107 replies to this topic

[White Fox]

The pics are a little to small to really tell, but the acne on your shoulders looks pretty deep. Maybe accutane is the way to go...

[Zanpakutou]

I don't think you should rule out your diet simply because you aren't breaking out on the face. In fact, I guarantee it's your diet that's causing this. You're definitely eating some of the most problematic foods that affect a lot of people with acne.

My face is pretty mild these days, has been for a long while. I was doing the whole B5 thing and pretty much cleared all but some stubborn acne on my thighs (weird). When i stopped, my bacne exploded and looked like a definite warzone, never had it that bad.

I went back on the B5 to clear it some then I stopped and went low carb to control it.

[Necromancer]

I don't think you should rule out your diet simply because you aren't breaking out on the face. In fact, I guarantee it's your diet that's causing this. You're definitely eating some of the most problematic foods that affect a lot of people with acne.

My face is pretty mild these days, has been for a long while. I was doing the whole B5 thing and pretty much cleared all but some stubborn acne on my thighs (weird). When i stopped, my bacne exploded and looked like a definite warzone, never had it that bad.

I went back on the B5 to clear it some then I stopped and went low carb to control it.

It is obviously the bodybuilding lifestyle. But I am not going to quit bodybuilding. I am not going to use B5 because like Accutane it dries you out. I can't be having that while I'm bodybuilding or I will have even bigger problems than ever.

[White Fox]

How's your skin these days Necro?

[Necromancer]

Been using a lot of Dan's BP and it has been working good. Every night I get like 2-3 pimples but I am able to remove them easier and the other ones are fading. I've been scrubbing real hard with SA in the shower and it has helped a lot. I use AHA every other day on my left shoulder to see how effective it is. I plan to get OXY 10% BP this weekend because the skin on my back is pretty thick and 2.5% ain't doing much like it does for my face.

Had neck injury so my back looks clear from what I can see since I can't really turn my head LOL.

[Yankulov]

Hi, Necro! I will follow this thread closely because I have the same problem. I am 17, bodybuilding 4 times a week, 90% clear face but bad acne on back, shoulders, arms and chest. I noticed that 80% or even more from the guys in the gym have this type of skin problem on their bodies. So I am starting more and more to think that it is related with bodybuilding. I have tried a lot of things and for sure I can say that this thing doesn't respond to dietary changes. I have tried Nizoral, too.. some results but far from clear skin. The only cure I have find so far for my body is tanning under the sun = 100% clear body. Look at this pic: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/post-a14672-.html This is in the middle of my second sea vacation. With perfect skin, not even a red mark or bigger pore. Now I have the worst breakout on my body. And here how it looks now:

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[Necromancer]

Hi, Necro! I will follow this thread closely because I have the same problem. I am 17, bodybuilding 4 times a week, 90% clear face but bad acne on back, shoulders, arms and chest. I noticed that 80% or even more from the guys in the gym have this type of skin problem on their bodies. So I am starting more and more to think that it is related with bodybuilding. I have tried a lot of things and for sure I can say that this thing doesn't respond to dietary changes. I have tried Nizoral, too.. some results but far from clear skin. The only cure I have find so far for my body is tanning under the sun = 100% clear body. Look at this pic: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/post-a14672-.html This is in the middle of my second sea vacation. With perfect skin, not even a red mark or bigger pore. Now I have the worst breakout on my body. And here how it looks now:

Yeah you look diesel in that beach pic (no homo LOL). But I am pretty certain the salt water in the ocean clears my skin. Even when I was in the Bahamas last year with my shirt on the whole time (bad bacne last year), my skin healed after a week there (without sun at all). I tan twice a week and it helps a lot. I am leaning towards more powerful BP because the skin on my back is really thick - probably on yours too. Also with the muscle on the back, I think it makes creams less effective so a more powerful cream is required. I am improving though and the marks are fading fast.

Try eating a lot of fish and nutrient foods so your body can use that as fuel to recover from skin blemishes. I also only drink water and have been for a few months. I don't even drink milk to avoid the hormones that may be in that.

