Acne / Cyst Treatment Instructions

Is Kenalog Treatment Right for Me? 

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Since triamcinolone is a targeted injectable that goes straight to the site of inflammation, it is generally safer than oral acne medications that need to be taken daily on a long-term basis. This treatment option is considered safe for most people and has very low risk of side effects. At your consultation, you will be asked several questions about your medical history and any medications you are taking so that we can sure this will be a suitable treatment for you. 

Am I a Good Candidate? 

Anyone who needs to treat a specific area of cystic acne on the face or body should be a good candidate for this treatment. Many patients who request this type of injection have already tried other acne treatments with poor results or are unable to take oral acne medications due to adverse side effects.

Who Should Not Use Triamcinolone 

There are rare cases where we advise against using this treatment. Patients who have an active infection, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a nerve muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis will not benefit from this treatment. If you are allergic to triamcinolone, Kenalog will obviously not be for you. This injectable might potentially interact with certain medications, so we would need a list of any prescriptions you are currently taking. While triamcinolone is an excellent treatment for cystic acne, it is not the best choice for more superficial forms of acne at the skin’s surface. If you have regular acne, or whiteheads and blackheads, these conditions are more likely to respond to topical medications. Having said this, most acne sufferers have a combination of lesion-types including cysts. 

What To Expect After My Appointment 

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As soon as you leave the clinic, you will already notice a difference in your skin. Lesions begin to shrink very soon after an injection, with results that continue to improve over the next two days. By day 2 or 3, treated cysts will have disappeared completely, and any acne-related redness will also have dissipated. 

Knowing When It’s Time for My Next Session

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When cysts start to creep back in, it is time to book another appointment. It is always better to treat cystic acne when it is in its earliest stages, because the longer a cyst is in place, the more likely it will be to leave scarring. At the first sign of pain and inflammation, an injection can quickly stop a developing cyst in its tracks and prevent it from recurring for several weeks. 

Understanding

Cystic Acne

This is the most severe type of acne and the hardest to treat, as it occurs so deep in the skin that it does not respond well to topical treatments. Since cystic acne is typically caused by hormones as opposed to lifestyle factors, it is also very difficult to prevent through good diet and meticulous skin care habits alone. Using the right skin care products will definitely be helpful but will not fully address the problem.

The painful, fluid-filled legions that develop with cystic acne can leave permanent scarring behind, particularly when people give in to the temptation of picking at them. This is why early treatment is best, but Kenalog can also be very effective for addressing acne that has been allowed to progress. It is never too late to seek treatment.