592 replies to this topic

[HapaMommy]

NothingToFear, on 01 April 2012 - 08:10 AM, said:

HapaMommy, on 26 March 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

I recently started using M2 Exfoliating Cleanser and Refinishing Serum with Mandelic and Malic Acids. It's only been a few days so I can't say how well it's working yet.

I like the looks of that stuff, I just wish it wasn't so expensive...

I found a website that had it on sale called shimmerskincare.com. Check it out and see. It was the cheapest I found M2.

Also, I have still not been able to completely fight off the PF 100%. Went back to the derm today and they recommended using Neutrogena Body wash with SA after every workout. They also put my on Fluconazole (generic for Diflucan). I was afraid of oral antifungals but this is a milder one. This sounds gross but they're having me take one pill and hour before a workout. After I workout and sweat I have to sit in my sweat for 12 hours before showering. They said this way the antifungals can work from the inside out. I have to wait a week and repeat. I'll let you know how this goes. So far the M2 has been doing great and helps minimize PIH and gets rid of old PIH. It helps heal the active spots of PF but doesn't do much to prevent new ones. The serum also is improving my skin tone. It's more even and I don't even need foundation I just spot conceal. I love it because unlike Differin I can go out in the sun without feeling like my skin is itchy or needles are shooting through my pores.

[NothingToFear]

That's an interesting idea...maybe I will move my anti-fungal back to before my workout. Thanks!

[Tbone2000]

So the PF that I have has gotten extremely bad lately. It's all over my back, chest, stomach, and arms. It itches like hell and is not responding to any type of anti-fungal topical treatment. I have used 2% ketoconazole shampoo, 2% selenium sulfide shampoo, 2% zinc pyrithione, 2.5% coal tar shampoo, and I even broke out the secret weapon, 1% ciclopirox shampoo. This recent breakout has not been responding to anything at all. It's literally everywhere, itches like crazy, and looks absolutely awful.

I hate to say it, but this condition is seriously affecting my life. I can't work out without it flaring up and breaking out all over my upper body. I can't tan without breakout all over my upper body. I have had 4 different women who I have been seriously dating pose pretty awkward questions that I can't answer: "What is that on your chest? Is it acne? Do you have measles? Do you have shingles? Oh my god do you have bedbugs???" I can't really tell them the correct answer either, which is "Don't worry baby, it's just a yeast overgrowth" which is pretty much the last thing a woman who is getting intimate with you wants to hear. And the final question is the killer which is: "Is it contagious?" which no one seems to have an answer to.

I don't know what to do. This is really absolutely demoralizing, more than my adolescent acne ever was. It's destroying my self esteem, my health, and my dating life. It's not something I can just ignore either - I need to find a way to cure or control this or else I'm going to lose it.

Please - everyone share what you can about this disease. I need to find something to stop it soon.

[Mandy F]

Up until last year my acne was fairly mild on my face (thanks to Differin) and on very rare ocassions I would break out on my back or chest. A few months ago my face went haywire and I began getting cysts on my chin. So, my Derm put me on 100mg Doxycycline which I've been taking for the last 3 weeks. My face is much better. But, my chest is filled with these tiny red bumps that sometimes itch (especially when I get out of the shower) and my back is a total wreck, as well. I'm wondering if it is Pityrosporum Folliculits or just acne. I'm scheduled to go back to the derm next week. Should I ask for a biopsy? It's difficult to see the detail in this pic. But, does anyone have an opinion on what this could be? I'm so frustrated!!!

[HapaMommy]

HapaMommy, on 05 April 2012 - 05:49 PM, said:

NothingToFear, on 01 April 2012 - 08:10 AM, said:

HapaMommy, on 26 March 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

I recently started using M2 Exfoliating Cleanser and Refinishing Serum with Mandelic and Malic Acids. It's only been a few days so I can't say how well it's working yet.

I like the looks of that stuff, I just wish it wasn't so expensive...

I found a website that had it on sale called shimmerskincare.com. Check it out and see. It was the cheapest I found M2.

