Blackheads/Cystic Acne

Jun 15, 2012

Kenzi S.

I have blackheads on my nose and I get those nasty underground cystic zits. What do you guys do to take care of it? And I was looking at a Clarisonic for those reasons. Does it help? What products help you? And yes, I pop blackheads occasionally, but I do sanitize and I found it does help a bit. Please and thank you for help <3

Jun 15, 2012

Kendra F.

I use the clean and clear blackhead scrub because i get blackheads on my nose as well. I also use this vitamin e lotion in a small jar that I got for a buck at the dollar tree because it's a cream that's not oily and it moisturizes my skin.

Jun 17, 2012

Breanna C.

I am a licensed esthetician (skin care specialist) and i have had cystic acne myself, and cystic acne is bacterial and the only way to treat it is usually a dermatologist. That's the best way to safely treat it without scarring. That's what i finally made myself do, and my face is literally completely clear now.:)

Jun 17, 2012

Kenzi S.

Thanks Breanna! What would you recommend to at least prevent such nasty ones? It's the "time of the month" is when I get them :l 

Jun 18, 2012

Kennedy K.

I had cystic acne really bad and guess what? You don't have to go to the dermatologist. Try the process of elimination. MILK is the WORST. It really made my face break out so often and they are sooo painful. I've tried every product you can name. I did the round of antibiotics with a derm. I mean, NOTHING would work. Finally, I began MOISTURIZING my face, eliminating MILK as I read it can cause acne and really becoming consistent with my regimen. NO NEW CYSTIC BUMPS in FOUR WEEKS!!! Can you believe that? I refrain from touching my face at ALL during the day. I use a SULFUR mask by Clean and Clear (i think) its at CVS, its a little orange, white bottle. I do the mask every other night and wash with warm water and then cold to close the pores. Then I pat dry and moisturize with CVS brand moisturizer. The next day, I wash with neutrogena and then moisturize. Alternate between the two. Let me know how it works!! 

Jun 18, 2012

Laura B.

I have cystic ance on my forehead and i went to the dermatologist and she prescribed a medication entitled dooxycycline hyclate as well told me to buy a 10% benzoyl peroxide gel her prescription and her suggestion really helped! No more cysts! But honestly it is all about what works for you

Jun 18, 2012

Kenzi S.

Awh thanks guys! <3 Mine usually shows up around that monthly present we all get so I know its hormones. I think that sulfur mask would be great to use though!

Jun 18, 2012

Jena O.

Licensed Esthi here..I agree with eliminating dairy from your diet. Clarisonic is worth the investment, change brush heads every 3 months and clean after each use with antibacterial liquid hand cleanser. Try Murad pure skin clarifying supplement,zinc, fit c,a,e, yellow dock,burdock..its amazing for cystic acne purifying acne prone skin (as well as psoriasis, eczema) from the inside out. topical wise:mural gentle acne treatment or acne exfoliating treatment gel (only if you are extremely oily). hydration is important as well, don't try and strip your skin, mural hydrating toner calms, soothes and hydrates and i also love the acne perfecting lotion (oil free ).
Wishing you clear,smooth and HEALTHY skin! =)

Jun 18, 2012

Kenzi S.

Awh thank you! And what do you think about using products with Tea Tree Oil or Proactive?

Jun 18, 2012

Jena O.

The Murad gentle acne treatment has tea tree oil in it. I love tea tree oil, its a amazing healing oil and naturally antibacterial amazing on pustules. I use a 2-3 drops in a small spray bottle and fill with water. I stay the mixture on my chest and back for body acne, its a must try. You can also spray on a cotton round and wipe the solution into skin or use a qtip to spot treat whiteheads with TTO.

Proactive is way to drying & irritating on skin-I've used the acne system before. It doesn't allow the skin to properly heal.

Jun 18, 2012

Kenzi S.

Thank you so much! 

Jun 18, 2012

Kenzi S.

What would be a good moisturizer to use?

Jun 19, 2012

M M.

