Three Ways to Deal When You Make a Monster on Your Face
Disclaimer: This post is based purely on my anecdotal experience, and is written by a person who does really dumb things sometimes. Follow any advice herein at your own risk.
The preeminent rule of skincare is this: When you have a cyst—i.e. an owie under-the-skinner—you do not touch it. Hell, you don’t even look at it the wrong way, let alone rub your grubby fingers on it.
A few days ago I was following this rule. I had a hormonal guy growing deep beneath the surface of my chin, and for the first few days I dutifully ignored it. But then, who knows when—I was probably watching TV or being otherwise distracted—I somehow got to poking and prodding it a bit. And lo and behold, the next morning I woke up to a painful, red and pulsey protrusion.
Sorry guys, if you’re easily grossed out it’s earmuffs time.
At some point later that day I decided that what had really happened was that the cyst was coming to the surface (how nice of it!) and I would totally be able to lance it and be done with the thing. Lance, by the by, is the fancy word for pop with a needle.
For no good reason (it never works) I did this, and—surprise!—made matters so much worse. My friend was now infected: I could feel it spreading under the skin—swollen, painful, and soon to be a likely candidate for antibiotics. I’m not exaggerating: I have taken antibiotics more than once for infected cysts. Clearly I have a propensity for the things, and for rubbing them the wrong way.
Ok the gross ends there. In a preemptive attack to avoid the antibiotics here is what I did yesterday.
1. Topical Advil: Again, to be very clear, I don’t know if any skincare specialist would recommend this but when I have a swollen thing on my face I will sometimes turn to the anti-inflammatory properties of Ibuprofen (a.k.a. Advil). Here’s what I do: I cut the pill in half with a very sharp knife, run it under some water, and then scrape out some of the inside powder and apply it directly to the spot, letting it dry there for 20 minutes or so. If something is really infected (like yesterday), this isn’t going to make it much better—but it does reduce a bit of the pain and swelling and generally makes me feel less aware of the beast. Which is nice.
2. Clay: I was working from home, so after the Advil, I put on the Evan Healy Green Tea Clay, still a big favorite of ours. Both Evan and my father (who is a doctor and has helped treat these awful bumps of mine before) recommend clay for cysts. Clay helps bring to the surface all the bad stuff, which once you’ve done what I did is kind of your only choice. I spent most of yesterday with a big green spot on my chin.
3. Propolis: Last night, I took the cyst to Whole Foods and we bought some propolis together. We’ve talked about propolis over at GOOD: It’s the antimicrobial resin that bees use to sterilize their hives, and it’s been shown to do some pretty amazing things for humans too—like help kill cold sores. So, as my final act before bed, I drowned my spot in propolis (which dries in a weird sticky way, like apple juice would) and tried to get a good night’s rest.
The verdict?
It ain’t pretty—because now it looks scabby and dry—but I most definitely managed to kill the infection! The pain is gone and so is the swelling, which makes me feel like me and my friend are on our way to recovery. Now I will use much kinder tactics to heal the damage I’ve done—argan oil, Egyptian Magic, and some honey.
Here’s hoping that some of you will reveal equally weird (but maybe sometimes effective) things you do in your bathroom. The floor is yours!
I’m using Progress in Health Oxigen Blemish Treatment for zits.Loving it!
It’s comforting to hear someone else confess this. Touching (and let’s just put it out there: picking at) my skin is one of my biggest struggles. I absolutely know that it doesn’t help, and yet it’s a herculean effort for me to stop. I think it has something to do with OCD tendencies or something. I feel anything that isn’t absolutely smooth, and I want to scratch it away. Sigh.
Sometimes I’m aware of doing it and can say to myself (I usually have to say it out loud), “Stop, Rose. Stop.”
But sometimes I’m not even aware of it! Just like you with being distracted: I find that if I’m on the phone or the computer reading something, I often start scratching at my face almost subconsciously. Bad, bad news.
There have been times when I stopped picking for days/weeks at a time (camping with my boyfriend, for example: I knew that if I picked at anything, it’d be so much worse and I wouldn’t be able to cover it up being away from my normal make-up routine), and my skin absolutely thanked me. But even after those periods, I couldn’t resist going at it again.
(I know this all sounds crazy. Maybe I should get help.)
Anyway, I lately came across a TED Talk (love those!): http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html
His challenge isn’t ground-breaking: try something new for 30 days. Even though it’s old news, I found his simple message compelling for whatever reason. So, the first challenge I put to myself: give up scratching/picking at my skin for 30 days. We’ll see how it goes. It’s terribly hard, which seems crazy, but it is.
