Latest news with #cysticacne
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman reveals how pregnancy hormones made her face 'like an old person'
A woman has shared how her face drastically changed after she developed severe cystic acne while she was pregnant. Farah Faizal, a marketing manager, from Malaysia, posted two unfiltered photographs of herself side-by-side on X to show how her face had changed before and after falling pregnant. In one photo, Farah had clear skin and rosy cheeks, but in the other, her whole face looked red and covered in large bumps that appeared to be cystic acne. The shape of Farah's nose had also changed significantly, appearing much bigger than before, and she had deep lines along her cheeks and nose, as well as on her forehead. Farah wrote in May that while she was grateful not to have experienced pregnancy sickness she first started realizing her skin was changing about two months after falling pregnant. Acne began appearing on her face in the form of pustules and her skin became red, as though she had been sunburned. Her nose also started to swell as she progressed in her pregnancy, which was her second. Farah said: 'Then slowly my smile lines became deeper and my face started to look like that of an old person. 'I realized there were lines appearing on my forehead and between my eyebrows, and they were getting deeper and more kept appearing. The closer to my due date I got, the worse it became.' She shared a close-up photograph of the deep lines on her forehead, which also showed how her skin was covered in acne and bumps - a far cry from the clear, smooth skin she had before. While her husband reassured her that the changes were due to pregnancy hormones and therefore temporary, Farah admitted that she cried throughout the nine months of her pregnancy. Later in her thread, the woman revealed that she broke down at one point and asked her friend: 'Why are other pregnant women so beautiful? Just glowing? Why am I the only one who has been affected like this? 'I asked this because I saw influencers who looked simply beautiful while they were pregnant. 'I wasn't sad but I did feel insecure. My husband kept reassuring me that it was fine and only temporary, and he would always encourage and compliment me. 'He said I was still beautiful in his eyes and not to think of anything untoward.' Farah also credited her best friend who would give her words of encouragement and emboldened her to share her story on social media. Farah said: 'Don't think that pregnancy is easy, different people have different experiences.' She then gave some additional advice for men: 'So appreciate your wife, as she has sacrificed her body to give birth to your child. Don't say an epidural is a "cheat code".' Sharing her story with Malaysian media, Farah said she wanted to raise awareness about the side of pregnancy that isn't spoken about as often. She told Sinar Daily: 'I wish more people understood that pregnancy isn't just about the cute bump and baby kicks. 'There are so many changes - physical, emotional and mental - that we go through. Every woman's experience is different and all of them deserve to be acknowledged.' Farah gave birth to her baby in July and has since told that her skin is slowly healing one month post-partum. She said: 'I'm slowly regaining my features. It has been a month since I gave birth and I'm in recovery mode. I've also started monthly laser treatments to help my skin heal and improve.' While the change in Farah's appearance was shocking, it may not be as unusual as people think. While some tout the benefits of the famous 'pregnancy glow', women from all over the world have recently started sharing the extraordinary changes to their faces while pregnant. Dubbing the term 'pregnancy face', thousands of women on social media have shared their 'before' and 'after' photographs of becoming mothers, in videos poking fun at their own transformations. Women suffering with having extra pigmentation, puffy eyes, loss of definition in their face, and enlarged noses. According to doctors, much of what those online describe is a result of water retention, a commonly reported side-effect among expectant mothers. The NHS website cites swelling as typical in pregnant women, particularly in lower parts of the body such as the legs, ankles, and feet. Effects can appear particularly pronounced 'if the weather is hot or you have been standing a lot.' The website reads: 'Swelling is caused by your body holding more water than usual when you're pregnant.' Healthcare providers suggest remedying symptoms by avoiding standing for long periods of time, and resting with raised feet as much as possible. The NHS also advises that drinking water, though seemingly counter-productive, can also reduce water retention. Symptoms of water retention can be further exacerbated by pre-eclampsia, a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure and having protein in the urine. The condition can prove fatal if not properly treated. Changes to hormones during pregnancy can also bring out skin conditions including acne, puffiness, dark spots, sensitivity or redness, say experts at Simple Skincare. Some mothers also reported having 'pregnancy nose', in which their noses ballooned while they were carrying their children. 'Pregnancy nose' is believed to result from an increase in hormones, which leads to the dilation of blood vessels and creates more blood flow to certain areas of the body. The increase in size is usually only temporary and most women find their noses return to normal a few weeks after delivery.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman, 28, reveals how pregnancy hormones made her face completely unrecognisable and 'like an old person'
