Severe Cystic Acne

Acne can be described as mild, moderate, severe, or cystic. Acne can also be graded on a scale of 1-4, with increasing severity.

Grade 1-4 acne scale:

• Grade 1: Mild with comedones, occasional papules.
• Grade 2: Moderate with papules, comedones, few pustules.
• Grade 3: Severe with predominant pustules, nodules, abscesses.
• Grade 4: Cystic with mainly cysts, abscesses, widespread scarring.

You can also classify acne as mild, moderate or severe where:

• Mild acne has less than 10 blackheads, whiteheads, or non-inflamed pimples on each side of the face.
• Moderate acne has 10 – 40 blackheads, whiteheads, non-inflamed pimples, or smaller pustular pimples on each side of the face.
• Severe acne has extensive large inflamed pustular pimples, cysts, and hard nodules on each side of the face.

While it sounds simple, many people in reality will present with a range of acne, both inflamed and non-inflamed, of different severities.

Persons suffering from cystic acne have the most severe type acne of the highest grade. They are also those with skin most prone to acne scarring. To read more about acne scarring, click here.

With cystic acne, nodules result from a fusion of multiple acne pustules, combined with excessive inflammation of the skin’s underlying dermis layer. Scar tissue and loss of collagen results in depressed pitted acne scars.

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Treatment of cystic acne involves strong medication.

Topical skin creams and serums alone will not be sufficient as this is a problem residing deep within the skin.

Prescription retinoid creams such as tretinoin are recommended. Retinoids clear clogged pores and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Oral retinoids such as isotretinoin (Accutane) may also be indicated for such cases. Oral antibiotics, medications that reduce the effects of male hormones, and steroid injections are also possible treatments. These are best discussed with your aesthetic practitioner.

Medical microneedling and deeper chemical peels are also excellent choices to help control cystic acne, as these penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.

These treatments are offered by your Melanopeel® Clinic.

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Medical facial and microdermabrasions will also help decongest the pores. Our signature MelanoFacials™ use special mandelic acid blends to reduce the severity of cystic acne.

The role of Melanopeel® skin care in cystic acne is aimed at reducing inflammation & reducing scarring, while keeping the pores unclogged.

Melanopeel® offers strong skin resurfacers and pore-decongesting treatments to help calm your cystic acne like mandelic acid, glycolic acid, TCA, salicylic acid, and home microneedling.

Our top picks for cystic acne sufferers:

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