Cystic acne is one of the most severe form of acne. Its severity is due to the fact that cystic acne penetrates deeply within the skin layers. The infection is much larger and more painful compared to regular types of acne.

Acne cysts appear when sebum cannot properly flow to the surface of the skin. Injuries appear in the cells lining the walls of the sebum canals. When this happens the immune system responds rushing its army of defender cells that issue chemicals to eliminate what is causing the damage: the sebum.

The skin pores also get blocked by the accumulation of excessive sebum (oil) which becomes, in turn, a rich feeding ground for microbes that reside inside the skin follicles or on the surface of the skin. The cycle gets exacerbated by the chemicals produced by the breakdown of sebum that occurs while those microbes are feeding themselves on. Your immune system continues sending its own defender chemicals that eliminate everything there including functional cells and you are left with scars or tissue loss.

Retention keratosis worsens the condition. This happens when the skin cells specially those lining the gland are shed improperly. Improper regeneration of cells leads to clogging of the skin follicles. Also, devitalized and damaged cells become an easy target for microbial infections. The infection spills to other follicles which increases the inflammation and redness. Localized swelling is also observed.

Hormonal imbalance only adds to the woes. Augmented production of sebum can produce frequent flare ups if the sebum ducts are not clear for the outflow to reach easily to the surface of the skin. The skin becomes extremely sensitized and the cysts become susceptible to secondary infections. The lifestyle and the inherited background of a patient also influence the severity of acne.

Acne cysts take a lot of time to heal since the infection is deep seated. Another issue with acne lesions or cysts is that they can lead to the formation of permanent scars. This occurs due to sheer negligence on your part or careless treatment procedures. Ugly skin discoloration can also appear.

Medical treatment is the best method to eliminate cysts and lesions. Most dermatologists recommend Isotretinoin for efficient elimination of the cysts and the lesions. This drug is marketed as Accutane, and is one of the popular acne drugs. The success rate of Accutane is as high as 80%. It works by minimizing the size of the oil glands thereby regulating acne production. Severe secondary effects like depression and suicidal tendencies have been detected in some patients. The drug should not be used by pregnant women as it can damage the overall development of the child.

Another treatment available is cortisone injections. They are extremely efficient, painless and yield instant relief. Cortisone minimizes the inflammation, swelling and redness. This therapy is known as the intra-lesional corticosteroid treatment and deals with treating acne lesions, cysts and scars.