[Yankulov]

Thanks, Necro This body acne is very dirty stuff... I hope we find something strong against it. Maybe I'll start solarium twice a week like you. I'm sure it will work good, but the problem is when I stop tanning new zits occur and then after this they become very long-lasting white spots.

[Necromancer]

Update:

Back is starting to look improving!

-Using lots of BP and AHA on both shoulders now.
-Chest acne is gone
-Back acne is like 99.9% clear
-Shoulders are still the worst but are improving
-AHA is eating away at the dead skin and bringing up all the nasty pus from deep in my shoulder skin
-No recent breakouts yet on shoulder area

-Also scrubbing in circles and left to right with loofa in the shower. It helps a lot in clearing away dead skin cells and other junk. Skin gets a little red but after drying off and 20-30 min later, skin returns to normal and look very improved and clean.

-I do the same with the back of my neck and no new acne on neck in weeks!

-So far the best thing to use is LOOFA, followed by LOTS OF BP and AHA!

[Necromancer]

Update:

-Quit AHA on shoulders. That crap just clogs my skin more creating super acne.
-Found out I was tanning unefficiently by tanning after applying creams to my skin. I now tan raw and it has paid off.

Results:

-Left shoulder is about 80% clear! Tanning and lots of BP has dried out the remains of the acnes!
-Right shoulder has 1 bad zone that is multiplying in acnes. About 30% clear.
-Back is about 95% clear!
-Face 100% clear - very oily though.
-Chest 1-2 deep pimples but I won't touch and when I tan, you can't see them. My skin tans well on my chest.

So far, progress is rising.

[Undercover123]

I'm in the same boat as well....Bodybuilding and severe bacne. Maybe it has something to do with the elevated testosterone levels? but I've had acne before I started working out so yeah. My advice to you is when all topcial means are exhausted, it's time to try to solve the problem internally. I've really tried everything topically, and things usually did get better for a while but then I'd go two steps back after about 2 weeks. I was finally fed up and decided to go for Accutane.

I really don't care about the side effects if the results will be as promised. It's Day 6 today and I've already noticed less inflammation all over my back. I sure hope this shit is working. so yeah guys GO FOR ACCUTANE.

[GoldenRatio]

Actually PF can have white stuff or yellow gunk and looks very close to acne. I've got it and it's even on my forearms, upper arms, shoulders, chest, back AND FACE.
It usually spreads on the trunk of the body but there is more than one type and it can look like painful red nodules, cysts, or tiny whiteheads.

For me the red flag was all the itching! I wanted to skin myself alive just to get some relief!


Also if you are put on antibiotics by a stupid dermatologist and your skin gets much worse - that's another red flag. If you have been on antibiotic therapy for acne you can get this too. I was on antibiotics for nearly eight years - which is why I HATE dermatologists!

There is no real pattern that it can be fit to either. For women your period doesn't really do much and it has more to do with what kind of environment you live in (humid) and how much you sweat when you are active, sometimes you get it from being in a poorly maintained hot tub. Obese people can easily get this in skin folds as well as those with diabetes and compromised immune systems.

Accutane can clear it up but once you're off of it it WILL come back with a nasty vengeance.

I'm in the same boat as well....Bodybuilding and severe bacne. Maybe it has something to do with the elevated testosterone levels? but I've had acne before I started working out so yeah. My advice to you is when all topcial means are exhausted, it's time to try to solve the problem internally. I've really tried everything topically, and things usually did get better for a while but then I'd go two steps back after about 2 weeks. I was finally fed up and decided to go for Accutane.

I really don't care about the side effects if the results will be as promised. It's Day 6 today and I've already noticed less inflammation all over my back. I sure hope this shit is working. so yeah guys GO FOR ACCUTANE.

Accutane will not help - it will only make it much worse! Trust me my skin is horribly scarred due to the use of Accutane. My idiot dermatologist kept telling himself I have acne. Testosterone has nothing to do with folliculitis.

[White Fox]

Actually PF can have white stuff or yellow gunk and looks very close to acne. I've got it and it's even on my forearms, upper arms, shoulders, chest, back AND FACE.
It usually spreads on the trunk of the body but there is more than one type and it can look like painful red nodules, cysts, or tiny whiteheads.

