A cyst is a very, very severe type of acne, which results from nodules being filled with bacteria, dead skin, and blood. As you already know, cysts can be, and are, very painful and by their very nature they damage skin tissue. This can result in severe scarring, so it is wise to treat any cyst that you have as soon as possible.

How does acne turn into a cyst?

Acne is the result of a mixture of things such as pores that are clogged with dead skin and dirt combined with an overproduction of natural oil. This creates an idea environment for acne causing bacteria to live a reproduce, which create the bacterial infection known as acne. Once infection occurs, acne progresses in a series of stages. The first stage is caused by clogged pores and it shows it's self in the form of small, almost unnoticeable blackheads and whiteheads. While these little bumps seem innocent, they actually are not. This is because they contain all of the necessary ingredients to develop into the second stage of acne. This stage is caused by the small blackheads and whiteheads that went untreated, and it is characterized by nasty puss leaking pimples and zits, which are medically known as papules. If you are an acne sufferer then you have undoubtedly already had many occurrences of the second stage of acne, but it is the third stage that this article will focus on, which is called cystic acne. This third stag is caused by pimples and zits that are not treated, which then develop into even worse bacterial skin infections. Cystic acne is characterized by very large, swelled bumps, which extend deep into the skin. If untreated, this type of acne can cause severe and permanent scarring. In the following paragraph you will learn what you can do if you or someone you know if suffering from cystic acne.

Because cystic acne is the most severe type of acne it should be met with the most effective, extreme forms of treatments. These treatments are so extreme in fact, which you will not be able to administer them yourself, but rather you will need to make a trip to your doctor. Once you make the decision to see your doctor concerning your cystic acne you will be able to begin immediate treatment. The initial treatment may include oral and topical antibiotics. The next step that your doctor may take if this does not work may be a steroidal injection. Last, if the two previous treatment options do not work, your doctor may result to a very potent form of treatment known as isotretinoin, which is a very strong form of Vitamin A. This cystic acne treatment can help treat all the major reasons for cystic acne which include excess oil production, stopped up pores, and bacterial infection.

If you do decide to undergo one or more of these treatment options you should know that there are possible side effects associated with each.

Oral antibiotics or broad-spectrum antibiotics have the least side effects associated with them. Some people may experience diarrhea, vomiting or upset stomach. I personally have experienced dizziness and lightheadedness while taking various forms of oral antibiotics. So, this is something you may want to talk with your doctor about, especially if you operate heavy equipment.

If you are a woman then it may be of interest to you that oral contraceptives can treat various forms of bacterial infection, including acne and cystic acne. This can mean that if you already are considering taking an oral contraceptive, you may be able to knock out two birds with one stone.

Steroidal injections have several side effects associated with them, the scope of which is beyond this article. I would recommend researching the topic, in-depth, before you decide to undergo steroidal injections. A great place to begin your research is WebMd.