Cystic acne

[cosmo30]

My face is just getting worse and worse. I suffer from what I think is cystic acne, big, painful, headless spots under the skin and so painful and itchy! All over my jawline, chin and cheeks. I have pcos so I know it's my hormones.
I've tried duac gel, antibiotics. Nothing works. My face is becoming scarred aswell from them. They last forever, literally months. My newest addition is right by my nose on my cheek and is so attractive.
Can anyone help?? What else could I try? I've bought some magnesium paste which I'm going to put on tonight aswell

Sorry, I had this (I do not have PCOS or insulin resistance) and tried all that, too. Only Roaccutane worked. For some people with PCOS, combined pill like Yasmin worked for them, though. Honestly, you need to see a dermatologist, it'll work out cheaper than spending money and yet more internet cures.

I get these too I've had latest one on my jaw for about 2 weeks and it's enormous, painful and looks awful. So glad I can cover them up for Skype calls as I've always found them so embarrassing at my age!

I've tried everything too. Not sure what else is out there but keep hoping something works!

My DD suffered for years and was prescribed antibiotics and two separate types of the pill, which didn't have any effect. Like a PP, only roaccutane had any effect and her skin is clear now. She went through a referral via her GP.

Been there OP, I have PCOS too and had cystic acne. Tried everything - creams, gels, antibiotics, about a dozen different types of the pill, private aesthetician appointments....

The only thing that worked was roaccutane. It changed my life. I cant even tell you how much it helped and has improved my mental health and confidence.

I went to the GP and they referred me to an NHS dermatologist and they prescribed it to me on my first appointment.

Good luck x

Oh man. Ttc so definitely not something that can be used yet for me. Although at least I now know that's the only cure. Thanks everyone

I used roaccutane too. Nothing else works on cystic it’s a serious bacterial infection in the skin.

Sorry to say, Roaccutane is the only thing that cleared up my cystic acne.

I’ve had roaccutane twice and it worked. But the acne came back both times. I wouldn’t take it again, my vision decreased both times I went on it and since the last time I have been suffering near daily migraines. It seems to have triggered them in me.
For my skin now I use benzoyl peroxide from acne.org. A pea size amount am and pm with cerave moisturiser before it. My skin is not perfect but it’s 95% there and I’m happy with it. It’s safe while ttc and pregnant too. Ive also had a bit of success with azelaic acid on prescription which is also safe while pregnant.
It sucks. Good luck!!

I've started to get these and have bought some eradikate by Kate Somerville. It didn't stop it but reduced the pain and length slightly. Also had the bonus effect of sucking up all the filaments on my nose
Will look at roccutane...

In the middle to long term - GP and/or dermatologist needed.

In the short term I have had some success with- hot (as hot as you can stand) compresses, and bizarrely sudocream.

Mine is mainly stress induced and not constant so I’ve not gone down the gp route myself, but worth you trying things whilst you wait for an appt maybe?

Lymecycline worked well for me whilst on it, kicked in after a month but chin lumps restarted when course finished.

Had low dose Roac for I think 4 months.

Been off it for circa 15 months and only had one lump since.

I get th
is and it is so painful. I stupidly try and squeeze them which never works. I've bought salycillic acid from suoerdrug and that helps a bit.

I use Hibiscrub on my chin and around my nose - I do believe it helps. Then Acnecide or Acne.org BP gel.

www.boots.com/hibiscrub-skin-cleanser-250ml-1-bottle-10086267

Honestly, only Roaccutane worked for me.

Those cystic lumps are horrendous, mine would take weeks (months) to subside and new ones would emerge before the old ones were gone. My skin was scarred red from all the stretching (not from picking, which you can’t even do when they never come to a head!)

Roaccutane. Tried everything else; nothing worked.

Would not hesitate to go back on it if I ever needed to, or hesitate to put my daughter on it in years to come if she inherits my cystic acne predisposition. It is HORRENDOUS and I have every sympathy Op x

Speak to the GP. I have PCOS and suffer badly from ingrown hairs and resulting spots on my chin, so didn't really notice the cystic acne too until it was quite bad - assumed it was just more bad spots... huge hard lumps making my chin look quite a different shape from all angles!

Finally mentioned it to a GP who prescribed Lymecycline and it cleared it up in a week - I am not kidding. I now 'just' have a hairy chin to deal with but that is a hell of a lot more bearable on its own!

I bought the Tria clear blue light and it has worked wonders. I bought it in desperation thinking it would be a gimmick but a couple of months down the line and my skin is remarkably clearer, I hardly get any spots now let alone cystic acne.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will look into the alternatives posters have suggested! I tried the magnesium paste btw, did nothing apart from make the newest addition extremely angry 😂😩 absolutely kills now!

Benzoyl peroxide worked for me, get as strong as possible 10% cream I had. It made. My skin really dry but it killed the acne. I also went oil free with makeup, that has made a huge difference to my skin.

2% retinol from ordinary worked for me

Go and speak to your dr. A course of antibiotics might work.

I had cystic acne and didnt want to try accutane so my GP prescribed a topical treatment, Zineryt. Dont think this made much difference but what I found really worked was daily LED treatments on a home bought mask and home microdermabrasion around the spots, not on them! This unclogged the areas around them and reduced scarring. I also use a salicylic acid cleanser and retinol serum.

In March, I had cystic acne all down my cheeks, along and under my jaw. Now I only get the occasional spot under my jaw. Wanted to let you know as I used to cry about my skin.

You poor thing, that sounds painful.

I recommended Paula’s Choice 2% BHA to a friend who was suffering with cystic acne - it made a massive improvement.

You can get a trial sized bottle for £8, so worth a try - sweep it all over your face with a cotton pad and it will help remove dead skin cells and break down clogged pores:
www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant-m2010.html#start=0&top=587.265625

Something like The Ordinary’s Niacinamide with Zinc will also help with your sebum production and calm the inflammation: www.cultbeauty.co.uk/the-ordinary-niacinamide-10-zinc-1.html

Wish you better xx

Did you say the spots were itchy? It might be fungal acne. I had that once and the spots were so itchy, plus I could feel them coming up: blog.daveasprey.com/fungal-acne-treatment-pityrosporum-malassezia-folliculitis/

I had cystic acne for years, and the only thing that worked was Dianette (combined oral contraceptive pill) but I had to come off it as the hormones made me feel really mentally unbalanced. As soon as I came off it the big, cystic lumps came back... until my doctor prescribed Lymecycline. That has totally sorted it, and absolutely no side effects! The spots come back if I stop taking it though, so I am taking it indefinitely. I’ve been on it two years now, and I’m happy to continue, as my skin is the best it has ever been.