First of all, you need to know what cystic acne are. Well, cystic acne are puss filled cysts bigger than five mm, and they present more severe form of acne. Not only do they look ugly, but also they are very painful. Besides, they can cause you skin scarring because of their size and the danger of skin infection. In most cases, teenagers, boys, and adult persons such as pregnant women are affected with it.

If you suffer from this form of acne you should pay much attention to your skin. Well, you need to prevent any kind of infection to your skin surface which means that you must avoid squeezing the cysts pustules because it can spread the infection all along your skin, neck or back. Instead of that, go to your skin doctor who will best advise you what to do. He will prescribe some good medication, but avoid taking Isotretinoin if your condition is not too serious and try other kinds of treatments. Not to mention that you need to regularly clean your skin.

If you start healing acne in their earliest stage, you can be sure that you will avoid getting scar acne marks. Unfortunately, some scars never disappear and once they appear it is very hard to get rid of them. Still, they can be healed with expensive laser treatments or dermabrasion treatments. On the other hand, there are many helpful topical cleansers on the market that do the job just fine. Keep that in mind and do everything to prevent acne scars in the first place.

No After-pains

You can probably guess that this implies you will not suffer from any sort of pain after the acne laser treatment and you will feel the same as you normally do.

Quick and fast treatment

The results of acne laser treating will be obvious relatively quickly after the procedure. What’s more, you will realize that the whole process is done faster than any other normal treatments for which you would just have to pay a small sum of money.

It is effective

You can be sure that you will be back very soon to your normal way of living once you take up the treatment.

Completely safe and secure process

As the researches show, treating acne by laser methodology is totally safe, due to the latest and most effective technologies incorporated in the whole procedure. Furthermore, the customers are completely satisfied without any kind of pain or difficulty after the treatment.

No side effects

The whole process is contact-free and it guarantees that you would not experience any kind of side effects upon undergoing the laser treatment.

If you are desperately trying to find the best way to get rid of acne, than acne laser treatment is the perfect solution for you! Even though it requires of you to pay a considerable sum of money, you should not be disappointed, as you will forget about the money immediately upon seeing the results. The only problem that may appear is the existence of bruises and small swellings, which is completely normal and would fade away very soon.

Acne is a disease which skin oil glands make. It may leave skin scars, but it isn’t dangerous. Our skin has a lot of pores (tiny holes) which are connected to oil glands located under it. Also, the glands are connected to the pores via follicles, small canals. These glands produce an oily liquid, sebum, which carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. Then, a small hair grows through the follicle blocking it and making pimples grow. Most often pimples appear on people’s face, back, chest, shoulders and neck. Acne comes out when follicles are blocked and infected. Skin cells, sebum and hair being clump together form a clogg which turns into a swelling if it is infected with bacteria. A pimple starts to develop after the plug begins to break down.

There are various types of pimples:

- Blackheads – appear on the surface of the skin, clearly visible, black in colour. Remember that dirt doesn’t make blackheads, so scrubbing your face vigorously in order to remove them will not help.

- Whiteheads – are very small and remain under the skin

- Nobules – large, solid pimples which are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They can be very painful and are rooted deep in the skin.

- Papules – small bumps, visible on the surface of the skin, usually pink.

- Pustules – clearly viewable on the surface of the skin, red at their base and have pus at the top.

- Cysts – very painful, and are filled with pus. They are clearly visible on the surface of the skin and they can easily cause scars.

How often does acne appear?

Specialists for skin, dermatologists, say that approximately three-quarters of  people aged between 11 and 30 get acne at some moment in their life. However, there is no rule, as they can affect people of all races and all ages. Most commonly, adolescents and young adults are affected. But, it is found out that some people even in their fifties can get acne. Despite the fact that acne affects both men and women, men suffer from acne more often. This is because they have more of testosterone, which can aggravate the problem.

What causes acne?

Nobody can definitely say what causes acne. Experts think that this primarily happens in the adolescence period when the level of the hormone androgen rises. As it rises, the oil glands under your skin grow producing more oil. Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls in the pores causing the growth of bacteria. According to some researches, the susceptibility to acne could also be genetic. Thus,  hormone changes during pregnancy, greasy cosmetics or medications which contain androgen and lithium may be the reasons why acne appear.

Acne treatment

The way you treat acne depends on how severe and persistent the condition is.

Treating mild acne

Most people usually suffer from mild acne. They are commonly treated with OTC (over-the-counter) medicines which can be bought at a drugstore without the doctor’s prescription. They are usually applied to the skin and are known as topical medicines.

Most OTC products for treating acne may contain the following active ingredients:

- Benzoyl Peroxide – a white crystalline peroxide used in bleaching (flour or oils or fats) and as a catalyst for free radical reactions. It destroys bacteria and slows down your glands’ production of oil. It works as a peeling factor, which clears pores and speeds up skin turnover thus reducing the amount of bacteria in the affected area.

- Resorcinol - helps in breaking down blackheads and whiteheads. It is a crystalline phenol and comes from various resins. Resorcinol is also used against dandruff, eczema and psoriasis.

- Sulfur – Sulfur has been used over centuries for acne treatment, psoriasis and eczema although scientists are not sure how sulfur helps in healing skin diseases. We do know that elemental sulfur does oxidize slowly to sulfurous acid which is a mild reducing and antibacterial agent.

- Salicylic Acid –  Salicylic acid is a white crystalline substance very effective in treating inflammation and swelling. It  breaks down blackheads and whiteheads, preventing pores from becoming blocked, while at the same time making space for new cells to grow. Besides, it is also used as a fungicide, for making aspirin, dyes or perfumes and can be added to shampoos for the treatment of  dandruff.