For me the red flag was all the itching! I wanted to skin myself alive just to get some relief!


Also if you are put on antibiotics by a stupid dermatologist and your skin gets much worse - that's another red flag. If you have been on antibiotic therapy for acne you can get this too. I was on antibiotics for nearly eight years - which is why I HATE dermatologists!

There is no real pattern that it can be fit to either. For women your period doesn't really do much and it has more to do with what kind of environment you live in (humid) and how much you sweat when you are active, sometimes you get it from being in a poorly maintained hot tub. Obese people can easily get this in skin folds as well as those with diabetes and compromised immune systems.

Accutane can clear it up but once you're off of it it WILL come back with a nasty vengeance.

I'm in the same boat as well....Bodybuilding and severe bacne. Maybe it has something to do with the elevated testosterone levels? but I've had acne before I started working out so yeah. My advice to you is when all topcial means are exhausted, it's time to try to solve the problem internally. I've really tried everything topically, and things usually did get better for a while but then I'd go two steps back after about 2 weeks. I was finally fed up and decided to go for Accutane.

I really don't care about the side effects if the results will be as promised. It's Day 6 today and I've already noticed less inflammation all over my back. I sure hope this shit is working. so yeah guys GO FOR ACCUTANE.

Accutane will not help - it will only make it much worse! Trust me my skin is horribly scarred due to the use of Accutane. My idiot dermatologist kept telling himself I have acne. Testosterone has nothing to do with folliculitis.

How do you know all this?

From every website I've read regarding PF it says that PF consists of Papules and Pustules only, not Nodules, Cysts etc. And how can you know for sure that testosterone has nothing to do with it?

[Necromancer]

Well like Linkin Park says, "in the ennnnnddddddddddddddd... it doesn't even matterrrrrrrrrrerrr"

FUCK BACNE!

AHA sucks!

Last week I missed showering 2x and fell asleep and showered in the morning. I got penalyzed up the ass for that. I wake up with my shoulders busted and shit.

My chest acne the few cysts that were there are drying up now. No scar I don't reckon. My left shoulder is about 80%. My right shoulder is about 50%.

I did have some scalp acne from not showering before sleep last week. I killed it instantly with Nizoral.

Overall: Progress is still occurring.

Future: I will be starting low dose of accutane (10mg EOD) in a couple of weeks. I will do 2 months of that or whatever I see fit.

Bottom line: There comes a time when you gotta decide to stop putting up walls to a leaking dam and fix the damn dam itself. BP, AHA, etc. can be good but you ain't fixing the problem. You are fixing the problem's consequences.

[White Fox]

Well like Linkin Park says, "in the ennnnnddddddddddddddd... it doesn't even matterrrrrrrrrrerrr"

FUCK BACNE!

AHA sucks!

Last week I missed showering 2x and fell asleep and showered in the morning. I got penalyzed up the ass for that. I wake up with my shoulders busted and shit.

My chest acne the few cysts that were there are drying up now. No scar I don't reckon. My left shoulder is about 80%. My right shoulder is about 50%.

I did have some scalp acne from not showering before sleep last week. I killed it instantly with Nizoral.

Overall: Progress is still occurring.

Future: I will be starting low dose of accutane (10mg EOD) in a couple of weeks. I will do 2 months of that or whatever I see fit.

Bottom line: There comes a time when you gotta decide to stop putting up walls to a leaking dam and fix the damn dam itself. BP, AHA, etc. can be good but you ain't fixing the problem. You are fixing the problem's consequences.

Are you getting the accutane online or going to a derm?

However, 10 mg each day for 2 months will probably not be enough for a complete remission from the acne. I'm going to the derm for the first time the day after tomorrow and I'm really thinking about accutane. But on the other side I don't really wanna risk it so I don't know what the fuck to do.

Can you post a full body pic of how it's looking at the moment?

[Jess]

I started using Nizoral 1% shampoo in my hair about 2 weeks ago, without following with conditioner, and the stubborn tiny forehead bumps I used to get have completely disappeared. I think the hair products I used in the past, especially conditioners, made me break out.

