For several decades, Accutane, a Retanoid and a derivative of Vitamin A, has been widely used to treat, and sometimes permanently cure, cystic acne and other types of acne. Despite Accutane's high success rate, it is not necessarily a preferred treatment since it typically induces several unwanted side effects and has the potential to cause several more. The majority of people who take Accutane or its generic counterparts experience a variety of cosmetic side effects that can be awkward and uncomfortable like extremely dry and painful skin, nosebleeds, sensitivity to the sun, and hair loss, but it has also been discovered that there is a link between Accutane usage and depression. There have been enough cases of extreme depression and suicide attempts that have been linked with Accutane that the manufacturer discloses this fact and has instituted a self-monitoring program called iPledge that requires doctors, pharmacies, and distributors to be certified on Accutane's risk factors before they can have anything to do with this medication.

The iPledge program also acknowledges that there is also a high risk of serious birth defects, like mental retardation, deformation, and miscarriage, for women taking or who have recently taken Accutane. Because of these risks, a woman must pass a pregnancy test before beginning Accutane treatment and pass another pregnancy test for every month she continues to take Accutane. In addition, the iPledge program mandated that any woman taking Accutane must take some type of birth control pill simultaneously and use an addition form of contraception every she has intercourse. Because of the serious and numerous side effects associated with Accutane, it is not a preferred treatment for cystic acne.

Antibiotics:

Antibiotics are also used to treat cystic acne by preventing the bacteria that cause acne from producing a protein they need to survive. Typically, antibiotics are fairly successful in treating cystic acne, but, like Accutane, some antibiotics have some grim side effects. First, it should be noted that any antibiotic can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Although there are several varieties of antibiotics used to treat acne, Minocycline is the harshest. Minocycline can cause birth defects, increases sensitivity to sunlight, and has been linked with at least two deaths. There are gentler antibiotics that can be used to treat cystic acne, but the risks should be well researched and understood before using any acne treatment.

Laser Treatments:

In recent years, laser treatments have been used to treat acne of various severities. Laser treatment has been shown to be effective, but there are two different types of lasers used to treat acne, which are known as either ablative or non-ablative lasers. The main difference between these lasers is that ablative lasers actually burn off the top layer of skin, called the epidermis. The removal of the epidermis is very similar to the technique used for tattoo removal. In addition to treating existing acne, ablative lasers can also be used to remove acne scars, as well as wrinkles and age lines. However, because the outer layer of skin is being burned off, there is a long recovery time associated with ablative lasers. It is not uncommon for skin treated with an ablative laser to stay red for a month or longer, but only one treatment is required. Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, are much gentler and leave the epidermis intact. Non-ablative lasers affect the glands that secrete oil that clogs your glands, as well as the bacteria that causes inflammation. It also stimulates collagen growth, which can smooth out existing acne scars. The only common side-effect associated with non-ablative lasers is redness in the treated area, which lasts about an hour. In some cases, a person may develop red spots in the treated areas, but this is rare and usually means the treatment is working better than normal. However, the use of laser treatment is not regulated, so care must be taken when selecting someone to administer a laser treatment since even non-ablative lasers can be harmful when used improperly.

Cystic acne can make a person very uncomfortable, especially if permanent scarring results. Although treatment for cystic acne can be difficult, it is possible to overcome cystic acne and gain a clear complexion. There are several treatment options for cystic acne, but there are some extreme side effects. If you are ready to seek professional help for your cystic acne, you may want to try cortisone injections or a non-ablative laser treatment done by a registered dermatologist before you try any of the more extreme cystic acne treatments.