Cystic Acne and Antibiotics Treatments

What exactly is a cyst? A cyst is a sac or space (commonly in the lower layer of the skin) that contains fluid or semi-solid material. Cysts are large, inflamed acne lesions that are filled with pus. The contents of a clogged pore seep into the skin, and the immune system activates white blood cells at the location to fight the infection, causing the cyst to form beneath the skin’s surface. Acne cysts (unlike blackheads and whiteheads) are better treated with antibiotics. Without treatment, cystic acne may result in severe scarring and may cause considerable physical and psychological pain.

Physicians and dermatologists commonly use antibiotics to treat moderate to severe cystic acne. Antibiotherapy attempts to eliminate the microorganisms that colonize the hair follicles. Oral antibiotics tend to work better than topical applications because they circulate throughout the body and go directly to the sebaceous glands and the rest of the skin. However, due to the overuse of antibiotics during recent years, some bacteria have developed resistance against specific antibiotics.

When severe cystic acne fails to respond to other treatments, the dermatologist is likely to turn to Accutane. Accutane is synthetically produced vitamin A, taken by mouth. It acts by decreasing the formation of oily plugs of sebum (the substance secreted by the oil glands), reducing the formation of keratin (the tough outer layer of skin), and by shrinking the skin’s oil glands.

Accutane is reserved for people with severe cystic acne that is unresponsive to other treatments. However, Accutane must be approached with caution. A dermatologist must perform a battery of blood tests, and women should not get pregnant while taking Accutane. It has been shown that Accutane, while bringing considerable relief from cystic acne, may cause severe birth defects and miscarriage when a fetus is exposed to the drug. Women are cautioned to use two reliable forms of birth control for one month before treatment, throughout therapy, and for a full month after the course of treatment is over.

Improvement of the cystic acne may not begin to show for up to two months after a person begins using Accutane. No known medicine can be added to speed up the process, and cystic acne has been known to grow worse before it gets better during about the first month of Accutane treatment. However, if one is willing to put up with the associated cautions and side effects, cystic acne has met its match in Accutane.

Articles on Cystic Acne:

• Cystic Acne and Accutane
• Treating Cystic Acne
• Cystic Acne Pimples
• Causes Of Cystic Acne