What should I do after a cystic acne flattens out? How do I know if it is completely gone?

Doctor's Answers 1

Thank you for your question. A skin cyst or nodule is classified based on the content of the lesion.

If you don’t have acne on your face or back, it is less likely the 2 cysts are cystic acne.

From what you have described earlier, the remaining cyst content is soft, and doesn’t resolve after 2 months.

My top suspicion would be an epidermal cyst. Epidermal cysts are benign and often found on the trunk, head and neck. They contain smelly sebaceous and keratin materials, and can cause acute inflammation when they are irritated.

Regardless of the cyst content, 2 things you can do now.

  1. If the residual cyst is small —> Wait and see. Take antibiotics, and wait for it to go away (less likely), or wait for the cyst to burst.
  2. If the residual cyst is big —>Take it out. Some GPs do lumps and bumps excision. They will refer you to hospital if they are unable to excise it.

Hope this helps!

Similar Questions

Should I continue taking prednisolone for cystic acne?

I agree with the views expressed by the other doctors. Oral steroids have anti-inflammatory effects and can help your cystic acne and rash. However, long term use can cause a lot of other side effects and it is not recommended as the treatment for cystic acne. In fact, with continued use, you may notice even more acne lesions appearing as long term steroid use can aggravate acne. There are many other good treatments available for cystic acne. You should also get your other skin rash examined to determine the cause. While it responds to steroids, it again is not a recommended long term.

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Answered By

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What is the cost of corticosteroid injection for cystic acne in Singapore? Is it effective?

Corticosteroid injections for cystic acne in Singapore costs about $50 – $200. Cystic acne happens when the infection that causes acne goes deep into your skin, creating a large, inflamed, tender pimple that’s full of pus. These deep lesions are more likely to scar. Steroid injections work by reducing the inflammatory reaction, and can potentially reduce the amount of damage/scarring caused by a large cystic acne. Corticosteroid injections take about 4 – 8 hours to start shrinking the cystic acne. Pain will improve too.

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