What is Cystic Acne?

Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne pimple. In spite of the term “cystic acne” is used by many people to describe the severely inflamed acne, only those who develop cysts actually have cystic acne. Cysts are large, red, pus-filled under the skin’s surface, and is often described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across.

Cystic acne is the final stage of the acne development. In the first stage acne normally begins in the form of blackheads and whiteheads caused by plugged pores of the skin. Blackheads are also called as open comedones and whiteheads are called as closed comedones. The second stage is pimples or zits. They are medically known as papules and pustules. Pimples form when the acne gets inflamed. Some people suffer from very large inflamed pimple that is cystic acne.

Scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring, such as administering a cortisone shot.