All that's to say certain types of acne—like stubborn cystic breakouts—are much more severe and mysterious than others. For instance, if I decided to slather coconut oil all over my face

one night and then awoke to an angry rash of zits on my chin days later, that's as simple a solve as computing two and two to get four. Remove the coconut oil and say goodbye to the reactive breakouts. Cystic acne, however, is much more complicated, and the underlying causes aren't usually clear-cut or easy to distinguish and diagnose. Additionally, cystic breakouts are usually the most physically painful and visible, which, given our clear skin–obsessed society, can take a toll mentally. 

Well, we're here to offer some friendly support and information. Even though we feel well versed in the art of getting pimples, we're far from experts in the art of treating them. So, to school us on the who, what, where, when, why, and how of all things cystic acne, I reached out to two amazing experts: Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician and CEO of her namesake skincare collection, and Mona Gohara, dermatologist expert in skin of color and the co-creator of Melé—a science-backed skincare brand designed with melanin-rich skin in mind. Keep scrolling to learn all of their tips and protocols for treating cystic acne.