How to get rid of facial cysts

November 2, 2005 1:17 PM

How can I get rid of facial cysts caused by blocked pores? Doctors claim it's moderate acne and prescribe everything under the sun, but nothing helps. Has anyone succeeded in treating them? Has anyone used cortisone shots, or sought hydroenema treatments to flush bacteria buildup from the body?
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

You mean like Sebaceous cysts? Mine were surgically removed, but then my doctor thought there was a good risk of bursting and infection. I was glad to have them gone, particularly because the one on my neck was roughly the size and shape of an eyeball, and I was always afraid that one day it would open up and wink at me.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:25 PM on November 2, 2005

Many cosmeticians offer "acne treatment" facials. If it is just moderate acne, there are instruments that can help drain those cysts. Plus, you'll probably get a nice massage out of the session, too. Can be a bit pricey, though.

I used to have them (not horrible, but they were deep indurated plaques that would spring up satelite acne around it) but topical clindamycin helped my immune system get rid of them (clindamycin [and erythramycin] accumulate in phagocytic cells and disrupt bacterial protein synthesis - so your phagocytes engulf the bacteria, the antibiotic stops the bacteria from growing leaving your phagocytes free to chew up the bacteria and migrate to your liver to dispose of the bacterial remains and themselves = over time, the cysts should diminish and eventually vanish).
posted by PurplePorpoise at 2:04 PM on November 2, 2005

I had moderately bad acne from age twelve through my early twenties, and was prescribed everything under the sun for years: Tetracycline, Cleosin, various antibiotics, Retin-A, etc. Eventually I asked for and received Accutane. Even though my doctor had seen far worse cases of acne than mine, it was persistent enough and nothing else had worked, but Accutane sure did. Bearing in mind the side effects, it zapped my acne so well that even ten years after I stopped taking the stuff I still don't get more than the occasional stress-related whitehead on my face anymore. It's not for everyone, but it seems to be a good "last resort" drug when you've tried everything else.
posted by Gator at 2:44 PM on November 2, 2005

I had moderate acne right at the end of high school. After a year of unsuccessful treatment and some painful sebacous cysts along my jawline, I finally cleared up my acne and got rid of the cysts permanently.

Acutane is the only miracle drug out there, IMHO... It's only available through a dermatologist, though, not your GP.
posted by mercurysm2 at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2005

Look for an office that has the Candela Smoothbeam laser, it works at a wavelength that can actually shrink the sebaceous glands (like accutane) without the side effects. There are some other laser options, but the Smoothbeam is the real deal.
posted by shagoth at 2:59 PM on November 2, 2005

I second what Gator said. Doctors always said my acne wasn't quite severe enough for Accutane and tried everything else imaginable. Benzamycin, Benzaclin, Evoclin, Tetracyclin, Minocyclin, Diferin, etc. None of it worked. Finally, 6 years later, I found a doctor who said it was time to try Accutane, and it worked beautifully. The change was quickly noticeable and my face was totally clear within a few months. The side effects aren't great but they aren't as bad as doctors make them out to be, they're just afraid of unhappy customers. The only side effect that you should expect is dryness, mainly around your lips; nothing a good moisturizer won't solve. Seriously, I can't recommend Accutane enough, my acne was relatively moderate and the side effects were still WELL worth it.
posted by TunnelArmr at 4:15 PM on November 2, 2005

I don't regret taking Accutane, but it did exacerbate my chronic depression something fierce. (Side effect that tends to get talked about less than the others.) So badly, that I eventually went off of it for that reason alone.

So, just proceed with caution, ask a lot of questions and make sure you are being treated by a specialist.
posted by jeanmari at 7:23 PM on November 2, 2005

Accutane worked pretty well for me as well, at least from the neck up.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:47 PM on November 2, 2005

Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane. Accutane.

Keep on them.

p.s. Aquaphore is the best stuff going for the chapped lip side effect, be sure to stock up on the sample sizes.
posted by mmdei at 10:35 PM on November 2, 2005