Best Products for Cystic Acne

December 4th, 2024

Written by: Ashleigh Torres

This post is all about the best products for cystic acne.

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Ah, cystic acne—the deep, stubborn villain of the skincare world. If you’re dealing with it, you know the struggle is real. It’s not just any old pimple; it’s a full-on production, complete with pain, redness, and often, a flair for the dramatic. But guess what? The secret to the best products for cystic acne is actually to calm down (literally) before going in all aggressive. Let’s get into why calming the inflammation is key and which products will help you ditch the drama.

Step 1: Calm the Skin (Yes, Before Using All the Active Stuff)

Let’s set the record straight: one of the worst things you can do for cystic acne is to pile on a bunch of aggressive ingredients when your skin is already raging. It’s literally adding fuel to a fire—that’s what harsh actives can do if your skin’s already inflamed. Instead, start with a “chill-out” approach to get your skin prepped first. Once it’s calmed down, it’ll actually respond way better to those actives later.

Here are the best products for cystic acne that keep things calm:

1. SkinBetter Cleansing Gel – This mild, foaming gel gently and thoroughly cleanses the skin and removes makeup. It features a skin-soothing blend and is designed for use on compromised or sensitive skin.
2. Epicutis Lipid Serum – With only eight ingredients, this gentle formula is an essential member of your healing arsenal, it helps reduce redness and gives your skin a serious dose of TLC. This one makes even the angriest acne chill out a bit.

Step 2: Now, Let’s Bring in the Actives (But Only Once the Skin is Chilled Out)

Okay, so you’ve given your skin some time to cool off. After about two weeks of being gentle and hydrating, you’re finally ready to bring out the big guns: benzoyl peroxide. It’s one of the best products for cystic acne, but only when used strategically. After the chill phase, benzoyl peroxide can target acne-causing bacteria without freaking your skin out.

Here’s a couple of options to try:

4. FaceReality Sulfur Spot Treatment – Around the clock blemish rescue. Sulfur Spot Treatment is gentle yet potent with a combination of 6% sulfur and an innovative peptide that speeds up the healing process of your inflamed acne lesions. I swear by this stuff! If I feel a deep, painful breakout coming on, I’ll put this on morning and night and it will be gone within a couple days.
5. PCASkin Acne Cream – If you want to go pro, add this to your morning routine when you feel a breakout coming on. It’s a gentle BPO acne spot-treatment that clears existing blemishes and prevents cystic spots from forming in the first place.

Step 3: Get Glowy from the Inside with an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This one’s a little less fun, but it’s truly a game changer for clear skin. Cystic acne often responds really well to an anti-inflammatory diet. Think whole foods, lean proteins, and lots of colorful veggies. You’d be surprised how much of a difference your food choices can make!

Here are a few “skin food” picks to consider:

• Omega-3 rich foods – Salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds are packed with omega-3s, which help fight inflammation from the inside out.
• Leafy greens – Think spinach, kale, all the green goodness. These foods are packed with antioxidants, which support clearer, calmer skin.
• Probiotics – Yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut bring in good bacteria to help keep your gut happy and, as a bonus, your skin glowing.

FAQ – Because We’ve All Got Questions

• Can I wear makeup while treating cystic acne?
  In moderation! It’s best to let your skin breathe as much as possible. It’s also important to consider that makeup could be clogging your pores if you’re wearing a lot of it, or if there is an ingredient in the makeup your skin doesn’t agree with. Mineral makeup is usually best, or tinted sunscreens!
• What if my skin gets irritated?
  If you feel any dryness, redness, or flakiness, back off the actives and go back to Step 1: Chill Mode. It’s better to ease into it than to go overboard and set yourself back.
• Do I still need to moisturize if I have cystic acne?
  Absolutely! Even oily or acne-prone skin needs hydration. Skipping moisturizer can actually make things worse, as your skin might overproduce oil to compensate.

There you have it, the best products for cystic acne.

When it comes to finding the best products for cystic acne, patience and strategy are key. Start with calming ingredients to create a solid foundation, then slowly introduce actives like benzoyl peroxide to kick acne to the curb. And don’t forget the internal side of things—your skin loves a good anti-inflammatory diet. Stick to this game plan, and cystic acne will go from your worst enemy to a distant memory.