A woman has shared how drastically her face changed after she developed severe cystic acne and her facial lines deepened while she was pregnant. Farah Faizal, a marketing manager, from Malaysia, posted two unfiltered photographs of herself side-by-side on X, formerly Twitter, to show how her face had changed '100 per cent' before and after falling pregnant. In one photo, Farah had clear skin and rosy cheeks, but in the other, her whole face appeared red and covered in large bumps that appeared to be cystic acne. The shape of her nose had also changed significantly, appearing much bigger than before, and she had deep lines along her cheeks and nose, as well as on her forehead. Farah wrote in Ma y that, while she was grateful not to have experienced pregnancy sickness, she first started realising her skin was starting to change about two months into the pregnancy. Acne began appearing on her face in the form of pustules and her skin became red, as though she has been sunburned. Her nose also started to swell as she progressed in her pregnancy, which was her second. 'Then slowly my smile lines became deeper and my face started to look like that of an old person,' Farah continued. 'I realised there were lines appearing on my forehead and between my eyebrows, and they were getting deeper and more kept appearing. The closer to my due date I got, the worse it became.' She shared a close-up photograph of the deep lines on her forehead, which also showed how her skin was covered in acne and bumps - a far cry from the clear, smooth skin she had been used to. While her husband reassured her that the changes were due to pregnancy hormones and therefore temporary, Farah admitted that she cried throughout the nine months of her pregnancy. Later in her thread, she revealed that she broke down at one point and asked her friend: 'Why are other pregnant women so beautiful? Just glowing? Why am I the only one who has been affected like this?' 'I asked this because I saw influencers who looked simply beautiful while they were pregnant. 'I wasn't sad but I did feel insecure. My husband kept reassuring me that it was fine and only temporary, and he would always encourage and compliment me. 'He said I was still beautiful in his eyes and not to think of anything untoward.' Farah also credited her best friend who would give her words of encouragement and emboldened her to share her story on social media. 'Don't think that pregnancy is easy, different people have different experiences,' she added. Farah had some additional advice for men: 'So appreciate your wife, as she has sacrificed her body to give birth to your child. Don't say an epidural is a 'cheat code'. Sharing her story with Malaysian media, Farah said she wanted to raise awareness about the side of pregnancy that isn't spoken about as often. She told Sinar Daily: 'I wish more people understood that pregnancy isn't just about the cute bump and baby kicks. 'There are so many changes - physical, emotional and mental - that we go through. Every woman's experience is different and all of them deserve to be acknowledged.' Farah gave birth to her baby in July and has since told that her skin is now slowly healing one month post-partum. 'I'm slowly regaining my features. It has been a month since I gave birth and I'm in recovery mode. I've also started monthly laser treatments to help my skin heal and improve.' While the change in Farah's appearance was shocking, it may not be as unusual as many people think. While some tout the benefits of the famous 'pregnancy glow', women from all over the world have recently started sharing the extraordinary changes they saw in their faces while pregnant. Dubbing the term 'pregnancy face', thousands of women on social media have shared their 'before' and 'after' photographs of becoming mothers, in videos poking fun at their own transformations. Women suffering with the affliction complain of having extra pigmentation, puffy eyes, loss of definition in their face, and enlarged noses. According to doctors, much of what those online describe is a result of water retention, a commonly reported side-effect among expectant mothers. The NHS website cites swelling as typically occurring in pregnant women, particularly in lower parts of the body such as the legs, ankles and feet. Effects can appear particularly pronounced 'if the weather is hot or you have been standing a lot.' 'Swelling is caused by your body holding more water than usual when you're pregnant,' the website reads. Healthcare providers suggest remedying symptoms by avoiding standing for long periods of time, and resting with feet up as much as possible. Drinking water, though seemingly counter-productive, can also reduce water retention, the NHS advises. Symptoms of water retention were further exacerbated by pre-eclampsia, a serious condition characterised by high blood pressure and having protein in the urine. The condition can prove fatal if not properly treated. Changes to hormones during pregnancy can also bring out skin conditions including acne, puffiness, dark spots, sensitivity or redness, say experts at Simple Skincare. Some mothers also reported having 'pregnancy nose', in which their noses ballooned while they were carrying their children. 'Pregnancy nose' is believed to result from an increase in hormones, which leads to the dilation of blood vessels and creates more blood flow to certain areas of the body. This increase in size is usually only temporary and most women find their noses return to their normal size a few weeks after delivery
