Skin Care

6 Pro Tips for Clearing up Cystic Acne for Good

Knock out even the most stubborn undergrounders with these expert-approved tricks.

by Melanie Rud Chadwick | COMMENT

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Do. Not. Pick. Put those hands where we can see 'em, please. Adopting a hands-off policy is a good rule to abide by when it comes to pimples in general, but it's especially important when it comes to cystic acne. "Unlike blackheads, these painful undergrounders don't necessarily have a connection to the surface of the skin. Picking them inevitably does more harm than good, causing inflammation, scabbing and scarring," explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "The rule is, if a whitehead doesn't form, which never happens if it's a true cyst, then hands off," adds Rouleau. Resist the urge to squeeze or pick, no matter how tempting it may be. (And trust us, we know it's oh-so-tempting.) If there's one bumpy blemish that you need to get rid of immediately, a trip to the derm for a cortisone shot will tamp down inflammation and bring the cyst down in a day, says Zeichner. Otherwise, icing any particularly painful or swollen blemishes can also help.

Image via Getty

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