Put those hands where we can see 'em, please. Adopting a hands-off policy is a good rule to abide by when it comes to pimples in general, but it's especially important when it comes to cystic acne. "Unlike blackheads, these painful undergrounders don't necessarily have a connection to the surface of the skin. Picking them inevitably does more harm than good, causing inflammation, scabbing and scarring," explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "The rule is, if a whitehead doesn't form, which never happens if it's a true cyst, then hands off," adds Rouleau. Resist the urge to squeeze or pick, no matter how tempting it may be. (And trust us, we know it's oh-so-tempting.) If there's one bumpy blemish that you need to get rid of immediately, a trip to the derm for a cortisone shot will tamp down inflammation and bring the cyst down in a day, says Zeichner. Otherwise, icing any particularly painful or swollen blemishes can also help.

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"When treating acne, the goal is to address as many causative factors as possible," says Zeichner, who recommends taking a DIY approach when it comes to topical spot treatments. He suggests combining equal parts of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, 2% salicylic acid, and 1% hydrocortisone cream. "Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, salicylic acid removes excess oil to dry out the pimple, and hydrocortisone calms inflammation," says Zeichner of the power trio. Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment, $7.50, Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, $6, and Cortaid, $4, all fit the bill.

"When you develop cystic breakouts, specifically on the chin, jawline and neck, it might be a sign that you're getting more dairy in your diet than your body can tolerate," points out Rouleau. "Your skin acts as an excretory system to get rid of things that your body doesn't agree with, so when you eat too much dairy, it can come out in the form of cystic blemishes in the lower area of the face." Why does your skin not understand the deliciousness that is a triple creme brie? "It's thought that sugars in milk, as well as perhaps growth factors from lactating cows, stimulate our skin's oil glands," notes Zeichner.

To determine if your pimples are a result of too much cheese, Rouleau suggests completely eliminating dairy from your diet for two weeks. "If you don't develop any new cysts when you normally would have, then this may be the solution," she says. Happily, this doesn't mean you can't eat dairy at all. Slowly introduce it back into your diet; once you start breaking out again, you'll know you've hit your body's tolerance level, she says.

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Unfortunately, because cystic acne is a different beast than your standard, run-of-the-mill zit, it often requires a little more help from the pros. And that's not only in order to treat the immediate blemish but also avoid future scarring. When the spots from cystic acne heal, they often leave marks, some of which can be permanent. It's important to get the skin cleared up as quickly as possible to prevent scars from developing, advises Zeichner. The bottom line: If OTC products aren't doing the trick within two to four weeks, see your derm for an evaluation and personalized prescription treatment, he says.

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Once you do have a treatment plan in place, it's important to address the whole face, not just the areas where you're prone to breakouts. Why do you need to treat the parts of your face that are (thankfully) blemish-free? "Your face is made of thousands of 'pipes' connecting oil glands to the surface of the skin. In acne, we know that each of these is somewhat clogged, but we have no way of predicting which will become fully blocked and lead to a pimple," explains Zeichner. Instead of playing catch-up and trying to eliminate pimples once they've developed, try to prevent cystic acne before it begins by using your acne treatment on your full face. As they say, the best offense is a good defense.

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