Acne Cyst Facts and Solutions

If you never had a serious problem with acne when you were a teenager, then you might not have all of the answers that your children need when they ask you about their acne. For instance, you might not know that there are several different types of acne. The most common is called acne vulgaris. Even within this type of acne, though, there are blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, and so on. Serious cases could develop an acne cyst. If your teenager has started to develop acne cysts, then you will want to know what these bumps are so that you can find an effective treatment.

What is an Acne Cyst?

Most acne occurs on the skin’s surface. Blackheads in particular are easy to spot because they erupt right on the surface of the skin. An acne cyst, however, lies deep under the skin’s surface. By definition, they are at least 5 mm wide and they have pus in them. In fact, they are almost exactly like papules, except papules aren’t infected.

Having acne cysts is problematic for several reasons. Perhaps most importantly, this type of acne commonly leads to scars. People who have advanced cases of acne cysts are likely to develop scars that will last a lifetime. Seeking immediate treatment, however, can help you gain control of the acne cysts so that you can prevent scarring.

Another common problem is that acne cysts are very sensitive. They hurt in a serious way. Imagine if your skin had a toothache. That’s about what an acne cyst feels like. Remember, there is an active infection inside that cyst, and infections can cause a substantial amount of pain.

Treating an Acne Cyst

So, you know that an acne cyst is a pretty big deal. What are you supposed to do about it, though? First and foremost, tell your teen not to pick at it, squeeze it, or try to pop it. The pus inside the acne cyst will not come to the surface easily. Applying pressure to it will, instead, send the infection deeper into the skin. This leads to a bigger cyst and more pain.

If the acne cyst is causing a lot of pain and embarrassment, then you might want to take your child to a dermatologist. They can use a cortisone injection to reduce swelling. Of course, that means paying for a dermatologist and getting a shot in the face.

Whether you end up visiting the dermatologist or not, it’s time for you and your teen to start taking acne seriously. If they have an acne cyst, then chances are that they have acne-prone skin that will continue to give them trouble for years.

A Proven Acne Cyst Solution

Your best option is to choose an OTC treatment that contains a fairly strong concentration of benoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide works well because it can penetrate the pore and destroy bacteria living deep inside. Killing the bacteria is the only way that your teen will be able to eliminate acne cysts and other types of acne. Be sure to follow directions and take time to look for an option that works well for your teen.