does exfoliating with salicylic acid help with cystic acne or is it meant for more non inflamed acne?

Is the cause of cystic acne dead skin cell related or more deeper within the dermis problems?

I started developing cystic acne a year ago. I tried a lot of different things to help it. Sadly, I made a lot of mistakes taking care of my face that made my condition get worse, so much so that I had to begin accutane. I hope you won't end up there. So, here's what I've learned...

1.) If you're female and the acne is located on your jaw area, it most likely hormonal related. Try birth control pills that can help with acne. Or, you may be able to use a natural progesterone cream to help. Talk to your doctor about what if best for you.

2.) :naughty: Do not pop your cysts, that will spread the infection. I kept hearing this, but didn't believe it. :snooty: Now I do! :redface: Leave them alone, they will go away on their own. Better to live with one ugly cyst than creating two more ugly cysts the next week.

3.) Add fish oil into your diet. I've read great things about fish oil over other essential fatty acids as it relates to acne. Unfortunately, I read about it after I was on accutane.

4.) If you want to try exfoliating, which should help some, use a gentle one and only use it a couple times a week. On some of the days you are not exfoliating, you might like to use a facial mask for acne/blackheads. My favorite is The Orginal Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene.

5.) Don't wait too long to get into the Dermatologist. They can suggest laser treatments, or antibiotics that can help before it gets too far along and out of control.

6.) The biggest mistake :doh: I made (SO NEVER DO THIS) is a peeling mask when you have cystic acne. It will spread the bacteria rampantly all over your face!! That is why I am now on accutane.

7.) Acne can be caused by several factors working together against you. And, there isn't one magic bullet that works for everyone.

Hope this was helpful and that other people give you their thoughts too. Good Luck! 😉

yes it does it helps alot get a facil scrub thats oil free.I will say only do this once or twice a week but i find 4 or 5 times a week is better.you may still get cysts but not as many.

would it be okay to use a wash containing salicylic acid daily? - leaving it on/gently rubbing it around for no more than 30 seconds? and moisturizing afterwards?

You should be using a daily facial cleanser with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). The AHA will gently exfoliate your skin keeping your pores from getting clogged with sebum and dirt which causes the acne. Stay away from any facial products that contain chemicals and gritty stuff as the chemical made products are only to give the product years of shelf life and that does not benefit you at all. The gritty stuff will only aggravate your acne making it worse. Use a natural AHA facial cleanser like the one from Exfoliating Minerals. Just search online "Natural AHA Facial Cleanser" and don't skimp on price, the more you pay the better quality it is and its your face at stake, so dont be cheap, its worth anything to get rid of your acne, just ask the chics at school.

For cystic acne a bha would be the best thing to use. Salicylic acid dissolves oil and cleans out pores from the inside. An aha like glycolic acid removes the top layer of skin leaving it free of dry skin build up. It won't do anything for acne but, it might make other acne topical treatments penetrate better. Mandelic acid is a bha/aha that works like glycolic acid and salicylic.

Bha and aha doesn't kill acne causing bacteria so you will need something for that. Bp, sulfur, antibiotics, essential oils with antibacterial properties will work to kill bacteria.

If you have cystic acne your skin is going to be very sensitive so be gentle. Only use a scrub once a week. If you're using an aha you don't need a scrub. Choose one form of exfoliation that takes care of the surface dead skin. Using both manual and chemical exfoliating can cause irritation leaving skin irritated.

Hope this makes sense haha!

I suffer from cystic acne and this is what I do:

Wash face with water or gentle ph balancing soap

Apply 10% sulfur ointment( does the same thing as salicylic acid but also kills bacteria). Leave the sulfur on for ten mins and wash off with warm water.

Apply moisturizer or sunblock

Use a bha moisturizer, madelic acid toner or st Ives apricot scrub. I pick one and use it on Saturday. I like all of these so I alternate them on Saturday.