If you ever had to deal with cystic acne, then you know how unbearable it can be. I have dealt with cystic acne ever since I hit my teenage years. I went from having a few breakouts to having a face full of the most painful blemishes I ever experienced. It felt like I had no control over my skin because no matter what I tried, I was still waking up with new pimples every morning. After years of trial and error, I finally found what works best for my skin, which helped me gain the confidence I lost so many years ago. That's why I wanted to share a few tips that have helped with my cystic acne.

The first tip, do not over-wash your face! My skin is very oily, so I thought if I washed my face and kept it dry, it would clear my pimples out. I began washing my face 3, sometimes 4 times a day. The only thing it did was cause extreme irritation, to the point where I had painful rashes all over my face. It also made my skin produce more pimples than before. When I did some research, I learned that over-washing could cause more harm than good. When you consistently wash your face, you are stripping away the natural oils your skin needs. I quickly changed my routine to washing twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. It was the perfect amount to keep my face clean but also hydrated.

The second tip, do not pop cystic acne! I know it is very tempting to pop those stubborn pimples, but you will regret it the second you do. I have learned that cystic acne cannot pop. They are not the normal whitehead pimples that we tend to experience. Therefore, attempting to pop them will cause more pain and inflammation. It also produced terrible scarring and discoloration to my skin. Popping my acne is the thing I regret the most, so please do not pop your pimples!

The third and final tip is to make an appointment with a dermatologist. Do not try and diagnose your acne and buy random products for your skin. Listen to a doctor! I have tried just about every product under the sun, and nothing helped me. I finally went to a dermatologist, and they prescribed Adapalene and Benzoyl Peroxide gel. I went from having 7 different products that I put on my face each night to just 1. Within two weeks, my skin was acne-free. For the first time in years, I could go outside without makeup and feel pretty. It was the most freeing moment because I finally felt confident in my own skin again.

If you are someone who deals with cystic acne like myself, know there is a way for clear skin. Take the appropriate steps to find what works best for your skin and start gaining back your confidence!