Cystic Acne
Natural Remedies

Cystic Acne - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Jan 13, 2025
Add New Post Comments

Cystic acne can be painful as well as embarrassing. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies that can help this frustrating condition. Home remedies for cystic acne include turmeric, apple cider vinegar, vitamin C and dietary changes.

Natural Remedies for Cystic Acne

Cystic acne differs from regular acne in that the pimples are larger, deeper and more painful. Cystic acne, also called nodulocystic acne, typically feel like soft, fluid-filled lumps beneath the skin’s surface. It is considered the most serious type of acne blemish. These cysts can be quite painful.

There are many effective home remedies that are used externally or internally for acute outbreaks of cystic acne, however, dietary changes may be necessary to solve a chronic case of cystic acne.

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil can be applied to acne cysts with a q-tip several times a day. Most people can tolerate lavender essential oil neat (without diluting.) If you find the oil to be too strong, dilute it into some coconut oil or castor oil first.

2. Clay

French green clay or bentonite clay have drawing and healing properties. Clay can be mixed into a paste with water and applied to cysts. The clay is allowed to dry and then is rinsed off gently.

3. Honey

Raw honey can be used topically for cystic acne a couple of times a day. Honey is a wonderful "medicine" because of its strong antiseptic and antibacterial effects. Look for a raw and local honey at health food stores and farmers' markets.

4.  Coconut Oil

Extra virgin coconut oil can be used topically and internally for acne cysts. While applying oil to a pimple may sound counterproductive, this remedy does work well in some cases. Coconut oil can also be used internally. It has antibacterial properties and can heal from the inside out. A typical dose is from 1-3 tablespoons daily. It can be taken plain or added to food.

5.  Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can be used externally or internally for cystic acne. To use it externally, dab a q-tip in raw apple cider vinegar and then onto your cysts. This should be done twice a day. If this seems too strong for you, dilute the apple cider vinegar with water using 1/2 of each.

Apple Cider vinegar added to a glass of water makes a tonic that helps to alkalize the body, healing a number of health problems, including cystic acne. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and sip throughout the day.

6. Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps the body to fight infection. Acne cysts have an infectious component, so vitamin C is a good solution for this problem for many who suffer with it. 1000 mg of vitamin C can be taken 3 times a day. If this dose should cause loose stools, cut back on the amount you take.

7. Turmeric

Turmeric root, a spice from India, fights bacteria and inflammation. A typical dose of turmeric is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon twice daily. It can be taken in milk, almond milk, yogurt, or applesauce. Turmeric can be constipating and should be taken with plenty of water.

8. Eliminate Coffee

Whether it is the caffeine or the acidifying effect on the body that coffee has, eliminating coffee solves the cystic acne problem for some.

9. Avoid Dairy Products

Dairy products can be an issue for those with cystic acne. Try eliminating dairy products for two weeks and see if you notice an improvement. If dairy is the cause, you can try out cultured dairy products or raw dairy products instead. If the processing of dairy is the problem, cultured or raw products may agree with you even if most dairy products do not.

10. Cut Back on Sugar

Sugar is consumed in astonishing amounts through foods and drinks. Sugar provides no nutrition but plenty of calories. It also can cause inflammation. Dramatically reducing sugar consumption can make a big difference in the frequency and severity of outbreaks.

11. Keep Processed Foods to a Minimum

Processed foods are readily available, inexpensive and convenient. Unfortunately, they lack nutrition and often contain a lot of chemicals. Look for whole foods to eat instead. If you need convenience, reach for a banana. If you need cost efficiency, fix lentils.

12. Juicing

Freshly made juice is a powerhouse of nutrition. Fresh juice contains enzymes and micronutrients and quality calories. Green juices, carrot juice, and vegetable juices can be healing and delicious.

Some will find that one of the above remedies will be the answer they have been looking for. Others will need a combination of the remedies to bring healing to cystic acne.

Be encouraged; cystic acne can be beaten!  Have you tried one of these popular home remedies for cystic acne? We would love to hear from you! Continue reading to see what solutions our readers have found for the problem of cystic acne.


