What can clear severe acne?

If you wake up to find a few large pimples on your otherwise clear face, you may consider that severe acne. Likewise, a breakout of whiteheads and blackheads before a first date may seem like severe acne. But that’s not the type of acne we’re talking about here.

Severe acne: This 14-year-old boy has acne cysts, which cleared with an antibiotic and prescription medicine that he applied to his skin.

What is severe acne?

People who have severe acne tend to have many breakouts, which can cover their face, chest, and back. Severe acne can also appear along the jawline and neck. Sometimes, it develops on the buttocks.

Severe acne causes breakouts that often extend deep into the skin. Called cysts and nodules, these breakouts tend to be painful. When severe acne clears, acne scars often appear.

You may also see many blackheads, whiteheads, or both when acne is severe.

Anyone who has severe acne knows how stubborn it can be. You cannot clear it with acne treatment that you buy at the store. To see clearing, you either have to wait it out or see a dermatologist. Waiting out severe acne can take years.

Benefits of treating severe acne

Living with severe acne can be tough on your psyche. Many studies have found that acne can lead to poor self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. People with acne may stop hanging out with friends and family. Going after a job promotion or trying out for a sport may no longer seem worthwhile.

Acne treatment can help. Many studies show that treatment for severe acne can:

• Clear acne
• Prevent new scars
• Boost a person’s mood and self-esteem

How dermatologists treat severe acne

When a patient has severe acne, a dermatologist often recommends treating it with one of the following:

Antibiotic + medicine you apply to the acne: This is often the first treatment recommended for severe acne. Taking an antibiotic can reduce the redness and swelling of acne. The medicine you apply to your skin works on reducing bacteria and clogged pores.

If this treatment fails to clear your skin, your dermatologist may switch your antibiotic or talk with you about isotretinoin (eye-so-tret-eh-no-in).

Isotretinoin: This is a potent medicine that attacks all four causes of acne — bacteria, clogged pores, excess oil, and inflammation (redness and swelling). About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one course of isotretinoin.

Due to possible side effects, you will need to carefully consider whether you want to take this medicine. If you decide to take isotretinoin, you must enroll in a monitoring program.

Birth control pill (females only): A birth control pill can be an effective part of an acne treatment plan. When treating severe acne, a birth control pill may be used along with an antibiotic or a medicine called spironolactone (spy-ren-no-lac-tone) to get the acne under control.

Give your acne treatment time to work. It can take 2 to 3 months to see results.

If the pill may be an option for you, it’s important to tell your dermatologist about all of your medical conditions, including heart disease. Your dermatologist must weigh the risks of using a birth control pill to treat acne against the benefits.

Spironolactone (females only): This medication can also effectively treat severe acne in women. It reduces excess oil.

If this may be an option for you, be sure to tell your dermatologist about all of your medical conditions.

Acne removal: Your dermatologist can use a few different techniques to remove a large cyst or nodule.

One way your dermatologist can get rid of a painful cyst or nodule is to inject it with a corticosteroid. This helps to quickly reduce the size and pain.

Another procedure is called “incision and drainage.” It’s used to drain a large, painful acne cyst or nodule that medicine cannot clear. You should not try to drain a cyst or nodule at home. The risk of infection is great when done outside of a medical office.

Dermatologists use a procedure called acne extraction to remove whiteheads and blackheads that fail to clear with acne treatment.

Low-dose prednisone: This is a super potent corticosteroid. Dermatologists prescribe it to treat a very serious type of severe acne called acne fulminans. It’s also used to treat pityrosporum folliculitis, an itchy, acne-like rash.

Maintenance plan helps keep skin clear

Once you see clear (or nearly clear) skin, you still need acne treatment. The type of treatment, however, may change. Most people can keep acne away with proper skin care and medicine they apply to their skin. Without this treatment, acne can return quickly.

Skin care plays key role

Even when treating acne, the right skin care is essential. Acne friendly skin care can make the difference between seeing clearing and an acne flare. You’ll find skin care that dermatologists recommend at:

Acne: Tips for managing (skin care)

No one needs to live with severe acne

While severe acne can be stubborn, it’s not impossible to get clearing. Thanks to advances in treatment, virtually all acne can clear with a dermatologist’s help.

Images:
Severe acne: Image used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

Acne along jawline: Image from Thinkstock

References
Zaenglein AL, Graber EM, et al. “Acne vulgaris and acneiform eruptions.” In: Wolff K. et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 7^th edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., USA, 2008:696-700.

Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, et al. “Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74:945-73.