I have found that using Clinique's Redness Reducing moisturizer to be the best for me. It sounds like you have similar skin to mine and within days of switching to Clinique RR lotion I saw a dramatic improvement of my skin and complexion.

Jun 19, 2012

Jacqueline S.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Gel works well for blackheads. They also have a nice line of products for acne. Check out their web site.

Jun 19, 2012

Allie B.

I have cystic acne as well and its getting better but i have it because i have polycysic ovarian syndrom so my hormons smare outta control but make sure u clean your makeup brushes everyday wiith antibacteral soap i use burts bee senitive face wash and its helping also use a lite mosterizer oil free. Its working for me even with all my hormonal problems 

Jun 25, 2012

Jessica G.

Agree . Murad Cleansear and Acne Kit with Toner and spot treatment is amazinnng Ive had terrible acne all my life and tried proactiv. Dermatologist and everything and Murad finall yhelped!! :) Good luck dear i know the frustration!

Jun 25, 2012

Emily C.

Here are some HOME-MADE skin care products. Get ground tumeric, with some non flavored yogort and mix that together. and use at night after a shower . ( no it will not stain the skin ) Or, use the tomato way , get some tomato cut of a peiece and put sugar on your tomato and rub it on the affected area it will bring off any dead skin . OR the tooth paste way. get some non whiting tooth paste and make sure its not a mint tooth paste, and use a thin layer on the affected area . it drys out the black head or pimple. make sure to use it at night ! and sleep with it on . it will soak into your skin helping to defend that nasty gunk :D

Jul 2, 2012

Jena O.

Moisturizer- I layer on aloe vera gel (clear not green kind-green contains irritating dyes), then for day I've been using Olay moisture spf 30 sensitive skin (loving it btw), for evening aloe vera and Murad acne perfecting lotion.  

Jul 9, 2012

Hannah A.

If you are only getting underground ones at the time of the month then you probably don't have cystic acne. That would be hormonal acne. (Think when you get breakouts where a beard would grow, that's hormonal.) But if you do think you have cystic acne then the only way to treat it is with a dermatologist. They will give you acne medication that has higher strength medicine to clear it. Usually they will give you an oral medication too. If you don't get it treated now, you could get scarring and that is even harder to treat.

Jul 9, 2012

Kenzi S.

Thanks <3! And @Hannah, thanks for the clarification :D I'm pretty sure mines just hormonal, with the occasional cystic somewhere else sometimes. 

Jul 9, 2012

Malia K.

For cystic acne I agree with moisturizing the area. I started doing this by accident. I had noticed that a low profile, under the skin zit had raised to the surface after I had applied a lot of moisturizer to my face. I'd been doing it ever since. I'm still trying to figure out how to get rid of the blackhead like clogged pores on my nose if anything has any amazing info, I've tried everything even the Biore strips aren't very successful. 

Jul 16, 2012

Jena O.

I agree with Hannah. If they are in fact hormonal, visit your doctor. Birth control can help with hormonal acne.

Jul 16, 2012

Kenzi S.

I tried the BC and it made it worse among other things. :l when I go in I'll have to ask for her to change it. It was so bad I had to stop taking it 

Jul 16, 2012

Manuela B.

Makie im a licensed esthetician, please please please dont ever try to pop your cystic acne, the way i manage it ( other than going to a dermatologist) is when you feel one coming, take a warm wet towel and press down on it. A couple times a day you can do it to flatten out the cyst. It will hurt but all ur doing is flattening down the bacteria and gunk in the pore so its less noticeable bc you cant get the stuff out anyways! Hormonal acne is usually on ur chin and forehead, anywhere else has to do with your enviornment and what ur using topically. Rule of thumb is just make sure you clean ur face everynight before u go to bed and use products with salicytic acid !! :)

Jul 16, 2012

Kenzi S.

Deff. Hormonal :] Idk why I didnt put that instead of Cystic LOL but thanks ;3 Is there really any way to prevent cyst? D;