Homeopathic Remedies for Cystic Acne

Cleansers

Clean the affected areas several times a day with sterile pads and a homeopathic skin cleanser containing these materials:

• Arctium lappa
• Bulbine frutescence
• Azadirachta indica
• Melaleuca alternifolia
• Lavender essential oil

Treatments

The choice of a homeopathic remedy depends on specific bodily and mental symptoms, as does all homeopathic therapy. Follow the guide below to select homeopathic products based on your own situation or consult a homeopathic doctor. Use the remedies as directed on the medicine container.

• Acne accompanied by frequent indigestion and a white-coated tongue; irritable, symptoms worsened by cold baths: Antimonium crudum
• Lesions that ooze a yellowish, creamy pus every day, especially on the nose or cheeks; headaches, possible vertigo: Calcarea sulphurica
• Lesions that tend to be localized to the forehead, shoulders and back and occur but rarely on the lower face; person is very emotional: Kali bromatum
• Pimples/cysts that leave a purplish scar and are worse before menses; sores tend to be worse after sleep: Lachesis
• Very oily face and frequent nose involvement; itching, desire for cat naps: Sulphur
• Individual is irritable, hypersensitive to noises and lights, avoids being touched: Nux vomica

Additional Aids

• To prevent or minimize scarring, use Oleum Lavandula
• As an antibiotic and to minimize further infections, try Oleum Melaleuca
• Calendula officinalis has anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the worse of the effects.
• Pustular lesions may be helped by Calendula applied topically.

Liver Support

Because the liver processes the hormones and toxins that can in turn exacerbate both simple acne as well as cystic acne, Dr. Krohn, in Finding the Right Treatment, suggests taking a complex homeopathic remedy for cystic acne called Liver Liquescence for optimal liver support (see Sources).

Research Study

In 2007, a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported on a small-scale research project using a homeopathic treatment on individuals with skin diseases, one of which included severe acne. Over a period that ranged from three months to two years and seven months, by combining both homeopathic treatments with additional conventional treatment (when conventional had not been sufficiently effective), 88.3 percent of the patients reported they had greater than 50 percent improvement. Although limited in scope, this research provides at least some documentation that homeopathy may be of benefit in this situation.

Sources

Perry, M.D. and McEvoy, G.K., "Isotretinoin: new therapy for severe acne," Clinical Pharmacy, 1983 Jan-Feb;2(1):12-9

Healthy-Skin-Guide.com:Homeopathic Treatment of Cystic Acne

Krohn, Jacqueline, M.D., and Taylor, Frances, M.A. Finding the Right Treatment. Harper & Marks, 2002.

ABC Homeopathy: Cystic Acne

Itamura, R., "Effect of homeopathic treatment of 60 Japanese patients with chronic skin disease," Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2007 Jun;15(2):115-20.

Professional Health Products: Liver Liquescence