Cystic acne is one of the most form of acne. Its severity is due to the fact that cystic acne penetrates deeply within the skin layers. The infection is much larger and more painful compared to usual forms of acne.

Acne cysts appear when sebum cannot properly flow to the surface of the skin. Injuries appear in the cells lining the walls of the sebum canals. When this happens the immune system responds sending its army of defender cells that issue chemicals to destroy what is causing the lesions: the sebum.

The skin pores also get blocked by the accumulation of excess sebum (oil) which becomes, in turn, a rich feeding ground for microbes that live inside the skin follicles or on the surface of the skin. The cycle gets exacerbated by the chemicals issued by the breakdown of sebum that occurs while those microbes are feeding themselves on. Your defensive system keeps sending its own defender chemicals that destroy everything there including healthy cells and you are left with scars or tissue loss.

Retention keratosis worsens the condition. This occurs when the skin cells especially those lining the gland are eliminated inadequately. Improper regeneration of cells leads to blocking of the skin follicles. Also, devitalized and damaged cells become an easy target for bacterial infections. The infection spills to other follicles which elevates the inflammation and redness. Localized swelling is also present.

Hormonal imbalance only adds to the woes. Augmented production of sebum can trigger frequent flare ups if the sebum canals are not clear for the outflow to reach swiftly to the surface of the skin. The skin turns highly sensitized and the cysts become prone to secondary infections. The lifestyle and the genetic background of a patient also influence the severity of acne.

Acne cysts take a lot of time to cure since the infection is deep established. Another problem with acne lesions or cysts is that they can lead to the formation of permanent scars. This occurs due to sheer negligence on your part or careless therapy procedures. Ugly skin discoloration can also appear.

Medical treatment is the best method to eliminate cysts and lesions. Most dermatologists prescribe Isotretinoin for efficient elimination of the cysts and the lesions. This drug is commercialized as Accutane, and is one of the popular acne drugs. The success rate of Accutane is as high as 80%. It acts by reducing the size of the oil glands thereby controlling acne production. Severe side effects like depression and suicidal tendencies have been detected in some patients. The drug should not be taken by pregnant women as it can harm the overall development of the child.

Another therapy available is cortisone injections. They are highly efficient, painless and yield instant relief. Cortisone reduces the inflammation, swelling and redness. This therapy is called as the intra-lesional corticosteroid therapy and deals with treating acne lesions, cysts and scars.