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[ChestPF]

Hi,

I've just been diagnosed with PF a couple of days ago after years and years of suffering. I had chest PF for a while now, about 2x a year, but it would always clear out on it's own after a couple of weeks. I also have to add that otherwise i have flawless skin all over my body, i tan easily, i don't have acne. Even as a teen i didn't have any skin problems...but THIS!

3 months ago i visited my family in Europe and the weather was specially hot and humid. As soon as the plane touched down i started to develop tiny little red bumps on my chest. So i thought, i will have a little break out nothing else. Have to add at this point i didn't know i have PF, i just thought i have sensitive skin on my chest and i have occasional break outs that go away.

I had some salicylic acid wash with me so i used that, which usually helps. Not this time, it was just getting worse, itching like crazy. I had nothing to do until i got back to the States. Then i went to see a dermatologist right away.

He didn't do a culture, only took one look at my chest and diagnosed folliculitis and gave me DUAC topical cream to use once a day, thinking it was bacterial folliculitis. Now i know that there are many types of folliculitis. Bacterial, yeast (fungal), or even viral, in some cases it could also be parasite that causes the problem.

Needles to say the DUAC did not do shit, in fact made it even worse, and irritated the whole area. I stopped, and went back to my dermo to see what he has to say. At this point i have started to research online just to get some free info. And for some reason i instantly thought i have Pityrosporum Folliculitis.

So i asked him if it could be yeast or any other fungus, but he said no. Thinking it's bacterial, he gave me antibiotics (Doxycycl 100mg) for 2 weeks. And said to wash it with any antibacterial wash in case it gets sweaty or something. Otherwise leave it alone.

Again - it didn't do shit. Didn't actually make it worse, but didn't help at all. This has been over 2 months now, and i was really getting tired of it.

At the end of the antibacterial cycle i went to Africa for a month where the weather was super dry, and my problem would still continue.

Also i have tried Apple Cider Vinegar, as at that point i really thought it could be yeast. But it didn't help, which surprised me.

Anyways, i came back from Africa and saw my dermo right away, and demanded a culture at least to see who is the bad guy causing me all this suffering. The culture came back NEGATIVE, not showing any bacterial of fungus. I was in tears, but the doctor consulted with other dermatologists at his office and they all took a look at me. Now saying it could be a type of yeast or fungus that regular culture test wouldn't show. So now they think i have PF, which i thought all along right from the beginning. Funny ha!

He prescribed me Fluconazol 200 mg anti yeast medication. 1 pill a day for 4 days. They are pretty strong. And a foamy thing called Tersi Foam containing 2.25% Selenium Sulfide.

It's been only a day or so and i have taken 1 pill and used the foam once. It hasn't gotten better, but neither worse, and i don't feel any irritation which is a good sign. I will finish the short course treatment. He said to call him tomorrow, i think he really thinks we found the solution, and it should work pretty quickly.

I report back after the course had finished. Fingers crossed. Otherwise i'm gonna try these shampoos everyone is talking about, Nizoral or H&S. I can't wait to be free it's poisoning my life.

Ah, i almost forgot. Before the foam and anti fungal pill, he gave me a gel called Xolagel to try. I'ts anti fungal as well, but it made it worse so i stopped. So weird. I think even within the fungal folliculitis some treatment works for someone, but not for others. You just gotta find your balance with these product, and find the best for you.

A