Natural Remedies for Cystic Acne

Alkalizing

Posted by Kimberly (Rancho Cucamonga, California) on 12/28/2011
★★★★★

Hello, Yes a change in the body's ph balance will help cystic acne. I am a Licensed Esthetician. I must say that I am not a doctor and it is not in my scope to medically treat and so on... I learned about all of this through my son having a very severe and embarrassing skin ailment. We went to doctors and tried pills, creams, etc. The only thing that worked and it worked fast too was antioxidant alkaline water. We used the 2.5 ph water directly on his shin and he drank lots of the 9.5 water to cleanse and detoxify the acidic environment inside which was causing the exterior problem. It really works!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Deltagirl (Portsmouth, Usa) on 02/12/2012
★★★★★

have been struggling with Cystic Acne for a couple of years now-and nothing has been working. It has been horrible. A few weeks ago I had three start to form on my chin - I felt the painful tenderness that precludes cystic acne. At the same time I was starting to catch a cold, so began to take my regular "shot" routine of organic Apple Cider Vinegar to ward off the bug. I noticed about an hour or so later that the pain in my chin had subsided, so decided to google for any link with ACV and cystic acne and found this site.

Have started drinking ACV regularly since finding this site and so far it appears to be working! (fingers crossed! ). I am totally ecstatic and hope that it continues! I bought the store's supply of ACV! Lol.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Blkmanchgo (Chicago, Il) on 06/17/2011

Hi asian mom, Whenever I see anyone with with custic acne I like to recommend they try the yogic water technique. What you do is first thing in the morning you drink 8 glasses of pure water, then you do simple yoga stretches and breathing. It worked for me although I have a few other skin complaints. It's actually harder then it sounds he might have to build up to 8 cups so maybe start off with six. Some people even dissolve sea salt on their tongue after every cup but I guess thats optional. I know it sounds weird and he's sixteen but try it for two weeks and let us know.

Lavender Oil

Posted by L (Horsham, Surrey) on 05/09/2011
★★★★★

Get occasional acne cysts and decided to try pure lavender oil, dabbing several times a day rather than leaving on the skin for an hour as per previous post. Have found this has really reduced its size over the last 24 hrs. Will continue until gone. Great tip, thanks!

Lavender Oil

Posted by Es (Newton, Nj) on 10/12/2011
★★★★★

You can dab it on but the way to really get rid of the cyst is to do the compress method I described. I've tried both ways - I discovered this by accident several years ago and also tried dabbing lavender on which helps some, but the tried and true way to really get rid of them or completely prevent them from growing, is the compress method as I originally posted.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Meli (Las Cruces, Nm) on 05/04/2011
★★★★★

I am so thrilled I came across this site. For cystic acne, I've used everything from antiobiotics, prescribed creams, even Accutane, which worked for a while but was hell to go through the treatment. I found this a few days ago & started using the ACV as a toner twice a day, and my skin immediately started showing improvement. I'm going to try adding ACV to a homemade body wash and face scrub too!

Lavender Oil

Posted by Cysticzithater (Grand Rapids, Mi) on 05/17/2011

Oh boy. LOL. I laughed so hard at your hiliarious and artful way of expressing yourself about cystic zit dilemmas. I, too, have suffered terribly with the embarassing condition. In fact, I have one on my chin again, which drove me to seek help on the internet today. I love this web site! Last year, I purchased lavender oil but I never thought to use it for a zit. And after looking back, I stopped drinking coffee with cream and other dairy products and noticed no new zits. Thanks for your help!

Honey and Cinnamon

Posted by TTT (FI) on 06/10/2023
★★★★☆

I had cystic acne under developing on my chin just before I was going to participate in an exam. My chin was like I had very bad tooth inflammation, massive swelling. So I decided to try this honey+cinnamon (honey raw, cinnamon organic), applied the paste on the swelling day before exam, and washed it away before sleeping (just in case, because wasn't sure how the skin reacts). And to my surprise the swelling was a lot better looking in the morning, diminished like half. Continued to apply the paste next few days but didn't anymore see any huge changes. And then just continued washing skin normally with water and soap. But it seems, it made some more difference after all. Normally the skin at the swelling just become thinner and thinner and finally the cyst burst, but this time it didn't happen, it has diminished pretty well, small bump anymore, though took about one week to reach this state. And actually after the swelling was gone, I realised that the spot actually had developed 3 separate cysts, that's why there was so massive swelling.

