A few weeks ago, I posted about the best method I’ve found to cover cystic acne (you can check that out here) – but covering it is only half the battle.
If you’re unfamiliar with cystic acne, it’s those hard, red, itchy and painful bumps that form under the skin but never quite come to a head. It’s very uncomfortable, to say the least, and with each one comes a MAJOR hit to your self confidence. It’s something I’ve struggled with as long as I can remember.
Unfortunately there is no cure for cystic acne. It’s a serious dermatological condition that often times sends people running straight for the nearest dermatologist. There are heavy duty prescription medications that can both be applied topically or taken internally, but those come with a whole host of nasty side effects and possible long term damage.
Since we’re living in times where people finally recognize the damaging effects of prescription drugs, most of us like to try and treat things naturally before resorting to pharmaceuticals. This includes me. I suffered tremendously in the beginning of my pregnancy (thanks a lot, hormones!) and of course, couldn’t do a damn thing about it except cover them up and ride it out. So I went on the hunt for natural treatments that wouldn’t hurt my baby. And while I still get one from time to time, and my son is over a year old already, I still keep these things on hand and use them regularly to try to head off a cystic breakout, or treat one before it gets too out of hand.
Keep reading if you want to find out what I do to treat them, and how these products can help you!
EXFOLIATE
This is probably one of the best preventative steps. Acne in general forms when your pores become blocked by dead skin cells that trap bacteria, dirt, and sebum (oil) beneath the surface. Exfoliating twice a week with a mild exfoliator will help to keep your skin soft and smooth, but also keep your dead skin cells from blocking your pores. My personal favorite is the Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Facial Polishing Mask ($5/ULTA), not just for the exfoliating action but because it contains charcoal too, which helps to draw out impurities, keeping your skin that much cleaner.
CLEANSE
Most people think they need a heavily medicated cleanser in order to treat their acne, be it regular mild acne or cystic acne. They generally reach for that 10% Benzoyl Peroxide stuff you see popping up on the shelves. Don’t do that. It’s actually stripping your skin of the oils it needs to keep itself hydrated. When that oil is gone, your skin produces more to compensate – but this is where the cause of the breakouts lies – if you’re skin is producing more oil, and your pores are already clogged, where does that oil come out? IT DOESN’T. So it gets trapped in your pores, causing these painful blemishes. I used to use the stronger cleansers, but after much research, found that something with just 2% Salicylic Acid was more than enough. I like the Walgreens Oil Free Acne Wash ($7) – it’s comparable to the Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash, but for whatever reason, this works BETTER for me than that.
TONE
I used to skip toner – ‘why bother? I just washed my face!’. Yeah, except that when you wash your face, sometimes there is residual cleanser or even a little bit of makeup left behind (it happens to me in that crease between my nose and my cheek). Many people use Witch Hazel as a toner, and that’s great – I actually found that mixing my own works well for me. I saved an old toner bottle from some Cindy Crawford beauty products my mom had bought me (which I was NOT a fan of) and filled half of it with water. The rest I used equal parts of Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (which can be found in most grocery stores or click the link), Witch Hazel (any brand will do) and a few drops of 100% Tea Tree Oil. Apple cider vinegar has long since been recognized for it’s bountiful benefits to the body, inside and out. Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic, and even makes a great spot treatment!
MOISTURIZE
Back when I was pregnant with my son, there were few things I could put on my skin that I wasn’t worried about hurting him (I had a rough pregnancy and spent 9 months paranoid on webMD), but after some research on good ol’ Pinterest, I decided to try coconut oil. More specifically, extra virgin, organic, cold pressed coconut oil. I know, it seems counterproductive to put oil on my skin after I used a cleanser to strip it away. So I stopped wearing makeup for like, a week (I know, right?!) and used the coconut oil twice a day after my cleanser. After that first week, I noticed the bumps had shrunk significantly – after the second week I didn’t feel the NEED to wear makeup! Coconut oil is antibacterial and antifungul, and like the ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) has many, many uses and health benefits all over the body. All you need is a small amount, and YOU WILL LOOK GREASY so don’t use this and then try to apply makeup over it. Start by using it at night, so it can really absorb into the skin as you sleep. Give it a couple weeks, and you’ll see a major difference! Right now I’m working my way through a jar of Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil ($12/amazon.com), but you can use what’s local to you.
SPOT TREAT
So here’s where it gets interesting – there are a few products that I use to spot treat with. It depends on preference, availability, etc.
As soon as I feel that telltale itchy spot on my face, partnered with the small but soon-to-grow hard little lump, I immediately apply a dab of Tea Tree Oil. Make sure you’re getting 100% pure TTO though. Many commercial brands have fillers, diluting the strength of it. It does have a very strong smell, so be prepared. You can dilute it with a little water, or even a carrier oil like Jojoba Oil.
Next, I like to alternate between two products, and apply them as often as possible. If there are days I don’t have to be out anywhere and face the public, I wear a spot treatment all day and night! (There was the one time I forgot I had it on and actually went to pick up my husband at work like that, but that’s for another time) I go back and forth between a sulfur based spot treatment like Bye Bye Blemish Drying Lotion ($8), and Desitin Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Ointment ($6). Yes, diaper cream. I use this brand specifically because it contains 40% Zinc Oxide, which is like zit kryptonite, and has minimal inactive ingredients to further aggravate my already angry skin. Apply this faithfully and you’ll see a major difference in only a day or two!
Guys, thank you for enduring that lengthy post – but as someone who’s suffered with this condition for many, many years, I desperately wanted to share this information and how I treat cystic acne especially, because if someone had shared this with ME way back when it probably would have saved me hundreds of dollars and years of hiding my face in embarrasment! I truly hope this helps any of you who deal with breakouts like these!
Have you guys ever suffered through blemishes like this? How do you treat them? Leave me a comment below!
And as always, please go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook! There’s a giveaway happening in the near future and you don’t want to miss how to enter!
LOTS OF LOVE & CLEAR SKIN!
Affordable Gorgeous 