When I was in high school, I suffered from cystic acne for about six months. Believe it or not, of all things, I was very stressed about tennis. Although I preferred hanging out with my punk peers, as a teenager I was fully committed to a professional tennis career. Every spring I would train with a coach and vent my teenage angst on the court, and the more pressure I put on myself, the more susceptible I was to developing one of the most painful forms of acne. The lumps were soft, painful, and most of the time impossible to pop; I would happily scratch in my sleep due to anxiety about upcoming competitions and tryouts, only to wake up with my face literally eating itself. I needed a boost of confidence on the court, and I didn't need cystic acne to destroy my much-needed balance to hit returns my opponents never had a chance to hit. Whatever the reason, tennis is very much an image sport. Neat hair, cute little dresses, and elegant demeanor are the keys to getting into more prestigious coaching; I use topical cortisone ointment to quickly treat vomit-covered cystic acne. I was lucky: for a while, it worked.
Try: Cortizone - 10, $7, Amazon
It wasn’t until my junior year of college that it showed up again, and this time it came with a vengeance. I was so nervous about my poetry and unexpected life changes that I literally developed cysts on my face, which were invisible from a distance but often became tender and painful. I saw another dermatologist and received a similar treatment, which relieved my cystic acne, but it left poop on my face dry and didn't even try to heal the scars. Of course, this only made me more stressed – and the cycle continued. continue. continue.
Here’s what I learned: Cystic acne is a genetic disorder. It can be caused by overactive sebaceous glands or an overabundance of acne-causing bacteria. They're inflamed "pimples" that, for me, are usually under the skin, which means that even though they're not visible to the public, I can often feel them - until I start messing with them. As an adult, cystic acne only affects me at the most dire times: writer's block, the death of a friend, heartbreak, and Hurricane Sandy all resulted in severe acne breakouts. That's why I want to go on record and say that I was in serious denial about cystic acne until I realized hormones and stress were common triggers.
The thought of using topical steroids makes me want to crawl under the covers and watch reruns of Law & Order: SVU for the rest of my life (luckily, there are probably enough marathons on cable TV that I can do that); I've thrown in the towel on most over-the-counter products except for a few - none of which are specific to cystic acne, of course. Sources say the best skin treatments for cystic acne are plant-based cleansers and natural skin care. Even though I maintained a completely natural skin care regimen, I was extremely frustrated to see my cystic acne begin to flare up.
I finally found a topical treatment that is completely natural, safe, and affordable. If you are battling this painful form of acne, you must try these tips. Of course, crawling under the bed and waiting for them to go away on their own is an option, but even though Emma Stone also suffers from cystic acne, she's still making some hit movies and looking like she's doing a damn good job at it.
These recipes have started to address my deep-rooted skin issues and lighten the spots they leave behind. In fact, it was so good I had to share it!
1.Honey Mask
Raw honey is one of my favorite moisturizers. Honey has antiseptic properties and can heal scars like a boss. It also cures acne-related bacteria and heals wounds and scars from cystic acne. I've stepped up my sweet game with my latest round of crazy hormones; I'm soaking my face in my favorite raw honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg face mask three times a week. You'll get the added benefit if you use Manuka honey, which is known to heal scars faster. Most over-the-counter cystic acne treatments can dry out your skin, and even natural treatments can dry out your skin somewhat, so this will restore your skin's moisture without clogging your pores.
Manuka Doctor Bioactive Honey, $20, Amazon
2. Facial mask
This mask is my lifesaver. Cystic acne may break out due to an imbalance in pH. This is something I try to control, but all these bad habits I indulge in every day are not helping my situation at all. I mix equal parts lemon juice (an excellent astringent, skin repairer, and skin whitening agent) with apple cider vinegar, which restores pH levels and contains some very important probiotics: for fighting cystic acne Key elements. Then pour in organic turmeric powder; turmeric can act as an anti-inflammatory, reducing the redness and pain of those embarrassing bumps. Add enough spices to form a delicious, potent paste and leave it on your face for about 5 minutes.
Let’s be honest: This is the jam for cystic acne. My advice is that if you have suffered from this disease before, you should know when it starts to strike. Get it when it starts and this natural remedy will have you camera-ready in just days!
Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, $10, Amazon Indus Organic Turmeric Powder, $11, Amazon
3. Baking soda and Epson salt
This mask means business, y'all. In fact, I was worried about the mask being drying and would recommend using it as a spot treatment before applying it all over your face. Even though baking soda turns out to be one of the most versatile substances I've ever had the pleasure of using, it's very alkalizing. Dilute baking soda and Epson salt with warm water (enough to form a paste) and apply to the affected area: allow the solution to harden, then rinse off with warm water. Start using it once a day, then try twice a day, checking the area on the third day to make sure it's effective. Three days of treatment will increase your chances of getting rid of rough episodes. What if you want to add a little oil to relieve dryness caused by these ingredients? I recommend using clove oil – it’s known to be a warrior in the fight against cystic acne, but if you add clove oil, be sure to dilute it appropriately as this essential oil is very powerful.
100% Pure Therapeutic Clove Oil, $8, Amazon
4. Selected drinks
Once your stool starts to go erratic, you have to add water. Even if you don't normally suffer from cystic acne, any outbreaks will be eliminated more quickly if you drink three liters of water a day. Diet has a lot to do with the onset of disease. I try to squeeze at least half a lemon into the H20 when I drink water. Vitamin C removes toxins from the body (which is why I add it to the mask) and strengthens your immune system.
5. When in doubt, ice it
I've tried steam techniques before to reduce inflammation in cystic acne. They did work when I had some pimples that needed to be removed with old kisses, but nothing beats icing the infected area. Just like icing a sprained ankle, applying cold pressure can reduce swelling and actually freeze your skin pores, removing dirt and oil. This method works best with individual cysts, not clusters; unless you have the time and patience to apply the ice cubes evenly to each individual inflamed area.
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