Turmeric

Posted by Ejstewart73 (Las Vegas, Nv, USA) on 12/18/2009
★★★★★

YEA for Turmeric!

I suffered for years with cystic acne/boils due to monthly hormonal changes, and was placed on oral contraception, antibiotics and topical retinoids to mitigate the problem, with little success. Now that I am trying to conceive, I'm unable to take these prescribed medications (and I'm also tired of the cost).

I came across this website looking for natural cures for many ailments yesterday. I ran to the store to buy Turmeric as soon as I read these testimonials, because I HAD two huge, throbbing cysts on my face, and another one that was in the beginning stages (red bump, itchy). After ONE DOSE, I am already noticing a huge difference. I took the following last night around 8pm:

1 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Honey (to taste)
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1 c Hot Water
2-3 tbsp milk (to taste)

The taste reminds me of Chai so it doesn't bother me at all.

I also applied a hot compress for about 10 minutes to the worst one before I went to bed, and applied antibiotic cream.

I woke up this morning, took a shower and the worst two boils had come to heads. Once the pus drained, they were still somewhat red, but completely flat and no more pain and throbbing. The other one that was forming is reduced in size and redness completely gone!

Thanks to EarthClinic.com and all readers for their suggestions and feedback. I look forward to trying other remedies including those using ACV.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Sophie (Portland, Oregon) on 06/22/2008
★★★★★

Cystic Acne: I gave modern western medicine a try and it seemed to me that for radical and extremism type of intervention, they are great. I prefer the gentle and natural road to recovery that aligns itself with your specific constitution.

I had cystic acne on my chin . I read it was hormonal so I set up an appointment with a bioidentical hormone replacement specialist, but meanwhile. I tried turmeric, but it stopped working after the second week. I tried ACV and it did not work . So, I did tons of research. Which resulted in me taking daily does of 1000 IU of Vitamin E ( which I believe began to erase my brown age spots)1250 IU's of Vitamin A and 500 IU's of Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, niacinamide and zinc. I have since decreased the IU's since my acne began to subside. Please be careful when taking high doses of IU's..do your research or talk to your ND/MD. My acne began to decrease rapidly.

I began having weekly acupuncture and gave them a brief on my history. Prior to my cystic outbreaks I had been on antibiotics for about for 50 days. So they assumed my flora in my intestines had been destroyed. I was put on some great probiotics (that are kept in the fridge) I also started eating a couple tablespoons of natural yogurt in the am and pm. They also recommended vitamin C to rebuid the matrix of the foundation of the skin .

So now it the acne decreased by it 95%. Now when one appears I use tea tree oil on it with a cotton ball, which decrease the size by 90% within a couple hours and my the next day with reapplication every 5 hours it disappears in two days. I also began taking Udo's oil and it helped repair my skin ( Udo's oil 3-6-9 blend) I believe it is the fountain of youth. I realize everyone is not the same, but this method has been highly successful for me.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Kelly (Toronto, Canada) on 12/14/2007
★★★★★

Eat lettuce! I have suffered with acne since childhood and always believed it was diet related. After many years of drugs to treat (including accutane) and experimenting with diet, I do believe it is food sensitivity. To make a long story short, corn caused my cystic acne (especially popcorn) and chocolate. I have eliminated all corn from my diet, including corn oil and have no longer get large painful boil like acne. Chocolate tends to cause the small white or blackheads. If I relapse (popcorn just smells sooo good!) it comes back immediately. My friend also stopped eating popcorn and his cystic acne was eliminated. If only I had know this 30 years ago, life would have been so much better! I guess better late than never, eh? I found eating lettuce daily will make an outbreak heal up quickly and gives a nice glow to the skin. I will add ACV and see if my complexion can even get better! PS. Also, a natural clay mask will draw toxins out of the skin. Thanks so much for this website!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jessica (Lady's Island, SC) on 09/04/2007
★★★★★

I have been suffering from cystic breakouts and chronic constipation most of my adult life. These issues seem to only have intensified with age. Mind you, I eat an organic, almost-vegetarian diet and am always sure to get my minimum fiber intake. Before ACV, I was lucky if I had a bowel movement every other day and always felt "backed up" and suffered from terrible gas! My face would suddenly erupt in cystic acne lesions that took weeks to heal. After spending literally thousands of dollars on products in an attempt to rid myself of both conditions, I am now able to throw out more than half of the things in my medicine cabinet. I take 2 tbs. ACV morning and night, straight-- I don't even mind the taste. I also apply it topically to my face every morn-- seems to brighten my complexion and tone my pores. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to consider dilluting it, as it is pretty strong. My skin has never been better and I am completely "regular" now-I only wish I had tried this sooner and imagine the years of suffering I could have saved myself. If something ails you, try it-- it certainly can't hurt!

