Medications that help at this stage include:
- Prescription tretinoin products like Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, and Avita reverse the "stickiness" of the skin cells allowing them to slough normally.
- Prescription oral antibiotics also kill the P. acnes bacteria and are often used to calm down the infection with cystic acne.
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) may be prescribed to treat moderate to severe cystic acne. Accutane does have serious side effects and needs to be monitored closely if it is used.
Sources:
Habif, Thomas. "Acne, Rosacea, and Related Disorders." Clinical Dermatology, 4th Edition. Ed. Thomas Habif, MD. New York: Mosby, 2004. 167-71.
Zaenglein, Andrea and Diane Thiboutot. "Acne Vulgaris." Dermatology. Ed. Jean Bolognia. New York: Mosby, 2003: 531-5.