I like how Nizoral leaves my hair soft and silky and shiny and I don't need a conditioner. Nizoral definitely rocks in my book!

[White Fox]

How are you doing Necromancer?

[LoTolerance]

reposting this here put in another pf thread:

I have had skin problems for over 10 years.
I have been to 5 dermatologists. 4 General Practice and 3 Internal Medicine Physicians.
None of them have given anything to help over the 10 years.
_________
Background:
Severe Dry Skin
Hair Follicle problems thigh/chest for first 8 years
Hair Follicle problems thigh/chest/stomach/behind knee/back/and the face that itches last 2 years.
_
Tried these in stages until i gave up and moved to another product in search of relief.
Over the counter:
Hydrogen peroxide applied with cotton - no improvement no result
Rubbing alcohol applied with cotton - no improvement no result
Tetrasil - no improvement no result
Apple Cider Vinegar - applied cotton/bath soaks - no improvement no result
Epsom Salt - rub granules on wet skin rinse - improved dryness no result for follicles.
Zeasorb-AF powder - applied to areas prone to moisture - no improvement no result
staphaseptic - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
bacitration - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
lotrimin ultra - applied to each follicle - little improvement - no true result
lotrimin spray - spray affected areas on body twice a day - moderate improvement - no result
skin aid nuetrogena - applied to each follicle - little improvement - no true result
scarzone a - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
scarzone - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
drawing salve - applied to each follicle - flattened - no true result
clean &clear spot treatment - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
campho phenique - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
whitfields ointment - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
kerasol - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result - less redness
bag balm - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
sulfur 8 - applied to each follicle - no improvement - no result
diaper rash ointment (zinc oxide 40%) - improvement healed faster - no true result
oxy deep pore treatment - applied to each follicle - minor improvement - no result
sea breeze - applied to each follicle - minor improvement - no result
clean & clear persagel - applied to each follicle - moderate improvement - no result
cats claw supplement - taken as directed - no improvement - no result
biotin - no improvement - no result
black walnut hulls- minor improvement - no result
capryl - no improvement - no result
olive leaf - no improvement - no result
b complex - no improvement - no result
folic acid - minor improvement - no result
cal mag zinc + d - moderate improvement - no result
echinacea goldenseal - minor improvement - no result
ester c 1000mg - no improvement - no result
garlic 50mg extract from 5000mg whole clove garlic- moderate improvement - no result
coleus forskohlii extract - no improvement - no result
clinique emergency repair mask - moderate improvement - no result
lancome mask - no improvement - no result
egg white mask - improved skin dryness - no improvement - no result
oatmeal honey yogurt mask - improved skin dryness - no improvement - no result
waxing hair removal - improvement only until the hair grows back - no result
shaving different brands hair conditioner- improved skin dryness - no improvement - no result
shaving with moisture gel - no improvement - no result
panoxyl - moderate improvement - no result
cetaphil antibacterial bar - moderate improvement - no result
theraplex - improvement of skin dryness - less severe breakouts - no result
oil free cosmetics - helped some - no result
_
Prescriptions:
Keflex 500 x 4 a day - minor improvement - no result
Doxy 100mg x 2 a day - flared up big time discontinued use
benzaclin topical - dry skin - no improvement - no result
lactinol e cream - improved skin dryness - no result
hydrocortisone topical - irritated skin - no improvement - no result
clotrimazole betamethasome - minor improvement - dry white dust on skin - no result
vanicream - improved skin dryness - no result
differin gel $170 retail - dry skin - very minor improvement - no result
triamcinolone ointment -heavy ointment - no improvement - no result
clindamycin lotion - scaled skin - dry skin - minor improvement - no result

___
Whats improved follicles less severe from above lists:
diaper rash ointment (zinc oxide 40%) flattens flareups - sleeping cover with cotton/paper tape.
clinique emergency repair mask - gets rid of flakiness heals flareups faster
lotrimin spray -diminishes but does not clear
sea breeze -cleanses not drying
cal mag zinc + d (6 months use)- flares half of what they used to - sometimes clear - come back
garlic
panoxyl bar or cream
cetaphil antibacterial bar (liquid or regular bar will not help)
theraplex lotion - keeps skin moist - hypoallergenic noncomeodogenic fragrance free
cetaphil cream - only when my skin gets really dry scaly from topicals

