There are a large number of acne treatments to choose from these days. These treatments can be classified into two different types, topical acne treatments (these are applied to the affected areas of the skin) and oral acne treatments which are medicines taken by mouth. Milder types of acne can often be treatable with over-the-counter products, but more aggressive types of acne may need treating with prescription medicines. It is advisable to start using the treatments as soon as possible, early treatment can make acne scars less likely to occur.

Topical Acne Treatments

These are usually creams which the patient applies to the affected areas of skin. Topical products include topical benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and topical antibiotics. Topical benzoyl peroxide is most often used for treating mild to moderate types of acne, topical antibiotics can also be used for treatment of mild to moderate acne. Topical retinoids are frequently used in the treating of moderate types of acne.

Benzoyl peroxide is frequently the best acne product to begin with as an acne treatment. It comes in a selection of different strengths and is most often applied to the affected areas twice daily. It can occasionally cause dry and irritated skin, applying the medication less frequently then building up to the full dose can often help to get around this problem.

Oral Acne Treatments

Oral acne treatments like antibiotics, retinoids, and hormone pills are used for cases of moderate to severe acne. Isotretinoin is often used in the treatment of severe cystic acne. The action isn’t completely understood yet, but it is believed to act by reducing the size of and the amount of sebum output by the sebaceous glands. Women who can become pregnant should not take this medication without contraception, since isotretinoin can have serious side effects on pregnant women and their unborn children.

Availability of Treatments

Benzoyl peroxide can normally be purchased over-the-counter. Topical retinoids, and topical antibiotics, isotretinoin, oral antibiotics and hormone pills usually require a prescription.

Herbal Treatments

Many people favour the use of herbal acne treatments, of which there are several available. A few of these are:

-Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is said to have anti-bacterial properties and is normally applied topically when it has been diluted to a concentration of 5-15 per cent.

-Licorice Root Extract

Licorice root extract, like tea tree oil, is believed to have anti-bacterial properties.

-Olive Leaf Extract

Extracts of olive leaf also are believed to have anti-microbial properties.

-Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract has antioxidants and bioflavonoids which are believed to be useful in treating acne.

Nutritional Changes

It has been said that a change in a person’s daily diet can help to prevent outbreaks of acne. Reducing the intake of junk food and refined foods and increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables and wholefoods has been said to reduce acne. Increasing the consumption of zinc and antioxidants has also been purported as being useful in preventing acne.

See the author’s site for more information on which is the best acne treatment.

Cystic acne is a clear indication of a well functioning immune system. Concomitant with a well functioning immune system, cystic acne sores provide a means of aerosol and other means of natural vaccination from a variety of diseases. These two factors seem interrelated and may indicate that males with acne have a more adaptable immune system which is clearly adapted to inoculation and vaccination, through acne sores, from natural exogenous sources.

The ability to survive epidemics, immunity, both partial and complete from a variety of diseases, an immune system exposed to a great variety of exogenous disease causing viruses, bacteria and etc through acne sources and thus more adapted to combat the same through cross immunity and specific immunity and increasingly adaptive immunity mechanism, and related processes, can explain the survival benefit of acne in men with the resultant increasing ability to pass this survival mechanism to future generations through mere survival itself despite the disfiguring effects of cystic acne.

Proper skin care, a proper diet and exercise. I know it seems kind of obvious, but washing your skin twice daily and using the proper skin care items do wonders. Eating properly and exercising will also help clear up your cystic acne, as well as make you appear better all over. Eating properly doesn’t mean eating till you’re 100 pounds, either, but getting actual good nutrition.  If your acne is bad, and a month or two of skin care and diet doesn’t help, go see a dermatologist.

Some people experience a miracle when they use medication and formulas, for others, other prescriptions are needed. Also, try to see what triggers blemishes for example, if you’re stressed out, try to relax some more.  There are some foods which can aggravate acne by making your produce more sebum, you may want to avoid those foods if you figure out what they are. Keep in mind that your skin is not going to become clear over night, it’ll take months or years. Most likely if your acne is really bad, it won’t ever clear up completely, you’ll have to always keep it at bay with various products, and if you miss a day or two, some pimples will form.

