14 replies to this topic

[desert ninjah]

i used to get breakouts every now and then when i was a teenager. nothing all that bad, normal for my age at the time, and they tapered off as i got older until it basically wasn't even an issue. i joined the army at 18 ('m 23 now) and during my last combat tour (last year) took a healthy dose of shrapnel to the face along with mild burns. everything has healed up fine, except that you can still see the bigger pieces that are near the surface of the skin... and my acne has returned. it's like i'm 15 again.

i've read up on a lot on this site and others, and i don't know whats caused this flareup. there were times, during deployments, when i couldn't shower for weeks at a time. wearing a filthy helmet with a filthy chin strap scraping my face at all times, and i never had real acne problems. then that happened and i can't get rid of it. now i'm out of the military, have been trying every over-the-counter remedy and nothing works. i can be as careful or as careless as i want with my skin and nothing works. i've got cysts, white heads, the works.

if anyone has anything similar, or any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[~ Dee]

I got glass stuck in my finger once, & it took over a year for the skin to push it back out.

and during my last combat tour (last year) took a healthy dose of shrapnel to the face along with mild burns. everything has healed up fine, except that you can still see the bigger pieces that are near the surface of the skin...

i've got cysts, white heads, the works.

I would say maybe go see a doctor or dermatologist if you can. Seems like there are many treaments that work or are really helping people. But everyone responds to them in a unique way. Certain combinations may play out better for you than others.
Mild cleanser, mandelic acid, green cream, & a beautyskin light are what are clearing me up. For someone else that might not do squat.

Have you been on any antibiotics for your skin?

[Lorrie]

I cant help but think that if the impact was strong enough to imbed shrapnel in your skin then chances are it imbedded dirt and debris in your skin also. I am not sure what to recommend. Obviously something that would bring all that crap to the surface. I know that Paula's Choice 2% BHA brings stuff to the surface from your pores but I am not sure if that would work in this case. Like the above poster said, you might have to do a round of antibiotics but I am not sure that would help either. It would kill the infection that is a result of the dirt and debris being imbedded in your skin but I think thats only treating the symptom and not the actual cause. I dont know if a dermatologist could help or not. There has to be some way to extract all that stuff out but I am clueless as to how. Maybe a doctor would have some suggestions. You might have to tough it out and wait for the stuff to work its way to the surface on its own. I am sorry that happened to you. Thank you for defending our country. I wish I could be of more help to you. Lorrie

[spark658]

I just want to second Lorrie's sentiment and say thank you for defending our country. I am sorry you have to go through this now after already having been put through hell. If at all possible I think you should visit a dermatologist.

[desert ninjah]

well, i made an appointment with the VA on wednesday. just for an up to date physical, but i'll ask to speak with a dermatologist there. i'm also going to look for that BHA stuff. thanks for the suggestions.

[A-Shizzle]

Military wife here so I'd just like to thank you for everything you/my husband/all other troops are doing.

What about seeing a derm? Maybe yours is possibly stress related as I'm sure you might have some sort of ptsd - how's your diet?

[crash]

did u drink bottled water or water from the water buffalos (tanks) which they poured iodine. iodine will make u break out like a mofo. as for the schrapnel, i dont believe gunpowder will make u break out, and kordite neither. im also in the military and a lot of my job requires me to fire a minigun or .50 cal, and i get powder burns all up and down my face, but it hasn't worsened or improved my skin compared to wen i havn't shot in a long time.
i think it could be from 1; stress 2; imbedded microscopic schrapnel or particles 3; your sebum factory gland things were affected by the scrapnel and gunpowder that hit yer face. or, u could be one fo those people that have those occasional periods of having a clean face for a year or so and breaking out just as u once had long ago.

[desert ninjah]

did u drink bottled water or water from the water buffalos (tanks) which they poured iodine. iodine will make u break out like a mofo.

wow. i didn't know about the iodine. we drank whatever was available. so there was quite a range (from bottled to dirka tap water... with iodine tabs in it). thats something new for me to look into and bring up when i go in for my appointment. i've been blaming the shrapnel and particles because when things first started healing every little hole (the majority of the left side of my face) turned into a pimple and scabbed over.

anyways, crash, thanks for the different angle on this. and everyone, thanks for the kind words. i don't think we ever get used to that.

[Lorrie]

OMG I didnt know they put Iodine in your drinking water. Iodine is one of the worst things for your skin. I am sure that didnt help the situation at all.

[crash]

yea, my helicopter was shot down in africa and my crew and i spent a week drinking stagnant puddle water that we collected and dropped iodine pills in. and our only mean of filtering the water was using our tshirts. during that week of drinkin nasty iodine concentrated water, i came back with acne all over. so yes, iodine is bad for your skin. dont tke supplements with iodine in it, if at all, i think 5mg was enough to keep u from breaking out, but the iodine pills used in the military are 1-2 gram pills. thats like 20-40X's more than the maximum recommended. mentioning it to your derm would be a good idea, but i dont think it should be affecting u after u stopped drinking water with iodine in it.

[crash]

OMG I didnt know they put Iodine in your drinking water. Iodine is one of the worst things for your skin. I am sure that didnt help the situation at all.

wut iodine does for the water is that it prevents the bacterium in the water from affecting your body. bacterium that could cause permamnent... wuts the word... well it could really mess u up for the rest of your life. bacterium that will cause u to have diorhea everyday for the rest of your life. well the iodine traps the bacterium in a cacoon of... well iodine, and lets it pass through your body without affect... except, causing acne.
sorry if i dont know the exact terms and definitions of everything, but i learned this stuff in survival school years ago... well i didn't learn, more like listened while my mind was somewhere else.

[desert ninjah]

OMG I didnt know they put Iodine in your drinking water. Iodine is one of the worst things for your skin. I am sure that didnt help the situation at all.

they didn't add iodine to our drinking water... we did! it was either that, die of thirst, or get dysentery so bad you wish you were dead. boy, the military was fun!

[outdoorgirl]

A big thanks for your service desert ninjah and crash. I hope you get your acne under control soon. My acne is a pretty minor thing when I think of what you two and your fellow soldiers are doing for us. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that and have to deal with acne too!

Good luck to you both!

Christine

[Lorrie]

OMG I didnt know they put Iodine in your drinking water. Iodine is one of the worst things for your skin. I am sure that didnt help the situation at all.

they didn't add iodine to our drinking water... we did! it was either that, die of thirst, or get dysentery so bad you wish you were dead. boy, the military was fun!

LOL I guess acne was the last thing on your mind then huh?

You guys have inspired me to look around the net for something that will counteract the effects of Iodine. If I find anything I'll let you know. Maybe you can share it with any buds that are still being subjected to the brilliance of the military.

[Brandy]

When my husband was in the army, he got a glass bottle busted over his head and alot of glass shards imbedded in his scalp. That was over 15 years ago and he still will get little inflamed spots now and again from a piece of glass still in there. He's never had an acne problem, but when these little pieces of glass decide to emerge they look like papules or cysts and a bit of glass is in the center.