Has anyone successfully overcome these sorts of issues?
I cannot count the times I’ve been similar predicaments! My remedies are usually lemon juice to lighten the spot in question and either argan oil or Karen’s Botanicals perfect lotion to keep it good and moisturized.
I sometimes use honey to treat eczema on my face…
A dab ov witchhazel and leave it alone.
I also use the Evan Healy Green Tea Clay for my nasty under the skin cysts. It BURNS my skin, or something, making it raw and red and much worse than before. I love the idea, and it does dry the sucker up REAL well, but I also find it to be incredibly harsh. So if you DO use it, use it sparingly, and only put it on the head of the sucker and not all around it. Or alternate nights, or something. Because I went from having something under the surface to having an actual raw, red wound.
If you do open the thing up and you’re in wound territory, I recommend a mix of Neosporin and Tea Tree Oil, very sparingly, over night to speed up healing.
I’ve done my share of crazy poking at my face. I find that some things need to be squeezed and some don’t, and if I follow my inner voice telling me to go ahead or leave it alone I do pretty well. But it’s hard to shut down the urge to pick. Anyway, raw honey (which contains the propolis) is great as a mask or a leave-on when practical. Also, clay mixed with lavender EO or if I need to go out just the lavender on its own is great as an anti-inflammatory. If I’ve picked too much I take a couple Aleve, or, preferrably, the more natural alternative of a few capsules of turmeric. And here’s my new thing: dead sea mud soap. I can’t recall the brand at the moment but I get it at Whole Foods. Washing all over with it is too drying, but I was having some uncontrollable spot breakouts that are responding well to washing with this soap. And I’ve tried using a bit like you would a clay mask too, but be careful if you are a sensitive type. If you have an area that needs drying out, I highly recommend dead sea mud soap.
Agree with the above poster, green clay has always been WAY too harsh for me, Rhassoul works pretty well but Kaolin (white) clay is the best in my opinion, definitely the gentlest. (and as the skeptic that I always am, let me annoy everyone with my reminder that these things are CHEAP if you just buy them in bulk at a local health food store or online instead of paying attention to the brand.)
Hey Rose! I read an article a while back (I think it was in Allure) about psychologists and dermatologists seeing a lot more people (particularly women) with the problem you’re describing. It might be worth talking to someone about if it’s an urge you really don’t feel you can control. But, I’m with you here. I was never an extreme face picker, but I suffer from psoriasis on my scalp/in my ears and I pick at it like crazy, which makes it flare up even worse. The itching doesn’t help, but honestly that’s not really why I do it.. it’s just become a habit and since it’s been like, ten years, it’s hard to quit! But, I do find I do it a lot less when I’m stressed, and I’ve found other ways of keeping my hands busy when I’m bored (even when I’m just watching tv, like playing with my ipod or something like that) and that helps. Best of luck to you!
As for under the skin zits, I’m tea tree oil all the way. I apply as many times as possible throughout the day. Dr. Alkaitis soothing gel is also really helpful for around-the-mouth hormonal breakouts, but that stuff is hella expensive.
So you’re asking us to share “weird” behaviour, right? Well I used to sometimes use those pore strips and while I don’t really miss them and don’t think they were all that good (the good was often countered by the drying, stripping irritation the strips left behind) I still get so annoyed when I notice my nose or chin with clogged pores. So… I sometimes without realising it, start to squeeze. And then besides the Rudolph-red nose (or chin) I know I’ve torn at the skin and irritated the area, which just isn’t good.
Interesting thing: I’ve been reading a book called The Mind-Beauty Connection and she offers the opinion (or psychological fact?) that continual picking is a sign of depression. I’m trying to keep an eye on my picking to see if it corresponds to any sadness or cases of the blues I experience. Hmm…
I can’t help touching a cyst, especially when it’s huge. It’s painful and I think my fingers just like to wander over there every five minutes out of curiosity and amazement, and go “what the HECK is this huge thing on my face and HOW did it get there?”; So I end up touching it more than the recommended zero times a day. I recently used the Proactive face mask as an overnight spot treatment and it cleared the bumpy nuisance on my chin within two days.
Will defo try your Advil treatment next time. Thanks!