- Azelaic Acid – It is a saturated dicarboxylic acid found naturally in wheat, rye, and barley which helps reducing bacteria growth, strengthening cells that line the follicles, and stopping oil eruptions.. Azelaic acid also wipes up free radicals thus reducing inflammation. It is recommended to patients with darker skin who have dark patches on their face (melasma), or whose acne spots make brown marks.

- Retin-A – helps unplugging blocked pores. It contains Tretinoin, an acid form of vitamin A, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Also, it is used in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia. Retin-A has been mostly used as a substance against skin aging, and as a chemical peeling.

Acne medications could appear in forms of gels, pads, soaps, lotions and creams. If you have a sensitive skin, perhaps you would rather use a cream or lotion. Gels, mostly containing some percents of alcohol may dry the skin, so it is better for people with oily skin type to use it. OTC medicines have these ingredients in different concentrations. Having that in mind you are recommended to start with the lowest quantity. In the beginning you may experience skin irritation, redness, and/or burning which gradually disappear. However, if this does not happen,  go and visit your  doctor.

Treating more severe acne cases

If your problem with acne is more serious, you should think of  seeing a dermatologist. He may prescribe a medicine which has some of the active ingredients mentioned above, such as azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, as well as adabalene. Depending on your case, you will be given the right treatment. You may be prescribed an oral or topical antibiotic. Antibiotics are excellent against the growth of bacteria and inflammation. Erythromyocin and Tetracycline are most commonly prescribed.

Treating a cyst with interlesional corticosteroid injection

If it comes that an acne cyst is severely inflammed, there is a high risk of rupturing which often results in making scars. As a prevention, a dermatologist may inject a diluted corticosteroid. It will lower the inflammation and speed up healing. In just a few days the cyst will “melt” .

Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is a strong oral retinoid, used for the treatment of severe acne cysts, as well as severe acne that has not given desirable results to other medications and treatments.

Oral contraceptives

A great number of women with acne have found out that taking certain oral contraceptives can clear it, as they suppress the overactive gland. But, if the woman smokes, has a period disorder, suffers long from migraines, or is over 35, she should consult her gynecologist  first before she starts taking this medication.

Oral antibiotics

In case a patient suffers from a severe or moderate acne, he or she is prescribed oral antibiotics. These oral antibiotics are used to lower the population of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), a kind of a  bacterium usually found on the skin which is multiplied rapidly in blocked follicles. In the beginning the dosage will be given in high amounts, and then as the acne reduces so will the dosage. Antibiotics are not taken for more than six months. However, as time passes the P. acnes can become resistant to the antibiotic in which case another antibiotic should be given.

Topical antimicrobials (topical = applied to the skin or mucus membranes)

The aim of topical antimicrobials for the treatment of acne is to reduce P. acnes populations. Some of them are clindamycin, erythromycin, and sodium sulfacetamide. They are used in treating severe and moderate acne. You may be prescribed a topical retinoid by the specialist. They prevent whiteheads and blackheads from increasing and unclog the pores. Topical retinoids are a derivative of Vitamin A and are very popular for the treatment of acne. Examples of topical retinoids prescribed in the USA are adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin.

Taking care of your skin if you have acne (or are prone to acne):

- Don’t burst the pimples. If you do that, it may spread the infection, causing more blocking and worse swelling and redness. Popping pimples causes scarring.

- Wash your face about two times a day. Do not wash it more than that. Use a mild soap made especially for people with acne, and warm water. Avoid scrubbing the skin. Experts recommend the use of an OTC lotion which has benzoyl peroxide.

- If you have to get rid of a pimple quickly because you have to go to some event, such as a wedding, or occasions which involve public appearance, ask a dermatologist to treat it for you.

- Keep your hands from touching the face. When you speak on the telephone do not  let the receiver touch your face – there might be sebum and skin residue on it.

- Always wash your hands before touching your face. This means wash them before you apply lotions, creams or makeup.

- Glasses may collect sebum and skin residue so make sure to keep them cleaned regularly.

- Clean the makeup from your face before you go to sleep. Use only makeup that is nonceomedogenic or nonacnegenic which does not have oil and does not clog up the pores.

- You should allow your skin to breathe. If you have acne on your back, shoulders or chest wear loose clothing. Avid wearing tight garments, such as headbands, caps and scarves, but if you have to wear them they should be cleaned regularly.

- Too much sun makes your skin produce more sebum. Several acne medications make it more likely that you will get sunburnt.

- Keep your hair clean and away from your face as it collects sebum and skin residue.

- If you shave your face, you should be very careful. Use either an electric shaver or safety razors and make sure the blade is sharp. Soften your skin or beard with warm   water and soup before applying the shaving cream.

- Anxiety and stress – due to mental stress that affects the levels of some hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, the problem with acne can become worse.

- Menstrual cycle – girls and women’s problem with acne tends to become worse one or two weeks before their menstrual period. This probably happens because of hormonal changes in the body. Some people say that during this period they eat more chocolate and think that getting more acne is connected with that. However, experts believe that is not the main reason.

- Oil based makeups – makeup containing oil, moisturizing creams, lubricating lotions, can speed up the blocking of your pores.

- Hot and humid climates – people sweat more when it is hot and this can make the acne worse.

- Greasy hair – some hair products may be very greasy and they can produce similar  effects as oil based makeup. Such are hair products with cocoa butter or coconut butter.