Cystic Acne Treatment
Dear Doctor
I have painful cystic acne on both sides of my cheeks they are filled with pus and I tried all sorts of medications but they won’t work.
Acne has affected my life emotionally I can’t socialize anymore and I keep crying all the time please help me.
Dear Patient
Cystic Acne Treatment
The treatment of cystic acne includes the use of:
1. Oral Retinoids like isotretinoin are used for the treatment of severe nodulocystic acne or acne that does not respond to other treatment. Isotretinoin, which is only available by prescription, has multiple adverse effects such as cheilitis (dry lips), xerosis (dry skin) and should be used with adequate contraception by women of reproductive age since it causes severe birth defects.
2. Low Glycemic Index Foods are also important to controlling acne. Therefore eat foods with a glycemic index of less than 70 like broccoli, cucumbers, peanuts, and tomatoes.
Combine this with avoiding foods with high glycemic indexes like candy, white bread, French fries, mashed potatoes, white flour cakes and doughnuts because they make the blood glucose sugar levels rise rapidly. This rise makes the pancreas produce more insulin in order to regulate the blood glucose level.
The resultant increased insulin level also stimulates the oil glands of the skin to produce sebum (oil) which, if in excess, contributes to clogging the skin pore and the development of whiteheads and blackheads.
Ask a Dermatologist your Question
Click here to ask a Dermatologist a question about your skin, hair or nail condition and get a confidential answer by email within 3 days.
Categorised as: Ask a Dermatologist Online | Skin Diseases