Kids and adults are not the only ones who suffer from cystic acne. This skin disorder can also be found in your new born baby.

If you see acne or even red spots on the baby’s skin he or she might suffer from acne, however acne on those early ages are also very common so you don’t have to be worry.
Researches found out the baby acne occurs when the baby is few month years old and it usually ends when he or she is six month years old.

Babies get acne from several reasons: From the mother’s placenta which contains the hormones, and from laundry detergents that exists in the clothing and beddings. To protect the baby you should also avoid dust, dirty places and direct sun light. When the baby is crying, the blood rushes to the acne skin and can make it even worse. Cystic acne in babies looks very similar to kids’ acne, they appear mainly on the face but it can develop to other areas. Therefore it is very important to keep the skin clean and dry and avoid oily creams.

In most cystic acne cases there is no need to take further action in order to get rid of acne; general clean regime will be enough. However if your baby still having acne six months after the birth, you should consult a doctor, which might give you medical prescription. As stated before baby acne is just temporary phase and usually don’t develop in to severe skin disorder. You don’t have to worry too much; it’s natural to have it those ages.

I have heard of many people who claim to have solved their cystic acne problems through diet, but unfortunately it doesn’t work for everyone. There is some ambiguity on what a “good diet” consists of. For example, some diets are not too keen on grain and carbohydrate based foods while most nutritionists recommend a grain based diet. Also there are lots of books on diet and foods, and there are some differences in opinion.

Interestingly, many studies had been performed on the diet and cystic acne relationship, and none was found. Also, a sickness or disease caused by malnutrition or poor diet tends to linger on until the poor diet is rectified. For example, if you had a low iron intake, you would continue to feel tired and run down until your iron intake increased. Cystic acne (in most cases) disappears in the mid-twenties even though sufferers have made no change in their diet. Now, if cystic acne is a disease caused by poor diet, why should it suddenly disappear?

One thing I would object strongly to, is the idea that cystic acne is a symptom of western diet.  In fact, those of us who have travelled may have noticed that traditional Asian and African diets are no better for their culture than western diets, at least in terms of the incidence of cystic acne amongst their people. There may well be strong evidence to suggest that western diets are not actually very good for us – but there really is no evidence that it can either cause or worsen cystic acne.

I am not seeking to totally discredit the claim that diet has a part to play in cystic acne but still there are lots of other factors that can trigger this skin condition like hormones, genetics, vitamin deficiency, stress and much more.

An interesting thing is that the psychological condition of body dysmorphic disorder is very often triggered by cystic acne. This is a condition where people feel that they are extremely hideous despite the fact that they are normal looking. Cystic acne often acts as a catalyst in this disorder from what I have seen and read about it.  Just like anorexia is often triggered by an individual being initially overweight, BDD is triggered by things like acne (or also common is a large nose).  It causes a lot of emotional stress and this is very unfortunate that it is this way.  

Then I am always asked the question “do people really react differently to you because you have cystic acne?  Do you look at people and say: they have acne and won’t be their friend?” Well, not exactly.  Someone with bad acne can be less attractive.  Of course that is not what anyone wants to hear and it sounds very superficial, but that is what I have encountered as the truth. It’s such a bizarre thing because people’s attitudes are often what make them attractive or unattractive and of course the cystic acne has a high potential of affecting one’s attitude.  

The conclusion is that it should have very little effect on your social life. However, in regards to self confidence – to have some sort of personal life this is where the problem is.  It absolutely takes away from your self confidence and it is one of the few things that can do that which is so difficult to cure. But don’t let it stop your social life. When you finally get rid of the acne, then only you will realize there’s no much different without acne, because your personality that counts. Hopefully whoever reads this will feel better.