1. Health

How Acne Forms

From , former About.com Guide

Updated October 28, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

7 of 7

Acne - Cyst
How Acne Forms
At times when the sebaceous material and bacteria leak into the surrounding skin, the infection spreads wider and deeper causing scarring and the formation of nodules or cysts. These are the deep "pizza face" acne lesions that are very painful and resistant to over-the-counter treatments.

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.

  1. About.com
  2. Health
  3. Dermatology
  4. Acne
  5. Acne - How Acne Forms - Cystic Acne

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.