To some, the conversation surrounding cystic acne still feels slightly taboo. Society’s outdated beauty ideals are hard to break free from but, the more people open up about these experiences with acne, the more normalized the conversation becomes. Celebrities like Lili Reinhart and Iris Law have done so in the past, and now, another big name is joining the ranks: Pete Davidson.
On November 21, Davidson appeared on the cover of Paper with a “depressed Ken doll” photoshoot and an accompanying interview by actor and photographer Tommy Dorfman. When Dorfman asked Davidson about his [skin-care routine], the comedian took the opportunity to open up about his current experience with cystic acne.
“Well, my skin’s insanely bad because I have Crohn’s, so I have like no immune system,” Davidson explained. “So, I get cystic acne and I have to take extra-special care of my skin so it can still look shitty. But now I’m on Accutane, so I’ve been told I’m gonna be a little bit of a BITCH for the next six months.”
Dorfman then shared that he, too, had once been on Accutane, and talked with Davidson about the side effects that come from that — which, according to the FDA, can include depression, irritability, and anger, among others. If you’re are unfamiliar with it, cystic acne is a skin condition that does not go away on its own without treatment.
Unlike regular acne, cystic acne is caused by cysts that never rise fully to the surface of the skin and, because of this, can leave long-lasting scars, thus the need for treatment. There’s no one specific cause of cystic acne, though diet seems to play a role in it, as well as genetics and hormones.
More on cystic acne:
Now check out 100 years of acne treatments:
Follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox.