Im speaking only from my own experiences- i feel like there are two kinds of cycstic acne. One that looks like that picture and one that is just a red inflamed mountain that never comes to a head. Most of mine never developed into something that can be popped. But i will say that if it does and i can extract it, it still takes days and days to flatten out. And im left with a discolored spot for months. It almost makes me think that its really just a whitehead that formed on top of the cyst. But they still seem connected to me.

I dont have on right now to take a picture of but it would look exactly like that just with no whitehead. But the redness that extends fairly far out and it hurts. And even those leave me a very dark spot that takes forever to go away.

Ive learned that witch hazel dries these out and flattens them down faster. Aloe vera juice helps with the redness. And lemon juice works well to keep it from getting worse if i catch it early enough. I try to feel very carefully when i wash my face and see if i notice anything forming. If i do, i can lessen the acne mark it leaves behind.

Hope that helps.

Also, for the record, i know acne popping is the worst thing i can do. But i get obsessive and i cant stop myself all the time. For the cysts that never come to a head, i would never mess with those. Makes it a thousand times worse. I shouldnt pop anything, but sometimes it helps certain ones heal faster as long as i do it the right way. I try to be "smart" about it and use good judgment, though i definitely know its not smart at all.

Someone said that picture i posted is called pustular acne and not cystic acne.

Does anyone agree with that?

They gave me this link

http://www.popthatzit.com/acne-treatment/acne-definitions/

Pustule: Pustules, while similar in appearance to macules, are active infections of the skin that consists of dead skin cells and bacteria. These lesions are spherical in appearance and are filled with pus. Often reddish in color, pustules may be painful and will break open easily if scratched or bumped. Pustules will likely heal without other aid; however, some will develop into cysts.

Cysts: Usually occurring in conjunction with nodules, cysts are considered severe acne lesions and are usually very painful. They penetrate the skin deeply, and usually result in scarring. Filled with bacteria, dead skin cells, and white blood cells, cysts are often severely inflamed and almost always cause scarring. When a nodule and a cyst occur together, it is often referred to as nodulocystic. Nodulocystic conditions are often only treatable with isotretinoin.

So sounds like a pustule can also be a cyst. So it isn't an either/or but can be both!

Thoughts?

Anyone?

Also whenever i have these cystic pimples, i eventually have to pop it so then it bleeds. Has anyone had these cystlike pimples but never had to pop it? The thing is eventually it has to right and then bleed in order for it to get better?

People say you should never pop a pimple and i agree with that but what about these cystic pimples?

I think I agree with that description more than mine actually. After reading that, I think that because I have the same symptoms with both the white head mountain and just the regular mountain, I assumed they were the same. I have pain, major redness, and scarring with both. I see that it says pustule acne can possibly develop into cystic. I definitely agree with that because when I used to try to pop it, i made it ten times worse and was left with a real cyst for weeks sometimes.

Honestly, I have to leave mine totally alone. I use the witch hazel and the lemon juice and it shortens the duration a bit, but messing with it is usually a bad idea.

Usually, I can't get a drop of anything out, not even blood (which i think is very bad because you'll end up with a legit wound at that point) If you're squeezing that hard, it's going to hurt, probably tear off a thin layer of skin and make it all worse. I don't think any acne needs to bleed to get better (just my opinion). If i made anything bleed, it was always worse.

I can only safely extract certain small whiteheads and blackheads. I'm truly trying to train myself not to touch anything else on my skin.

I hope this helps, and I feel for you. These types of acne are the worst but it causes major scarring if you mess with them.

I would not consider that to be a cyst whatsoever! there's a huge whitehead in that! it actually looks super fun to pop. Whenever I get one of those pimples with a huge whitehead, i pop it, it flys on the mirror(i know I'm gross), i'll put some witch hazel on it, and then it's basically gone. it's still red and at times it's still inflamed but the next day it's usually just a red mark. or it may need to be drained a second time but all the red around it is irritation. not the actually pimple but type in cyctic acne onto google images and you'll see what cysts really look like

I would not consider that to be a cyst whatsoever! there's a huge whitehead in that! it actually looks super fun to pop. Whenever I get one of those pimples with a huge whitehead, i pop it, it flys on the mirror(i know I'm gross), i'll put some witch hazel on it, and then it's basically gone. it's still red and at times it's still inflamed but the next day it's usually just a red mark. or it may need to be drained a second time but all the red around it is irritation. not the actually pimple but type in cyctic acne onto google images and you'll see what cysts really look like

Mine looks like that except it has no whitehead. Basically its really red and inflamed and can't pop it. I googled cystic acne and i have that in my eye area and in my jawline area.