Before applying the clay mask, I like to pamper my face with a steam bath – not too hot, using Dr Hauschka’s Facial Steam Bath or just adding a bit of salt. (As for the mask, I like again Dr Hauschka’s Cleansing Clay Mask, which is way less harsh than many others I’ve tried but really efficient.) Helps to calm both me and the inflammation down…
Rose,
I totally hear you!! I remember my very first breakout in the 5th grade because kids at school called me \pizza face\ and I had breakouts consistantly until my mid-20’s. I had a mix of deep cystic acne on my cheeks and alot of white head breakouts in my T-zone. NMDL has changed my life but before I knew about what I was doing to my skin and body I used accutane under the care of a dermatologist for about 8 months. Honestly the accutane changed my life – my skin cleared and and there was nothing left for me to \pick\ at, which I think was a big part of my problem. I used to think that if I \pushed\ or \picked\ on the cystic zits they would come to the surface faster, I could then pop them and they would start clear up and stop hurting so bad. This just made the acne worse and I still have scarring from my the days I used to \pick\ at my skin.
I don’t get the cystic ance as bad as I did before the accutane – maybe 3-4 cystic zits per year total (when I’m really stressed out) but I still have tons of blackheads and get white heads frequently in my T-zone and its sooooo hard not to pick at my skin!! I totally understand what your talking about when you say \Herculean\ effort because that’s what is is for me everyday not to touch my skin and kindof pick, rub those spots that aren’t 100% smooth – but I know as soon as I start touching, or trying to squeeze that blackhead I think I can get – I start to breakdown all around the area I picked.
As for stopping myself from picking at my skin, I try not to look in the mirror too closely at my skin so I can’t see all the small blackheads and feel the needs to pick at them. Also, I went back to grad school in the last year and although its alot of extra stress, I’m in class or in group sessions alot of the time so I can’t really put my hands all over my face and pick and my skin in front of people without looking weird so that’s acutally helped stop me from picking. Also, sometimes when I’m alone studying or reading at my computer I will actually use one of those stress balls you squeeze in your hand so that I don’t have a hand free to rub on my face.
I hope you find some strategies that work for you- Hang in there!!
What is everyone using an overnight zit spot treatment?? I just recently bought the evan healy green tea clay mask after I read people using it overnight on zits. I haven’t tried it yet but plan to in the near future. Also does anyone have any suggestions on products that will rid the skin of blackheads??
Thanks in advance!!
The EH Green Tea Clay does bring it to the surface, but, in my experience, if you keep using the clay, it will dramatically shorten the lifespan of the cyst/pimple. I do find it too harsh to use every day for an extended period of time, but I was fine using it daily for up to a month or so. I also use Tea Tree Oil morning and night and argan oil at night. Over time, geranium oil also helps prevent them, I think (I’ve noticed a difference).
@Rose: For me, I often just decide I don’t want to anymore, and I just stop doing it and internally chastise myself if I try to do it. It takes 8 weeks to build a habit, so if you can be successful for that long, you’re pretty much there. This worked for behavioral things like not touching my face and not crossing my legs. Not eating sugar (it gives me a headache, so I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong), however, took a curve of not buying things with sugar and eating less and less over time. The same with soy and dairy: even though I am allergic to them and they make me break out…every time, it still took me a while to competely eliminate them and to stop “cheating.” It also helps to not procrastinate on when you start – now really is the best time. :) Good luck!
Alyssa, Sarah, and A: Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. It really helps to know that I’m not the only one who has struggled with this and also that other people have successfully gotten a handle on bad habits. Thank you, thank you! Community (even if online with people you don’t really know) helps a lot – when I’m tempted next time I can say to myself, “All those other people beat this, you can do this, too.”
Rose, I am right there with you. I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) which is mostly under control… except for the picking. if I’ve had a bad day and mr. lala isn’t home? forget about it. I lose hours. I think it just comes down to self control, and I need a heaping dose.
The EH green clay definitely seems to help me with cysts. Or maybe my hormones are (finally!) regulating now that I’m in the 8th month of pregnancy (which did a number on my skin like I have never seen!) and they are just not as bad as they used to be. I don’t have a problem using it nightly and would highly recommend it. I’ve been seeing a dermatologist over the last 8 months to deal with this pregnancy acne who injected one of the cysts on my chin with cortisone. Now, 5 months later I still have a good size indent from it that I’m hoping isn’t a permanent scar. After this experience and adopting the NMDL as my religion it’s difficult for me to see a derm who prescribes topical medications loaded with bad stuff, especially after this experience. So rather than seeing a derm I’m wondering if anyone has a “clean” spa/medispa recommendation in the NYC area that handles acne maintenance whether through microdermabrasion or facials or whatever. Any suggestions out there?
Confession about a “weird” behavior. Major zit/cyst gets infected (it happens, even with good self control which I don’t have) so I dab a few drops of breast milk on it. Preferably the foremilk since it is highest in antibiotic properties. Ladies, I’m not joking, breastfeeding isn’t just beneficial for the baby!
