Recently Answered Questions
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Can I use retinol to clear my cystic acne and comedones?
Query: Hello doctor, I have acne vulgaris. I get cystic acne and have a lot of comedones. I have applied Clindamycin gel and other topical creams on my acne. But after I waxed my face, the acne reappeared and not going away. What should I do? I even started using the Aztec clay mask a few days ago, but I f... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your query and understood your concern. Acne is a going process, and frequent exacerbations are seen due to hormonal changes, periods, stress, fast food, and certain cosmetics. Yes, your lesion at this time may require Isotretinoin (retinoid). Still, ... Read Full »
Is Retino-A effective for cystic acne scar?
Query: Hi doctor, I suffered from cystic acne. I used Clindamycin and Epiduo gel. It cleared my acne, but left black and red marks. I have attached the pictures. Which type of scar is this? Is there any topical cream to remove the marks? Is a chemical peel or Retino A effective for this? I also have some h... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query in detail and do understand your concern. I have also viewed the attached pictures (attachment removed to protect patient identity). These are ice pick and boxcar scars (the big ones) of acne. Treatment for the small ice pick (hole-like) sca... Read Full »
I have been dealing with cystic acne and a bad odor for over a year. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I quit drinking five years ago and smoking two years ago. I am on tablet Lisinopril, Pletal, Atorvastatin, and Isotretinoin. For about a year now, my body odor has changed for the worse (mostly the armpit area), and I have been dealing with increasingly bad cystic acne on the shoulders an... Read Full »
Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Hassan Shoukat
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. I understand it is frustrating when someone does not know the reason; your medications do not explain, and none of these cause bad smells and acne.First of all, I would suggest you take the tablet Doxycycline and the tablet Isotretinoin regul... Read Full »
I get red cysts on my face. Is it acne or rosacea?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 25 year old male. I am 6'1" tall and I weigh 170 pounds. Often, I get red cysts of some sort on my face beneath the skin that take a while to heal. I have oily skin, and get whiteheads as well. I have fluid-filled boil-like lesions on my face. I have been to a few dermatologist... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Rosacea is a skin disorder that affects people above 30 years. Other than acne-like lesions, people with rosacea have redness of the face and dry skin associated with burning sensation. They also have redness and irritation in the eyes. The redness of the face is aggr... Read Full »
I have had acne for the past six years, which greatly impacted my self-confidence. Kindly help.
Query: Hello doctor,I have had acne for the past six years, which has greatly impacted my self-confidence. I mostly have acne on my face, but I also have body and back acne. I have been to my doctor many times, and they have given me medication that has completely failed to work, but I was told that I have... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concern. You have nodulocystic acne. First, you need to understand that acne at your age is very common, and you may have frequent exacerbations precipitated by stress, food, and sometimes periods. And it takes months of treatme... Read Full »
I have cystic acne, which is aggravated during my menstruation. Kindly help.
Query: Hello doctor, I have cystic acne, and it is triggered mostly on my chin, cheeks, lips, and jawline. It is most aggravating during my menstruation. I have scars now and discoloration on my skin because of it. They hurt a lot, and they get infected easily. My acne started to get worse once I got off ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen your picture (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). 1. It is nodulocystic acne (grade 3) on the chin. 2. Treatment of choice is oral retinoids - Accutane (Isotretinoin) after complete and proper evaluation. Duration of Accutane depends ... Read Full »
I have PCOS, and my skin has become dry, itchy, and oily with cystic acne. What should I do?
Query: Hi doctor, I have PCOS, and I had moderate acne as a teenager. I am now 21 and lost a significant amount of weight at 18, which has helped control my hormones. However, I have just started eating well, drinking 2.5 liters of water daily, and exercising again after lowering my standards for about six... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. 1. It seems you have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and acne. Both are components of SAHA (seborrhoea, acne, hirsutism and alopecia) syndrome. 2. If abnormalities in hormones or PCOS occur, it needs to be treated ... Read Full »
I had cystic acne that has spread into red spots on popping. Can you please help?
Query: Hi doctor, I am facing a great depression here. I had cystic acne on my right cheek, which I popped, then spread into red spots for the past two months. I do not know whether these spots are scars or something else. Can you please help me out with it? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Treatment of acne depends on the grade of acne. Cystic acne requires oral Isotretinoin capsules (strength of Isotretinoin depends on your body weight and the number of cysts) or injection of Triamcinolone into the cyst. For an accurate diagno... Read Full »
Is salicylic acid treatment necessary for nodular cystic acne?
Query: Hello doctor, I am an 18-year-old boy with severe acne, nodular cystic acne, and acne vulgaris. I tried everything, but nothing really worked. So, two months back, I finally decided to visit a dermatologist. The dermatologist prescribed me Isotretinoin capsules or Sotret of 20 mg. So, it was working... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Isotretinoin is a wonderful medicine for acne. The typical course of Isotretinoin ranges from three to four months, depending on the acne response to the medicine. The dose of Isotretinoin depends on your weight. Isotretinoin shrinks the oil-producing glands and normali... Read Full »
How can cystic acne be treated without disfiguring the face?
Query: Hello doctor, How can a cystic acne be treated without devastating the face? And advice about men's health on cystic acne and what is the best treatment for cystic acne? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Cystic acne comes under acne vulgaris grade 4. The generation they present as large inflamed pus-filled nodules which later develop into cysts along with draining sinuses. Treatment of severe acne includes, 1. We need to counsel the patient that severe acne can be t... Read Full »