Effective Home Remedies for Cystic Acne

Acne affects about 72.3% of adolescents and 27% of the adult population in India. The condition occurs differently in every individual and thus requires personalised treatment solutions.

While you must contact dermatologists for severe cases of cystic acne, you can try remedies for mild pimples at home. This article discusses the top home remedies for pimples, approved by expert dermatologists.

Understanding Cystic Acne

To find the correct home remedies for pimples, you must understand the type and severity of your acne. In addition, the nature and sensitivities of your skin also play a part in the effectiveness of each remedy.

What is Cystic Acne?

Cystic pimples often occur in clogged hair follicles and skin pores due to the accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This form of acne mostly appears on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and arms.

One identifying feature of cystic acne is that it is painful to the touch and resembles boils. It occurs deep in the skin and appears pus-filled on the surface. Therefore, it may also cause scarring and cystic spots.

Cystic pimples usually worsen if your skin is inflamed or irritated.

Causes of Cystic Acne

The most common causes of cystic breakouts are listed below:

• Clogged Pores: Skin pores clogged with bacteria, oil, and dead cells lead to skin inflammation, which manifests as acne.
• Clogged Hair Follicles: The skin layer containing the hair follicles carries out keratinisation, the production of the primary hair protein called keratin. Sebum, or skin oil, is produced as a part of this process. Plugging the hair follicles enhances keratinisation, resulting in sebum production. This makes the skin oily and creates a favourable breeding ground for bacteria.
• Hormones: The hormone androgen is known to play a part in causing cystic acne. Imbalances in testosterone, oestrogen, and progesterone levels may also contribute.

Home Remedies for Pimples and Cystic Acne

Several home ingredients are known to have medicinal and healing properties. You can exploit the qualities of some of these components to devise natural pimple remedies. The following sections discuss some of the best dermatologist-approved home remedies for pimples.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It prevents bacterial buildup and irritation of the skin.

You can use pure tea tree oil with carrier oil as an effective natural remedy for pimples.

1. Take 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with 10–12 drops of almond or coconut oil.
2. Mix the two components and gently massage them on your face.
3. Avoid massaging if you have multiple breakouts, and lightly dab the oil mixture directly on the affected areas instead.;
4. Repeat this tear tree oil routine twice a day for best results.

Note: While it is one of the most effective home remedies for pimples, you should never apply concentrated tea tree oil to your face. It can irritate your skin and lead to further breakouts.

Honey and Cinnamon

Honey is known for its medicinal and soothing properties. It is anti-inflammatory and prevents your skin from drying.

Cinnamon has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-parasitic qualities. Therefore, it prevents bacterial buildup and inflammation on your skin.

1. Mix cinnamon and honey in a 1:3 ratio.
2. Heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Ensure the mixture is not hot before applying it to the affected areas.
3. Leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse it with water and pat it dry.

Note: Unprocessed honey and cinnamon are advised for best results and minimal risk of irritation. Manuka honey and true cinnamon are the best combination for cystic pimple treatment at home.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If used correctly, apple cider vinegar can be one of the most beneficial home remedies for pimples.

It contains lactic, gallic, chlorogenic, and protocatechuic acids. Lactic acid is known to reduce scarring.

1. Mix one part apple cider vinegar with three to four parts water.
2. Dab the mixture into the affected area.
3. Use daily or twice a week, as per your skin's sensitivity.

Note that apple cider vinegar may dry the skin. Do not apply concentrated vinegar, as it can cause further irritation.

Green Tea

Green tea contains the polyphenol catechin, which has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Moreover, it is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an anti-androgenic compound. EGCG lowers androgen levels and, thus, reduces sebum production.

To combat cystic pimples, drink green tea regularly or prepare a face pack with the same.

For the latter:

1. Take out the tea leaves from one or two teabags.
2. Blend them into a powder.
3. Mix the powder with honey or water and apply to the affected areas.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the solution to several health, skin, and hair concerns. Its main component is curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. Hence, it is one of the most commonly used home remedies for pimples.

1. Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder with water or unrefined sesame oil.
2. Apply to the affected spots.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is infamous for its skin-soothing properties and is a popular ingredient in various skin and hair care products. It's a natural, cost-effective way to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. This succulent's antibacterial properties target pimple-causing bacteria, helping keep them at bay. It's also a natural anti-inflammatory, reducing redness and swelling that make pimples so noticeable.

Bonus: Aloe vera's wound-healing properties can speed up the disappearance of existing blemishes. Apply directly to pimples or use as a gentle cleanser to keep skin balanced and breakouts under control.

Lifestyle Tips for Managing Cystic Acne

Your lifestyle deeply affects your skin’s health. So, when managing a skin concern, making healthy and necessary changes to your lifestyle is crucial. Adopt the following dermatologist-approved tips:

Skincare Routine

Adopt a skincare routine suitable to your skin type and concerns and follow it religiously. Keep the steps fewer and the products fewer. This lowers your chances of skin irritation.

Dermatologists suggest a moisturiser and sunscreen as vital to every skincare regime. Do not soap-wash your face more than twice a day.

Diet and Nutrition

Dairy foods and sugar are known to aggravate pimples in many cases. So cut off the dairy products and sweets and notice the difference in a few days.

Stress Management

Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, which may cause cystic acne. Practice stress management activities like:

1. Deep breathing
2. Meditation
3. Indulging in things you love
4. Yoga

Sleep Quality

Hormonal levels are also associated with your sleep quality. Sleep loss can increase your cortisol levels, further disturbing your sleep.

Decide on a time frame for going to bed and waking up. Try to follow the same schedule every day. It is advised to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.

Precautions and Considerations

Home remedies for pimples can be highly effective. However, your skin can react poorly to different components and concentrations of certain ingredients. Therefore, it is best to be aware of your allergies and sensitivities, if any, and avoid such components.

Some precautions you can take are discussed below.

Patch Test

Whenever trying something new on your skin, perform a patch test at least 24 hours before the actual use. This prevents unwanted skin reactions and screens the products for safe use.

Dermatologist Consultation

Cystic pimples should ideally be addressed by dermatologists. Visiting an expert prevents you from trying potentially irritating ingredients. The doctors study your pimples and ask a few questions before suggesting the best treatments.

Conclusion

Nature has bestowed several medicinal and healing ingredients upon us. While many of them can act as a miracle cystic pimple treatment at home, you will require some adjustments in your lifestyle, diet, and sleep habits.

Dr Batra's Clinic offers cystic pimple treatment at the hands of highly experienced and accomplished skin specialists. We keep the principles of homoeopathy at the heart of every treatment and service. This allows us to get to the root of your concerns and address them.

Our homoeopathic methods relieve you of your issues forever or for a long time with minimal to no risk of side effects. From personalised care to a comfortable environment and thorough treatments to the hi-tech clinic setup, we have set up a patient-centred system to ensure your comfort and provide you with the best treatments.