You have experienced acne and pimple outbreak at one point in your life. What you could have noticed is that these pimples came in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Some are large, with no heads, some are extremely painful, and some are just blackheads that easily pop out. However, the most confusing is cystic acne because it leaves you with so much to figure out. Cystic pimples break out deep within the skin, and the biggest challenge is knowing how to shrink a cystic pimple. We will give you a few tips on safely going cystic breakouts.
What Is a Cystic Pimple?
A cystic pimple is a form of acne that forms deep within the skin. Skin pores can sometimes collect dead skin cells, which clogs the pores when acne-causing bacteria are trapped in the pores, a red swelling. The swelling is filled with pus that may burst and spread the infection since the swelling is deep within the skin. The weird thing about cystic acne is that it can last for years if not treated.
How to Shrink a Cystic Pimple
It would help if you treated cystic acne as soon as you see one. People with acne-prone skin are especially susceptible to getting a cystic breakout that may end up leaving acne scars in the cystic acne spot. We will look at a few ways to reduce swelling and kin inflammation. The healing process is achievable through home remedies and by visiting a medical professional.
1) Ice Cold Compress
The ice cube can do wonders on your skin. Ice-cold temperatures reduce itchiness, swelling, and pain. The ice cube also reduces redness. You need to press the ice on your cheek to reduce inflammation and not stop until it starts getting uncomfortable. Rub the ice around the cystic acne twice or thrice a day.
You can use chilled green tea bag to rub around the cyst in place of ice and still achieve similar results. In addition, the tea bag will calm inflammation around the cyst, increasing the healing rate and preventing cystic acne in its severe form.
You can apply the cold press by wrapping the ice in a cold pack or a piece of cloth and applying it on the cystic pimples for about 10-minutes. Then, take a ten to fifteen-minute break and repeat this process, and soon enough, the skin inflammation will significantly reduce.
2) Hot Compress
Hot or warm compress works equally well in reducing inflammation and the discomfort caused by cystic pimple. Get a clean washcloth and place it in warm or hot water. Wring out all the excess water from the cloth and apply it to the cystic pimples for about ten minutes. You should be able to notice the heat, as long as it's not burning you up. Press the warm cloth against the cyst and do this twice or thrice a day.
The great green teabag is also useful in this case. You can compress a hot tea bag against the cystic pimples and wait for the magic to happen. The caffeine in green tea will constrict blood vessels below the skin surface, evening out the skin tone and reducing the swelling of the cystic pimple.
Remember that burning your skin will not do you any good. Be gentle on how you go about the cyst, and do not try to force them out. Hot water can lead to dry skin if not used in moderation. Dry skin is one cause of acne. Therefore, after compressing, moisturize the skin and ensure you do not have flaky skin.
3) Aspirin Mask
One interesting home remedy for the cystic pimple to try out is the aspirin mask. The mask is made by simply crashing aspirin tablets or using the aspirin powder and mixing it with water to create a thick paste. Use one tablespoon of water to ensure the mixture is pasty enough to create a mask when you apply it.
Once you make the paste, cleanse your face, especially around the cystic pimples where the mask will be. Once you have cleaned the skin well, apply the mask right on top of the pimple. Let the mask sit for about 15 minutes before you remove it. After the time has elapsed, use warm water to cleanse the patch thoroughly. Once the aspirin is rinsed off, moisturize your skin to avoid drying and flaking around the affected area.
Aspirin paste is a sure way to get rid of cystic pimple because aspirin contains anti-acne ingredients as salicylic acid that get rid of excess oil and dry skin.
4) Vinegar Cleanser
You can use white vinegar to cleanse your skin and to get rid of cystic acne. The vinegar kills acne-causing bacteria and reduces the inflammation caused by cystic pimples. However, you need to be sure to dilute the vinegar to avoid irritation, as undiluted vinegar can cause burns if not used carefully.
5) Diet
A good diet is an answer to almost all health issues. Some foods contain healthy bacteria that help fight acne-causing bacteria and get rid of cystic acne breakouts. Foods like kimchi, yogurt, and other foods have anti-inflammatory properties and bacteria that will reduce the chances of developing acne. The link between gut health and skin is strong, and acne can sometimes be attributed to an issue, not on the skin.
Getting rid of some foods from your diet can help reduce the chances of new breakouts. According to clinical research, you can pause on dairy foods like milk and cheese for about 3-weeks and monitor your skin to see if there are any changes. Processed foods and refined sugar can take a break from your diet for a while while you monitor yourself. The most effective treatment is prevention. If you have noticed that your cystic pimples result from your diet, it is time to change.
6) Turmeric Mask
Turmeric powder is known for its antiseptic properties that improve the health conditions of those that use the powder. Just like aspirin, you can use turmeric to make a paste to apply to your skin. Ensure the paste is well mixed to avoid any irritation from the powder.