Additional Pages of Interest:

Natural Remedies for Acne
Natural Remedies for Acne Scars


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Niacin Therapy

Posted by Panem et circenses (Atlanta) on 12/07/2021
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

About 8 years ago, I began taking pure niacin for anxiety. I followed the protocol of Dr. Andrew Saul who was taught by Abram Hoffer. I started with 25mg 3x a day and slowly worked my way up to eventually 6500mg per day in divided doses. If you watch the documentary Food Matters, Dr. Saul discusses a woman with severe depression who benefits greatly from 13,000mg per day.

Anyway, as I was increasing my dose, I discovered that my cystic acne was going away. Up til then I had horribly painful deep cysts that would persist longer than regular acne. I also noticed that the cysts I had once developed on my upper thighs and even sometimes my armpits were COMPLETELY gone. I have not had them since. And like I said, that was 8 years ago when I started.

Now, PLEASE do your research about niacin first. While I have never had any issues with it (aside from accidentally taking time release niacin which raised my liver enzymes and caused my ankles to swell - very scary. Once I stopped it, all went back to normal), it does cause a flush. This flush can be anywhere from a slight warmth to feeling like a bad sunburn. It can take 15 minutes to an hour to pass. That is why I started at a VERY low dose and very gradually worked up.

I took the 25mg 3x a day and increased by 25mg per dose every 2-3weeks. I only started flushing when I started taking 50-100mg each dose. I believe it detours the liver and that may have something to do with it getting rid of the acne. I RARELY even have a pimple now when prior to starting it, I had a horrible pizza face with redness and discoloration from the scarring.

My scarring is 95% gone too. I'm sorry for the long post but felt this was a good one to share. Again, I ONLY use pure niacin (flush niacin), not niacinamide and definitely not time release niacin. Those two are dangerous to the liver from what I've read.


Dietary Changes

Posted by Happy (Northern California) on 04/10/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had cystic acne for more than 30 years. I did not grow out of it. A medical provider that I went to wrote down the following items to not eat.

  • Wheat / Gluten
  • Whey
  • corn starch, syrup, anything with corn
  • rye
  • caisen
  • dairy (eggs ok - thank goodness)
  • oats
  • peanuts

I had been eating this and no rice or all the other products that don't have these items in them. It's a different way of eating and for some may feel like an outcast at get togethers. A bit frustrating as many people don't want to care or understand. But for me I'd rather have that than severe painful cystic acne.

After the Medical provider gave the list to me went home and that is all that was in fridge so went to the store right away to start.

I can safely say that nearly all the boxed sweets, Daiya cheese ( have to watch every product closely as they said they had an improved cheese and turns out they added corn starch.

Btw. Corn starch is in nearly everything. Before I got rid of the last bit I checked and th pharmacist worked with me to get the prescriptions with no corn starch fillers. After that life became wonderful.

This took a long time to get the poison out of my system as we are what we eat and every cell in my body had to be replaced with the non poison.

For now I haven't tried to add anything back as I prefer not to intentionally eat something just to see. Had those 30 years of acne and the reaction can be delayed. I do have this to say DON'T CHEAT. It may be difficult at first when you still have bad stuff in your system, but it will be soooooo worth it. There are so many foods to replace the old its actually incredible. $$$

Not sure if this work on everyone but other than food costs being a little more why not try it and see how things go after one month then two three etc...

I still don't know about corn fed chicken and beef.


Ginger

Posted by Linda (Raleigh, Nc) on 10/17/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I started getting cystic acne about a year ago. I tried several home remedies. The paste of baking soda and epsom salts worked some, but as soon as I got rid of one, another would pop up.

I started taking ginger tincture drops (for a different ailment) but after approximately 5 days, my cystic acne has completely disappeared. I started taking 15 drops, 3 times a day. After a couple weeks, I dropped down to once a day (morning) and have not experienced any relapse at the smaller daily dose. I am now 5 weeks straight of no acne! (ginger is known for helping inflammation, as well as other things).

I am so happy i wanted to share it, in case it might also work for others.


Lavender Oil

Posted by Es (Newton, Nj) on 12/13/2010
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I meant to share this with people for years and somehow never got around to it, but I want to share this because ance cysts are really humiliating - I used to get them sometimes, and sometimes, still do. But they don't cause me the awful grief they used to, including a big ugly cyst that lasts for two weeks, and red marks that last for months if you pick at them. I stumbled upon a way to make them go down instantly and let me tell you, I'd tried a dermatologist and they prescribed a special cyst cream that cost $50 even with my insurance! It was like a $187. Cream that only dried the living cr*p out of the cysts but didn't really help.