Health Line
25-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
5 Ways to Temporarily Relieve Symptoms of Cystic Acne
Tea tree oil, ice, probtiocs, diet changes, or a turmeric mask may temporarily help relieve symptoms of cystic acne. But a dermatologist is more likely to recommend medical approaches, such as topical medications. Cystic acne typically develops deep below your skin's surface due to oil, bacteria, or dead skin cells getting trapped in a hair follicle or pore. Cysts can form anywhere on your body, but typically appear on your face, neck, back, shoulders, or arms. They resemble boils and are painful to the touch. Although some of the ingredients in these home remedies may demonstrate some healing properties, none of them are scientifically proven to be an effective treatment for cystic acne. Before trying any of these remedies, discuss their use with a doctor or dermatologist. Home remedies should not replace medical treatment and are not clinically proven. Cystic acne often requires professional care. Remember: These home remedies will not treat a cyst, but some can help provide temporary symptom relief. Diet According to the American Academy of Dermatology, cow's milk and ultra-processed foods high in sugar may lead to acne breakouts. However, there's still no evidence that other dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, may be associated with acne. If you believe that ultra-processed foods and cow's milk may be related to your breakouts, you can try eliminating them from your diet for 3 weeks. If you don't observe any new breakouts in this period, it may be an indication that those foods or drinks may trigger your cystic acne. »More on this: Is There a Link Between Dairy and Acne? Turmeric mask Turmeric has a reputation for being anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, so some claim that a turmeric mask may help treat cystic acne. Mix small amounts of water with turmeric powder to create a thick paste. Then, apply this paste directly to the cyst and leave it in place for about 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it off. You can do this two or three times per week. Applying turmeric directly to the skin can cause irritation, staining, or an allergic reaction, so perform a patch test beforehand and always be sure to check with your doctor before trying. Probiotics Some research suggests a link between skin health and gut health. If your gut microbiome becomes unbalanced, which your diet plays a role in, you may see more acne breakouts. According to a 2018 research review, oral probiotics may help with more than just acne, including: atopic dermatitis bacterial vaginosis vulvovaginal candidiasis eczema You can prioritize probiotic foods, such as: yogurt kimchi kefir A daily dose of oral probiotics may also help encourage clearer skin and reduce skin inflammation. However, how much you should take differs for everyone, so you should consult a doctor before supplementing. Tea tree oil Tea tree oil may have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Research suggests that these properties could make this essential oil good for healing acne lesions, but the study mentions that not enough evidence is available to develop a recommendation on the use of topical tea tree oil. Before using tea tree oil on your skin, speak with your doctor or dermatologist and perform a patch test. Essential oils are very potent on their own. When applying tea tree oil to your skin, dilute 1 to 2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil, such as jojoba or argan oil. You can also add 1 to 2 drops to a moisturizer. You should always dilute tea tree oil before using it on skin. Tea tree oil is not safe to use if you're pregnant. When to seek medical help If you have a cyst that doesn't go away within a few days, shows signs of infection, or causes severe pain, you should speak with a doctor or dermatologist immediately. They may be able to drain the cyst properly or use a steroid injection to help reduce the inflammation. If the cyst worsens after using home remedies, speak with a doctor or dermatologist right away. Medical treatment options for cystic acne A doctor or dermatologist will likely suggest avoiding home remedies for cystic acne. These options may not be strong enough to treat cystic acne, may only provide temporary symptom relief, or may make it worse. Instead, a doctor might recommend the following medical treatments: azelaic acid isotretinoin oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline, minocycline, or sarecycline spironolactone topical retinoids birth control They may also recommend treatments such as light-based therapy (laser or photodynamic) or steroid injections into cystic and nodular lesions.
