Acne can appear on the skin in many different forms, including blackheads, pustules and cysts. Acne cysts are one of the more severe types of acne breakouts and can be somewhat difficult to treat because they can be resistant to milder over-the-counter acne creams and lotions. In order to effectively eliminate cystic acne, it is important to follow a routine that cleanses the skin lightly using a natural soap, medicates the skin deeply using a stronger benzoyl peroxide cream and keeps the skin hydrated using an oil-free lotion.
Step 1
Cleanse the skin lightly using a natural soap that is free of artificial perfumes and fillers. Splash the skin with water and lather your hands with a natural soap. Spread the lather around your skin, focusing on the areas effected by acne. Once the lather is covering the entire area, rinse it off well with water. Repeat twice per day.
Step 2
Medicate the individual acne cysts using a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide cream. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of the 10 percent benzoyl peroxide cream onto your fingers and gently dab the cream around the individual acne cysts. Use your fingers to massage the cream into the breakouts until it has completely soaked in. Repeat twice per day after cleansing.
Step 3
Moisturize the skin using an oil-free facial lotion. Squeeze a dime-sized amount of the lotion onto your fingers and spread the lotion around your entire face. Continue to spread the lotion around until it has completely soaked in. Repeat twice per day after applying the benzoyl peroxide cream.
Tips and Warnings
- Natural soaps are formulated using basic ingredients, such as olive oil, coconut oil and essential oils. Using a natural soap on acne-prone skin will allow the skin to become clean without causing irritation or worsening inflammation. Make sure to avoid soaps that contain sodium lauryl sulfates or petroleum-based substances, which are known to increase inflammation on the skin. Benzoyl peroxide can be purchased in different concentrations, including 10 percent, 5 percent and 2.5 percent strengths. For more severe types of acne, such as cystic or nodular acne, it is helpful to use the strongest benzoyl peroxide cream directly on the individual breakouts, which will kill off acne-causing bacteria very quickly. Benzoyl peroxide cream can be very drying and irritating on the skin if a moisturizer is not used afterward. To avoid this, it is important to apply an oil-free moisturizing lotion that will properly hydrate the skin without clogging the pores with comedogenic oils.
Things You'll Need
- Natural soap
- 10 percent benzoyl peroxide cream
- Oil-free moisturizing lotion
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