OK so the cure is simple. You take a few drops of lavender essential oil, you put it on a little swatch of cotton, and stick it on the cyst. You leave it there for an hour or even two. Here's the deal. Sometimes, before the cyst actually shows up, you feel that little painful spot on the skin, and if you catch it then, that's the best time, because if you feel the cyst coming on, and put the lavender on, you will find the cyst never really gets to develop. Sometimes you might want to do the lavender treatment again the following day for good measure. This stops the cyst before it can really form at all. But sometimes, you don't catch it until it's come up. In that case, you will have to treat a few times, but it will completely reduce your misery. Some cysts are more stubborn than others, but none of them can stand up to lavender essential oil. I ALWAYS keep lavender oil in the house.

So, if the cyst has come in, then here's how you do it:
I just pull a little piece of cotton off a cotton ball, so it covers the cyst completely, and drop the lavender oil on with a dropper. The little cotton patch should be soaked with the lavender oil. Do not dilute, lavender can be used on the skin undiluted. Leave it on at least an hour. That cyst will be beginning to go down from that point. You may need to repeat this treatment once daily for the next couple of days if it's a stubborn cyst and you got it later in the development, but it's ok, it WILL NOT become a big monster, it will not grow, from when you begin treating, it will stop growing and start dying. Every day it shrinks more. This has worked for me every time, and I discovered this trick by accident about 5 years ago.

My handsome younger brother poo-pooed it as nonsense until he got a cyst zit on his nose, and suffered a humiliating job interview where he swears he wasn't hired cause he looked like he was growing a second nose the thing was so big. He said the interviewer couldn't help looking at it. Well, a few weeks later another cyst started coming in, what did I see but my brother, raiding the medicine cabinet for my lavender oil! It worked for him too, so he bought his own bottle (it's cheap and tons of companies manufacture it, very easy to find). He keeps some at home just in case because you may not get them a lot but when you do, they SUCK.

Anyway, my neighbor had a problem with cysts for years, and used to go to her DR to have them drained. I gave her some of my lavender oil and guess what? It worked for her too. She was amazed. So don't suffer with a huge ugly cystic zit on your face that hurts physically, lasts for ages, and causes embarrassment. Either hit your local health food store, or search online for some pure lavender essential oil and give it a shot. Do not put a lavender compress on your skin if you have just put on aloe vera gel (or fresh aloe vera gel from the leaf) - the aloe combined with the lavender compress will burn the skin and leave a scab!!! (Found that out the hard way - using myself as a guinea pig). Good luck. ES


Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sandra D (Greenwood, IN) on 05/12/2009
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I am a 43 yr old woman. About ten years ago I started suffering from terrible cystic acne. I am taking testosterone blocker and minocycline. Nothing worked. I also use Duac gel which is an antibiotic and peroxide. Still nothing worked. Tryed thousands of combinations of medications and home remedies. Yesterday I read this blog on apple cider vinegar....thought what the heck. I will try it. I took 2 tablespoons in a glass of water and dabbed some on the exsisting cysts. Then that evening did the same thing only using the cider as a toner.

Today my acne is almost completely clear. Why, I do not know. But be assurred this is no joke. My dermatologist is going to freak out. I am very active in the gym etc. Now I can go in and strut my stuff with confidence.

My regime is:

Morning:

Wash face with Oil free cleanser
Use apple cider vinegar as a toner with cotton swab (smell will go away in a second)
Drink 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in an 8 oz glass of water
In afternoon, repeat drinking 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in a glass of water)

Night:

Wash face with Oil free cleanser
use apple cider vinegar as a toner with cotton swab
Drink 2 tablespoons in an 8 oz glass of water

So for $3.49 I cured my acne or at laest kept it at bay I was spending

$99.00 month minocycline
$68 month aldactone
$70 month duac gel
$20-60 month on every over the counter thing I could find and thought would help

Happy in the Sun

Sandra D Grnwd, In



Advertisement