Out of all the forms of acne, cystic acne often stands out as the most difficult to treat. While other forms of acne such as pustules (inflamed “whiteheads” surrounded by redness) might be more visible, cystic acne can be longer lasting and more painful. Of all the types of acne I used to have (and I had them all…for more than 2 decades), cystic acne?was my most formidable foe. I’d get these cysts right at the bottom of my chin so that it looked like I had one side of my chin longer than the other, and I also sometimes got them on my?cheekbones (making me look like I had Maleficent cheeks). While other forms of acne were easily manageable with topical skincare ingredients and deep cleansing facial treatments, the cystic acne did not respond.
So I picked. And squeezed. Hoping that pus would come out (as gross as that sounds), because that would indicate that I could get the infection out so that healing would commence. Nope, all I got was lymph (clear liquid), and sometimes even blood. So then, what was once a colorless–albeit painful–bump was now an even more painful bump with a gross scab on top, surrounded by redness. Awesome.
I knew I could always go to the dermatologist to get a cortisone injection or other pharmaceutical treatment to make the bump go away fast–but I also knew that I had not had results from dermatological treatments and medications for any of my acne in the past. It wasn’t until I?figured out that I had imbalances inside my body, and addressed those with diet and lifestyle changes (and laid off the picking and aggressive spa treatments), AND adopted a gentle and individualized boutique skincare regimen, that the acne cysts went away for good.
Cystic acne is common among adults.
So many women come to me frustrated that they now have cystic acne, even though they never had acne in their youth.?However, with the rise of Nutritional Aesthetics?, integrative and functional and medicine–as well as an increase in dermatologists who practice in an integrative fashion, answers are available.
I’m grateful to be in circles of amazing holistic and integrative health and wellness professionals who generously offer their expertise when someone asks for support. In one of my groups, someone asked for holistic and nutritional recommendations for cystic acne, saying that conventional acne?treatments?and medications such as?retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid did not work.
Here were 6?of the cystic acne questions?and considerations?that came from that thread:
1.What other topical skincare products and ingredients are you using? Retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid are all active acne medications which can be drying and skin irritant and actually contribute to inflammation with repeated use. If the other ingredients and products in your skincare regimen are synthetic chemicals linked to issues such as endocrine disruption, comedogenicity (you would be shocked at how many acne products contain pore-clogging ingredients) or skin irritation, then they could be contributing to the causes. While prescription medications aren’t always necessary to treat cystic acne, there are times when they can help, as part of an integrative treatment plan. Integrative dermatologist (and my lovely friend), Dr. Michelle Jeffries recommends?an individualized plan for people with cystic acne,?”blending prescription topical treatments with nutrition and supplements.”
2. Check your diet.?Acne, including cystic, is?often linked to something in your diet that your body either does not tolerate, digest, or absorb. The ‘Skin Trigger Trifecta‘ of gluten, dairy, and sugar should be avoided–and even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a wheat or gluten sensitivity, intolerance, allergy, or Celiac Disease, the high amounts if glyphosphate used in wheat could also be a trigger. If you’ve eliminated the Skin Trigger Trifecta and still have issues, you could have an undiagnosed food sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance. Both Dr. Keesha Ewers and Dr. Tami Meraglia recommend food sensitivity testing for people with cystic acne.
3. Sometimes even good fats are bad fats. Certified Nutritionist, Teri Cochrane pointed out that?fat malabsorption from poor methylation?can lead to?hormone imbalance, which can cause cystic acne. She recommends that people with cystic acne?reduce or avoid oils–even?fish oils and therapeutic oils–and even?essential oils.?Supplementing with?L-carnitine fumerate and choline inositol may?help the body more effectively break down fats*.
4. Support your body’s ability to detox naturally.?You don’t have to do a cleanse or sit in a sweat lodge to help your body detox (though either practice, done periodically and with the help of a trained detox professional may help). Follow these tips to help your body detox naturally.?The brilliant Sarica Cernohous noted the importance of the keeping the body’s detoxification pathways clear. Supporting the the liver’s ability to clear toxic hormones, as well as promoting healthy lymphatic drainage and circulation?is?crucial.
5. Consider your constitution. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda teach that we all have unique constitutions–as do disorders, foods, moods, seasons–and that working with those constitutions can help restore balance–and in this case, the skin. Acne is associated with inflammation, which is associated with heat, as well as the Pitta constitution–but cysts are also associated with dampness and the Kapha constitution so a combination constitutional approach is necessary. Sarica adds:?”From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective cystic acne?is definitely a damp heat presentation.”
6. How are?your digestion and gut health? Gut dysbiosis–an imbalance of beneficial vs pathogenic bacteria and microflora in the gut microbiome is a known cause of acne. Other gut health issues like leaky gut syndrome and SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) are other contributing factors. A healthy gut is necessary for healthy skin. According to Dr. Grace Liu, in order to have a healthy gut: ?First, you need a good variation in bacteria. Secondly, that bacteria should be well balanced, which means you have more of the good guys than the bad…We specically know that in acne cases, there are a couple of bad bacteria, like Corynebacterium, that are often out of balance. I suggest people get tested so we know the extent of the dysbiosis [imbalance] and tweak accordingly.?
I can tell you both from my own personal experience and from my professional?practice that it IS possible to conquer cystic acne–you just might have to do a little detective work first to figure out the cause. Fortunately there are many professionals available today to help like those who generously offered their wisdom in this post–and like me!
Click HERE if you’d like to schedule a session with me to get personalized skincare advice.
Have you overcome cystic acne?
I’d love to know what worked for you. Please share in the comments below.
2 thoughts on “Cystic Acne? Here are 6 Possible Solutions from Integrative Skincare Pros”
Hi Rachael,
In my case, I alway use natural products and perform healthy habit by maintaining proper hygiene and eating healthy foods. It is important to focus on living a healthy life to avoid certain skin diseases. Thank you for sharing such informative post.
A healthy lifestyle is so important for prevention–you are absolutely right! Thanks for reading, Jenny, and for sharing your comment!