_
found this forum last night read all the posts:
had some walgreens everyday clean dandruff in the house rubbed on dry skin let sit 8 minutes
turned on water took a bath skin brush got it wet scrubbed well then rinsed off
woke up this morning all the follicles were flat - less red - no night itching halleluiah!
went to the store this morning bought nizoral keto 1% and selsun 3%salicylic acid
applied nizoral dry 10 min wet brush scrub rinsed well - follicles still flat - same redness - no itching but a few spots are hot almost to the point of wanting to itch.
I am hoping this will work and improve this skin problem after everything i have tried im really
hoping this works!
applied theraplex hydrolotion tonight.

[LoTolerance]

Some interesting research here are some things i found maybe if information is shared someone will put 2 + 2 together and walla the cure! wishful thinking
__________________________________

www.keratin.com/aq/aq013.shtml

Pityrosporum Folliculitis is a condition caused by pityrosporum yeasts, most often Pityrosporum orbiculare, where the yeast gets down into the hair follicles and multiplies, resulting in an itchy eruption. The lesions are reddish follicular papules and pustules located mainly on the upper back, shoulders and chest. The condition responds to treatment with a topical antifungal agent.

Candida folliculitis is folliculitis caused by the Candida species, ubiquitous fungi that most commonly affect humans. Candida folliculitis must be treated with oral itraconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal agent.

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pityrosporum yeasts
_
The result with the interleukins showed both an increase in the production of inflammatory interleukins as well as in the regulatory interleukins for both TH1 and TH2 cells. Similarities to the immune response described for Candida albicans infections indicate the role of Malassezia in the skin response in seborrhoeic dermatitis and Pityrosporum folliculitis.
___
The effect of UV-light on pityrosporum yeasts: ultrastructural changes and inhibition of growth.
_
The effect of UV-light on Pityrosporum yeasts (P.) was studied: P. yeasts cultured from the skin were spread on Dixon plates and irradiated with different UVB-and UVA-light dosages and read after three days, controls were not irradiated. Also P. yeasts, immediately after irradiation, were isolated from the plates and studied with an electron microscope. A significant growth inhibition or no growth at all was seen after 25, 50, 75 J/cm2 UVA and 900 mJ/cm2 UVB, a moderate inhibition after irradiation with 250 mJ/cm2 UVB. The growth inhibition was paralleled by ultrastructural degenerative alterations: clumping of ribosomes and lysis of nuclei. The amount of "stacked material" in the vacuoles was diminished or they were completely empty, the cell wall remained unchanged. Our results imply that the positive effect of sunlight on seborrhoeic dermatitis may well be explained by the direct influence of UV-light on the P. yeasts.

_
Some confusion exists about the naming and classification of Malassezia yeast species due to a series of changes in their nomenclature. Work on these yeasts has been complicated because they are extremely difficult to propagate in laboratory culture.

Malassezia were originally identified by the French scientist Louis-Charles Malassez in the late 19th century. Raymond Sabouraud identified a dandruff-causing organism in 1904 and called it "Pityrosporum malassez", honoring Malassez but at the species level, not the genus. When it was determined that the organisms were the same, the term "Malassezia" was judged to possess priority.[1]

In the mid 20th century, it was reclassified into two species:

* Pityrosporum (Malassezia) ovale which is lipid dependent and found only on humans. P. ovale was later divided into two species, P. ovale and P. orbiculare, but current sources consider these terms to refer to a single species of fungus, with M. furfur the preferred name.[2]

* Pityrosporum (Malassezia) pachydermatis, which is lipophilic but not lipid dependent and found on the skin of most animals.