Vitamin C, Zinc

Posted by Kathy (Smyth County, Va) on 06/26/2015
★★★★★

My teen son had really bad cystic acne on his face and shoulders, where it's not just a simple pimple, it's a huge bump! An older friend confided in him that he had the same problem when he was a teen, and after the numerous prescriptions, etc failed, the Dr told him to try vitamin c --- and it worked!

So my son took the following each day:

2000 mg of C (we use timed release)
1 zinc (recommended by another friend)
1 A&D (great for inflammation, and make help heal the scars)

To reduce the redness on new pimples, he would apply the following:

1-2 Drops of Lavender & Tea Tree Oil with Diluted ACV (sprayed on back & shoulders)

Oh, and he also started using Castile Soap, just to be sure he wasn't using anything that would irritate it.

Within a few weeks he was very pleasantly surprised to have his acne disappearing!!

Coconut Oil and Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Active Mom Of Monmouth County (Marlboro, Nj) on 02/10/2015
★★★★★

I have been using coconut oil for 11 months now (previous post march 2014). Coconut oil soothes the acne and brings the toxins to the surface but does not cure it necessarily. I found after combining tea tree oil and coconut oil, and simultaneously applying topically to the acne, it cures it. Tea tree oil is too strong on its own. 2-3 times a day was enough and of course, the earlier the better. As soon as I feel it starting, if I apply both, it never even fully appears. Hope this helps cystic acne sufferers...this is not a fun condition and wreaks havoc on the self esteem.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric, Honey

Posted by Amber (North Carolina) on 05/28/2014
★★★★★

I suffered with cystic acne for 10 years before I found anything that worked. I tried everything short of oral medications and injections. Turns out what worked for me was in my kitchen cabinets the whole time.

The routine was based on my daily routine, it can be tweaked as needed. Everyone's skin responds differently to different things.

AM: Was face with equal parts apple cider vinegar and hot water. Liberally apply pure aloe.

PM: (Right before showering) Wash face with hot water and an organic oatmeal based facial soap, I use Grandma's Acne Bar. Mix equal parts honey and turmeric, I use a table spoon of each. Apply to face. Then I jump in the shower and let the steam do it's thing while I wash, washing my face last with hot water and a wash cloth. Pat face dry, rinse again with vinegar/water. Liberally apply aloe.

I always started both the am and pm treatments by laying a hot wet washcloth on my face for about 5 minutes. Don't know whether that makes a difference, though.

I seen a reduction in the size and soreness of bumps the first morning after I tried this, the redness persisted for a few weeks. I found that my skin was a little sensitive at the end of the first week just from the vinegar, only slightly though, nothing compared to the painful bumps. I pureed a cucumber and mixed it with a little green tea and left this on my face for about 20 minutes. Made a world of difference.

You may have to adjust the frequency of treatment depending on your skin's sensitivity to vinegar and the soap. Also, turmeric will stain clothes and skin. Supposedly the turmeric stain can be removed from your face with a mild toner but I never leave it on long enough to find out, usually just the 15 minutes or so that I'm in the shower. I would suggest starting the honey and turmeric on a weekend so the stain goes away if it happens. Everyone's skin will absorb the color at different speeds, so just be cautious at first.

Honey

Posted by Andrea L (Glendale, Ca) on 07/22/2013
★★★★★

I use Makuna Honey for my adult acne AND all other wounds. THE UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) tells you how much healing properties the jarred honey posses. I began with UMF 12 to save a few bucks, but after having success with that one, I splurged for the UMF 16... It works like a dream! I leave it on my face for hours sometimes; it makes my whole face glow! It very moisturizing, while purifying. Manuka honey acts as an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal treatment. ; it heals nearly anything in record time. It ALSO works great internally (not for acne) and it good just to snack on!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Charlotte (Dallas, Tx) on 06/04/2015

Be careful with the baking soda masks; always remember to re-adjust your external pH with a slightly acidic toner, because baking soda has a very alkaline pH, which can destroy your natural "acid mantle", over time, if left unbalanced. The acid mantle is a defense against bacteria entering pores.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Myra (Camden, New Jersey) on 11/13/2015

