ;(

Grandma's Home Remedies » Physical Health