If You Have Cystic Acne...

Get thee to a dermatologist!  Pronto!  As a veteran of the scary storms of cystic acne, (I have the scars to prove it!) let me say that if you have cystic acne your only option is to visit the dermatologist.  I'm not talking about the three little pimples that come to a head the next day.  If this is the case for you, then please see my post called "Skin Care Routine" and I'm sure your new friends will disappear in a jiffy. 

What I'm talking about right now is the deep, inflamed acne that never comes to a head and makes it look like you have a red ping pong ball sticking out of your face and basically ruins any social life you have in high school so you can't make any friends or go to the prom.  This type of acne ALWAYS leaves scars, even if you don't pick at it.  And there is very little you can do to cover this acne up with makeup because the skin around the pimple is so stretched out from the inflammation that when you try to apply concealer or foundation, everything just slides right off since there is no texture to your skin.

If you know what kind of pimples I am talking about right now, I can tell you that there is no product under the sun that will save you.  For me, my doctor had to prescribe a medication called Accutane, which had such strong side effects as thinning of hair and flaky lips.  And even though it got rid of most of my acne, I am still suffering from small bouts of cystic acne.  So please, don't wait too long like I did to see the dermatologist, because the longer you wait the more scars you will form.  And these kinds of scars you cannot ever laser off or cover up with makeup since they are just deep pits and trenches on your face.

Listen, don't treat it as a 'phase' you're going through, or a symptom of being young and having hormones.  It's serious, and it leaves its mark!  When I was a teenager with this problem, I don't think my parents understood the gravity of the situation, since they seemed to take it as a rough rite of passage into adulthood.  If you are a teenager dealing with cystic acne, you have to somehow get it across to your parents that it's a big thing.  

I know this news is hard to hear, but honestly, you will not find a cure-all at the drug store.  Again, my suggestion is that you find a dermatologist, and a good one.  And if they suggest some kind of spa treatment for your cystic acne, such as a glycolic peel or a salicylic peel, then you have run into the wrong kind of dermatologist.  Don't waste your time or money on these kinds of dermatologists, they are only addressing the result of your issue with acne; you want someone who's going to treat you from the inside out.

I hope this helps, and if you need help finding a dermatologist in your area, here is a website to help start you on your way: www.ucomparehealthcare.com/drs/dermatologists.  Good luck, and don't worry, there is hope for your cystic acne!

Love,

Geneys  :o)