How did I discover this one? My sister in law, who has nursed two of her own, recommended it when my son’s eye got kinda gunky like he’d slept with something in it too long. She said it would help prevent any infection, and begin some basic treatment if it was already infected. I’ve used it on several other scratches he’s picked up since learning to walk, with good success and zero sticky residue. Better than neosporin!
When I’m not lactating, I use witch hazel and a little coconut oil to keep the skin nourished with good stuff.
I love it Steffie! Thanks for sharing.
@Steffie: that is truly the most incredible thing that I have ever heard. the wonders of breast milk never cease to amaze me.
Ice cubes will reduce the swelling (bag of frozen peas or cold beer works too).
Benadryl when you first notice or feel it emerging, as the cyst may be hives. I have a dairy fat and cocoa allergy, so even when I am crystal clear with servers, I need to keep antihistamines in my wallet.
Breastfeeding has been an amazing journey, and I could go on forever about the wonders of breast milk and the act itself and the bond it develops, the protections it gives you AND your child, etc, but the most amazing part is the fact that lactating mothers are walking vaccine factories. When your kid picks up a bug at daycare and comes home that same day to nurse, chances are good he’ll try to nurse for a very long time (a four hour stint the day after a visit to the VA comes to mind!) or to cluster feed with an increased frequency. His instincts are right on. Let him. The bug he picked up is being transferred to you via the skin on your nipple, and your body is developing antibodies ON THE SPOT and sending them back through the breast milk. Absolutely amazing.
More well known is the protections against ovarian, cervical and breast cancers. Cancer is ugly. Getting the protections can help you stay beautiful. Knowing you’re providing the best thing you can for your child is a priceless peace of mind. And THAT is gorgeous on any woman.
Wow this could not have come at a better time! I JUST had this experience last night and now have a huge, hard bump on my cheek. I couldn’t leave it alone – I’m terrible about that – and now it actually hurts a lot. And it left behind a weird red mark that looks like a scab but isn’t.. ugh. I’m going to try the Advil and propolis tonight after work. Thanks so much for the advice!!!
I recently bought an LED red/ blue light on Amazon. I had to search quite a bit to find an affordable one, but I did find a small hand held for $35. The blue light is supposed to kill bacteria and the red light gets rid of redness and helps the skin regenerate. It helped my first trimester hormonal breakouts a lot. I noticed an even bigger improvement on my daughter’s eczema behind her knees.The redness was totally gone after two treatments that probably only lasted a minute. I would definitely recommend it in for any troubled skin.
I love Steffie’s comment about the breastfeeding. I breastfed my first two for 20 months and plan on doing the same with this one.
@Tosha – Can you please give more information regarding the red/blue light you got on Amazon? I’d like to look into this as I’ve heard they are effective. Thank you!!
@Amy- New Color Ray Photo Rejuvenation Therapy Photon Led Device Anti-aging. Here is the link. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026ST6RM/ref=wms_ohs_product_T2
For an overnight acne spot treatment, I use tea tree essential oil and a layer of Montagne Jeunesse Clean-Up Mud Masque (a natural clay-based mask for blemish-prone skin). After a couple of days the blemishes disappear.
ah, that’s so refreshing to read someone else with the same problem and habit. I’m just so in awe this huge thing managed to take root in my face that I wash daily I feel like there’s no way it can’t be dealt with when it gets that painful!
Cystic acne is mostly on my chin although I have one now the place that connects my nose/cheek. Painful! And I completely made it worse trying to lance it. It drained and drained but it never seemed to get better. I have been treating it by exfoliating the dead skin, pressing a silver spoon outta the freezer to it in the mornings, dabbing it with benzoyl peroxide, and then covering it with Neosporn to heal/prevent a scar. I think I’ll order some of the Evan Healy clay so this doesn’t happen again.
One thing that does seem to help prevent them for me, apple cider vinegar as an astringent, and believe it or not, working out. You’d think it’d make my face worse, but maybe it’s flushing out my pores or regulating my body somehow because every time I quit running for a season (ie 100 degree summers, 20 degree winters) the cysts plague my chin.
Wow. If only I knew this stuff in high school!!! Thank you though because my sisters (who never broke out in high school) are now experiencing severe adult cystic acne so I’ll TRY to sympathize with them and pass along the tips :)
If you feele a cyst coming on and youre getting that familiar painful feeling go put some ice in a ziplock bag and ice the spot for 5 minutes a few times a day. This sometimes prevents the spot altogether