I just read all of the post and I'm excited about trying out the ACV. I have been just diagnosed with Cystic Acne today, I have been affected by this for the last two months. I have tried using a-lot of products but so far it only made it worse. I never heard of such serious acne. When I was young er I had acne., but never this bad. I'm 29 yrs old and this year alone I have experienced major changes with my body, and this serious acne is one of them. I just recently within the last year got of birth control. My primary DR. just prescribed me a anti-body gel to put on my face. I don't want to use it. But I feel helpless in this situation right now. I'm going to get me some ACV and use that with the gel. I hope everything works out. Wish me luck please.. ???? Is it ok to coconut oil??

Dietary Changes

Posted by Lena (Kalamazoo, Mi) on 01/21/2013
★★★★★

The problem is GMOs!!! I'm 22 and I have worse acne now than I ever did as a teenager. Like, "I don't want to go out in public ever again" bad. But about 2 weeks ago I started on an organic vegan type diet and my acne disappeared within days! The ACV and vitamin c treatments helped me a little, but this diet change has been miraculous for my skin!

I've come to find out that the trigger foods for the cystic acne which is really a type of allergic reaction are US wheat, US dairy, US soy, US corn, canola oil, and really anything else that's been taken too far out of its natural state. Try eating organic just for like 4 days and I'm sure you'll see a difference!

References: Personal Experience, The Natural Independent

Dietary Changes

Posted by Juliet (Los Angeles, Ca) on 01/18/2013
★★★★★

Yes! Diet is definitely a HUGE factor despite the fact that medication driven dermatologists are STILL so in the dark about this! Try eliminating chocolate and dairy (esp. from a cow) completely!! Then eliminate sugar dense foods - no honey, mapyle syrup, fruit juice (stick to eating fruit! ), soda, etc. You will see such a change in your face - not to mention your weight!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Mmsg (Europe) on 02/12/2015

Ashley, two thoughts:

1. Have you tried swapping vegan for dairy-free?

2. An interesting read: a few Ebook called Skin Deep by Grossbart. Google it.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Miss Lori (Charlotte, Nc) on 12/01/2012
★★★★★

I've recently learned that after over 20 years of experiencing acne/cystic acne breakouts that excessive consumption of milk was the culprit. I love milk and drank it with most meals and also drank it just because. My sister shared with me that when my niece stop drinking milk it helped her acne breakouts(and yes my skin sensitivites are hereditary, also somethign to consider), so I put it to a 2 month test and low and behold I only have the usual "lady time of the month" breakouts. I'm now testing drinking no more than 2 cups per week and so far so good. I'm so happy that I can stop using & taking prescription meds(Retin A Micro was the only one that worked best for me & has yet to be recalled and been using as needed since age 10). Oh.... and to add, Soy & Almond milks are nasty to me.

Cystic acne is just something trying to escape your body that not agreeing with it. I always knew this and have took this long to pinpint what exactly my body was reacting to, but better late than never! Now I just use oatmeal soap (Sappo Hill Brand from local healthfood store) to wash my face and witchhazel as an astringent and a light moisturizer when needed.

So don't believe all the hype that acne is just bacteria, it's more than that. Your body may be reacting to something that's being put into, just take the time to figure out what it is. Hopes this helps someone....

Lava Soap

Posted by Skin Reborn (West Coast, Ca) on 11/14/2012
★★★★☆

All my teen years, I had horrific acne. All kinds, tiny specks to giant cysts. All was due to poor diet. All treatments worked for a few weeks, then didn't help anymore. Witch hazel, noxema, aloe, medicated pads, oxy... So, one day I use my two brothers Lava soap they used after working on motors in the garage. That lava soap didn't cure my acne, but reduced it to half what it had been. Best - not a single scar. Photos from before are terrible, from after is skin like new. Today almost 60 yrs old, and still get compliments on baby-like smooth face skin. It didn't burn or hurt, just exfoliated r-e-a-l-l-y well.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Margaret (California) on 06/06/2016

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to reply anyway. I was a big fan of African Black Soap for washing my face, and recently made the connection between my dehydrated oily skin and the alkalinity of the soap! Because ACV is a way lower ph, applying it afterward may be responsible for the tingling (especially as the alkaline cleanser has likely damaged your moisture barrier). A low ph cleanser is more skin-friendly!