7) Medical Options
You can treat cystic acne from home. Home remedies do work, but the process might be slow. For instance, raw honey and tea-tree oil have antimicrobial properties that give a clearer skin, but the process will take longer. Dermatologists might advise against some methods that irritate the skin, like the use of vinegar. There are medical ways to kill bacteria and to get rid of cysts that seem problematic.
Topical steroids can be injected into the cysts. Steroids shrink cystic acne almost immediately, making the method a very effective method to use. In addition, according to the doctor's prescription, oral antibiotics can kill the bacteria that cause cystic pimples when taken. Light-based therapy is a method that can also work if you prefer. Low-intensity laser therapy is known to take care of cysts, and the technology is fast spreading, with more people going for therapy.
What not to Do With Cystic Acne
i) Do Not Peel
Attempting to peel the surface of your acne cyst might lead to an injury and eventually scarring of your skin. Since the cyst is deep set within the skin, your attempts will only bruise the skin due to friction and eventually leaving a scar on the spot. You can get rid of the scar, but there is no need to get to that point if you can avoid it altogether. Trying to peel the scar will not decrease inflammation and might only make the situation worse because the cystic pimple will not come out using that method anyway.
ii) Do Not Use Harsh Products
Us the correct ratios when making pastes and masks to apply on the skin. Some products like vinegar may irritate if not used well. Alcohol-based products are not recommended for use on the skin because there is a chance they might irritate. Use purified water each time you are mixing the masks to encourage clearer skin and reduce further breakouts.
iii) Do not Use Very Hot Water.
Some methods, like hot pressing, involve the use of hot water. However, you should not use water that will cause burns to your skin. Hot water can cause severe burns if enough care is not taken. The best thing to do is let the towel or the teabag cool off a bit before applying them to your skin. Tea bags have a thin layer that will transfer all the heat from the tea leaves. The objective is to get nicotine transferred and not burns.
Hot water causes dry skin. Therefore, after using hot water when cleansing, apply moisturizer on your skin to prevent dryness and flaking. Dry skin will encourage more acne on your skin by leading to the production of dead skin, which ends up clogging the pores.
iv) Do not Overdose on any Prescribed Medication.
Overdosing will not accelerate any process except your poisoning. Medicine is foreign to the body and should only be taken in prescribed doses. When you overdose, you are harming the body more than you are getting rid of the cysts. The body might end up employing defense mechanisms that might not be pleasant.
How to Avoid Cystic Acne
a) Shave with Care
Shaving exposes a lot of germs to the skin pores that might lead to infections. When shaving, you are scraping off oils, dead skin, and germs in the process. Cleanse your face before shaving to avoid the transfer of any germs into the pores. Use a shaving method that does not irritate the skin or cause bumps. Find the best method that will work for your skin without causing any irritation. Use after-shave to cleanse the skin further and take care of your skin with maximum caution to avoid breakouts.
b) Avoid Tanning
The sun dehydrates the skin. Dehydrated skin tends to produce more oil that eventually clogs the pores, leading to the formation of acne, including cystic acne. The skin is not meant to be under UV exposure for a very long time. The sun damages the skin and can lead to skin cancer.
If you might be exposed to the sun at any point in your day, wear sunscreen at all times. Sunscreen with a good SPF rating will help a great deal when the sun is harsh. Beauty products can have sunscreen on them. Always be sure to check for sunscreen in the description before buying any beauty products.
c) Avoid Popping Pimples
Cystic acne forms deep within the skin. Attempting to pop the pimples might lead to reinfection of the parts that were not infected before. Popping pimples do not get rid of cystic pimples since they are deep-set and probably do not have eyes. You may end up having an injury, redness, and more swelling.
d) Avoid Touching your Face
Touching your face transfers germs from the surfaces, you have touched all day. Try and count how many things you touch on any given day, and you will realize that the best thing to do is to sanitize and wash your hands thoroughly every time before touching your face. There is a chance you are reading this from your phone, and you realize you do not remember the last time you cleaned the surface of your phone, yet your phone comes with you everywhere, including the bathroom.
e) Avoid Some Makeup Products
Not all makeup is good for your skin. Some products are perfumed, meaning they have ingredients that might irritate the skin. Heavy makeup might block pores and make the skin less breathable. Regulate the amount of makeup you use at any given time. When removing makeup, use a moisturizer to avoid the skin becoming dry and flaky.
You might be tempted to cover your pimples using makeup. Do not. Try and treat the pimples completely before trying on makeup. Avoiding makeup when having pimples will reduce reinfection and will give your skin the time to heal. Without makeup, you have the chance to apply home-based remedies, including masks and creams.
