An acne nodule is a severe type of inflammatory acne. Acne nodules are bigger than typical pimples and affect deeper layers of the skin. Nodular acne causes widespread, painful breakouts.

Nodular acne is also called nodulocystic acne or cystic acne. Acne nodules can appear on the face, back, and other areas of the body.

This article will cover what causes acne nodules, how this type of acne is diagnosed, and how to treat nodular acne.

What Do Acne Nodules Look and Feel Like?

Nodular acne looks and feels different from other forms of acne. You may get just a few breakouts of acne nodules, but they are often more widespread. Unlike typical small pimples, acne nodules can last for months.

Nodular acne can:

  • Be found deep under the skin’s surface
  • Feel like hard knots under the skin
  • Develop a white head
  • Cause severe scarring

What Causes Acne Nodules?

Anyone can get nodular acne but there does seem to be a genetic component. If your parents or siblings had acne nodules, you’re more likely to get them. That said, you can still get nodular acne even if no one else in your family has it.

Acne nodules are thought to be caused by several factors, including:

  • Overactive oil glands called sebaceous glands
  • A large buildup of dead skin cells in pores
  • An overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria
  • An increase in androgen hormones (which can lead to more production of thicker skin oil)

Nodular acne is more common in young, biologically male people. Teens and young adult males often get acne nodules on both their faces and bodies.

Adult females often get nodular acne on their jawline, chin, and neck. The acne nodules may get worse right before a person starts their menstrual period.

Treating Acne Nodules

Acne nodules can be tough to treat. If you think you have nodular acne, seeing a dermatologist—a healthcare provider specially trained to treat skin, hair, and nails—can be helpful.

Click Play to Learn All About Nodule Pimples

This video has been medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD.

A dermatologist may offer you prescription acne medication for acne nodules because over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments are not always effective at treating nodular acne.

If you have widespread nodular acne, your dermatologist might prescribe a synthetic type of Vitamin A called isotretinoin that you take as a pill. It is considered the best treatment for severe acne.

Does Nodular Acne Scar?

Acne nodules can cause scarring. Nodular acne is so deep that you’ll most likely need an oral acne medication as well as a topical acne treatment to control the breakouts. The sooner you can see a dermatologist and start treatment, the better.

Your healthcare provider might want you to take oral antibiotics for a short time to help reduce the inflammation that acne nodules cause. Oral antibiotics may help your skin look and feel better while waiting for topical acne treatments to work.

If you can’t take isotretinoin, your healthcare provider might want you to try a combination of topical acne treatments and antibiotics. For example, benzoyl peroxide might help acne nodules when it’s used with certain oral antibiotics.

Oral contraceptives and/or a drug called spironolactone are nodular acne treatment options for people who menstruate. Both medications regulate hormones and help manage premenstrual acne nodule breakouts.

Coping With Acne Nodules

Swollen nodular acne breakouts can hurt a lot! Although the tips won’t clear up your acne, they can help with your symptoms while you’re waiting to be diagnosed or giving a treatment time to work.

  • Don’t squeeze, pick, or try to pop acne nodules. It’s tempting, but trying to “pop” an acne nodule can damage your skin and worsen the breakouts.
  • Ease pain and inflammation. Applying ice wrapped in a soft cloth to a painful acne nodule a few times a day can help with the pain and swelling.
  • Ask about cortisone shots. Cortisone injections can be used to treat one painful acne nodule and may help it heal faster but they won’t clear up nodular acne breakouts.

If having nodular acne is making you self-conscious, it’s important to reach out for support. Your feelings are valid and completely normal, but tell your healthcare provider if you’re having a hard time coping with the pain and stress of acne nodules.

Summary

Acne nodules are a severe kind of acne that hurts a lot and can cause scarring. Acne nodules tend to run in families, but anyone can get this kind of acne.

Several factors are thought to contribute to nodular acne, including overactive oil glands, an increase in androgen hormones, a buildup of dead skin cells, and high amounts of acne-related bacteria on the skin.

A dermatologist is the best healthcare provider to diagnose nodular acne and recommend treatment for acne nodules, including medication. While these options can be effective, they may take a few months to work.

At home, try not to pick at or pop acne nodules. Instead, use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth to help ease the pain of nodular acne while you’re waiting for treatment to start helping your skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is an acne nodule a papule?
  • Acne nodules and acne papules are similar, but a nodule is larger and deeper in the skin than a papule.
  • What is inside a pimple?
  • A pimple has skin cells, bacteria, pus, and sebum in it. Sebum is an oily substance the sebaceous glands make to prevent the skin from getting too dry.
  • How do you shrink a cystic pimple?
  • A corticosteroid injection (or a cortisone shot) is an anti-inflammatory steroid that can shrink large or painful acne lesions quickly. A healthcare provider can give it to reduce the size of a cystic pimple.
  • Can you get rid of cystic acne overnight?
  • Unfortunately, cystic acne isn’t likely to go away overnight. It may take at least three or four months of active treatment to see an improvement.
  • Is nodular acne the same as cystic acne?
  • Acne cysts fill with pus, while acne nodules do not contain any fluid. As a result, nodules are harder and more solid than cysts.
  • Can you drain nodular acne?
  • You can’t really “pop” acne nodules like regular pimples because they are solid and not filled with fluid.

Acne nodules and acne papules are similar, but a nodule is larger and deeper in the skin than a papule.

A pimple has skin cells, bacteria, pus, and sebum in it. Sebum is an oily substance the sebaceous glands make to prevent the skin from getting too dry.

A corticosteroid injection (or a cortisone shot) is an anti-inflammatory steroid that can shrink large or painful acne lesions quickly. A healthcare provider can give it to reduce the size of a cystic pimple.

Unfortunately, cystic acne isn’t likely to go away overnight. It may take at least three or four months of active treatment to see an improvement.

Acne cysts fill with pus, while acne nodules do not contain any fluid. As a result, nodules are harder and more solid than cysts.

You can’t really “pop” acne nodules like regular pimples because they are solid and not filled with fluid.