In the mid 1990s, scientists at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France discovered additional species.[3]

Currently there are 10 recognized species:

* M. furfur
* M. pachydermatis[4]
* M. globosa[5]
* M. restricta[6]
* M. slooffiae[7]
* M. sympodialis[8]
* M. nana[9]
* M. yamatoensis[10]
* M. dermatis[11]
* M. obtusa

Role in human diseases

Recently, identification of Malassezia on skin has been aided by the application of molecular or DNA based techniques very similar to those used by forensic scientists to identify criminal suspects. These investigations show that in humans the species causing most skin disease, including the most common cause of dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis is M. globosa (though Malassezia restricta is also involved.)[5] The skin rash of tinea versicolor (pityriasis versicolor) is also due to infection by this fungus.

As the fungus requires fat to grow, it is most common in areas with many sebaceous glands: on the scalp,[12] face, and upper part of the body. When the fungus grows too rapidly, the natural renewal of cells is disturbed and dandruff appears with itching (a similar process may also occur with other fungi or bacteria).

A project in 2007 has sequenced the genome of dandruff-causing Malassezia globosa and found it to have 4,285 genes,[13] about 1/300th the size of the human genome. M. globosa uses eight different types of lipase, along with three phospholipases, to break down the oils on the scalp. Any of these 11 proteins would be a suitable target for dandruff medications.

Another surprising finding is M. globosa's potential ability to reproduce sexually,[13][14] though this has not been seen in the laboratory or elsewhere.

Numbers

The number of specimens of M. globosa on a human head can be up to ten million.

Treatment of symptomatic scalp infections

Symptomatic scalp infections are often treated with selenium sulfide,[15] or ketoconazole containing shampoos. Other treatments include Ciclopirox olamine, Coal tar, Zinc pyridinethione (ZPT), Miconazole, or tea tree oil medicated shampoos.

______
Im sure you could spend hours here researching what research scientists have been working on.
there is a mic database here Simply put, susceptibility testing refers to the idea of mixing the fungus with a drug and seeing what happens. There is research for these recognized species.
* M. furfur
* M. pachydermatis[4]
* M. globosa[5]
* M. restricta[6]
* M. slooffiae[7]
* M. sympodialis[8]
* M. nana[9]
* M. yamatoensis[10]
* M. dermatis[11]
* M. obtusa

___
nov 2008
Malassezia furfur was the first species described within the cosmopolitan yeast genus Malassezia, which now comprises 13 species.
__
Malassezia
Microbiology:
a mould, M. furfur, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. pachydermatis, M. restricta, M. slooffiae, M. sympodialis.
Epidemiologic Risks:
part of the normal skin, they love lipid (don't we all. mmmmmmmmm fat) and can be found in infections associated with iv lipid.
Syndromes:
Pityriasis versicolor, folliculitis and seborrheic dermatitis in normal hosts; intravenous catheter infections in the abnormal hosts, esp with intralipid.
Treatment:
for skin disease terbinafine cream OR 2% selenium sulfide lotion, OR 20% sodium thiosulfate qd for 10 to 14 days. In severe cases, oral ketoconazole OR itraconazole.
In disseminated disease and line infections, pull the line and use amphotericin B OR itraconazole.
Notes:
I try to avoid ketoconazole due to increased hepatotoxicity. Codes: Malassezia furfur 111.0.

____
www.pgdermatology.com/images/learning_library/hair_conditions/P1622-Dawson-Malassezia.pdf
Malassezia globosa Consume Saturated, Not Unsaturated, Fatty Acids

___[0163%3AAARFEC]2.3.CO%3B2&ct=1
Arachidonic acid released from epithelial cells by Malassezia furfur phospholipase A2: a potential pathophysiologic mechanism......
As a result of our findings, we established that M. furfur can trigger an inflammatory response per se by releasing metabolic products.

____
In the study researchers immunized a llama with M. furfur three times over a period of five weeks. They then screened blood samples and found antibodies that targeted a specific protein on the surface of the organism even in the harsh chemical conditions of shampoo.
"Here we describe a novel approach for preventing the formation of dandruff by inhibition of M. furfur with antibodies," say the researchers.
__
Not sure if i ever wanna try this one - if it sounds too good to be true it usually is ...lol
__

[LoTolerance]

a few source urls did not show up in my post odd...
The Mic database is found at doctorfungus.org/index.htm