Also, I have still not been able to completely fight off the PF 100%. Went back to the derm today and they recommended using Neutrogena Body wash with SA after every workout. They also put my on Fluconazole (generic for Diflucan). I was afraid of oral antifungals but this is a milder one. This sounds gross but they're having me take one pill and hour before a workout. After I workout and sweat I have to sit in my sweat for 12 hours before showering. They said this way the antifungals can work from the inside out. I have to wait a week and repeat. I'll let you know how this goes. So far the M2 has been doing great and helps minimize PIH and gets rid of old PIH. It helps heal the active spots of PF but doesn't do much to prevent new ones. The serum also is improving my skin tone. It's more even and I don't even need foundation I just spot conceal. I love it because unlike Differin I can go out in the sun without feeling like my skin is itchy or needles are shooting through my pores.

Unfortuantely, it worked but only for a couple days and then I had a PF outbreak worse than before. Thanks to the M2 I don't get PF my face but as for my body it's coming back. Went back to the derm and the last resort is low doses of Accutane. She has only patient much worse than me (her back and chest were completely covered with PF) and one month of Accutane cleared her. I had to do this whole government pledge thing and must wait 30 days to begin once I get government approval. I basically have to promise not to get pregnant because of the noted side effects on unborn babies. I'll be starting mid May. I'll let you know if it works out. Supposedly, this is the cure. We'll see.

[matt f]

I think I may have this condition on my chest...however mine never really itches. Hopefully I can get it diagnosed next week.

[wll37]

HapaMommy, on 24 April 2012 - 08:51 PM, said:

HapaMommy, on 05 April 2012 - 05:49 PM, said:

NothingToFear, on 01 April 2012 - 08:10 AM, said:

HapaMommy, on 26 March 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

I recently started using M2 Exfoliating Cleanser and Refinishing Serum with Mandelic and Malic Acids. It's only been a few days so I can't say how well it's working yet.

I like the looks of that stuff, I just wish it wasn't so expensive...

I found a website that had it on sale called shimmerskincare.com. Check it out and see. It was the cheapest I found M2.

Also, I have still not been able to completely fight off the PF 100%. Went back to the derm today and they recommended using Neutrogena Body wash with SA after every workout. They also put my on Fluconazole (generic for Diflucan). I was afraid of oral antifungals but this is a milder one. This sounds gross but they're having me take one pill and hour before a workout. After I workout and sweat I have to sit in my sweat for 12 hours before showering. They said this way the antifungals can work from the inside out. I have to wait a week and repeat. I'll let you know how this goes. So far the M2 has been doing great and helps minimize PIH and gets rid of old PIH. It helps heal the active spots of PF but doesn't do much to prevent new ones. The serum also is improving my skin tone. It's more even and I don't even need foundation I just spot conceal. I love it because unlike Differin I can go out in the sun without feeling like my skin is itchy or needles are shooting through my pores.

Unfortuantely, it worked but only for a couple days and then I had a PF outbreak worse than before. Thanks to the M2 I don't get PF my face but as for my body it's coming back. Went back to the derm and the last resort is low doses of Accutane. She has only patient much worse than me (her back and chest were completely covered with PF) and one month of Accutane cleared her. I had to do this whole government pledge thing and must wait 30 days to begin once I get government approval. I basically have to promise not to get pregnant because of the noted side effects on unborn babies. I'll be starting mid May. I'll let you know if it works out. Supposedly, this is the cure. We'll see.

I don't mean to discourage. I tried accutane before for my misdiagnosed PF (the derm thought it was a usual back acne). Nothing happened. accutane just made my skin burned because I have sensitive skin. my skin is itchy, dehydrated and burned. But, people are different (it didn't work for me, it may work for you). what works for me is daktacort and 2.5 % selenium sulfide selsun for my PF if it comes back.

[NothingToFear]

Careful with Accutane - some not-so-good stories on the web. Haven't used it myself.

[WildGo0se]

Mandy F, on 15 April 2012 - 10:16 PM, said:

Up until last year my acne was fairly mild on my face (thanks to Differin) and on very rare ocassions I would break out on my back or chest. A few months ago my face went haywire and I began getting cysts on my chin. So, my Derm put me on 100mg Doxycycline which I've been taking for the last 3 weeks. My face is much better. But, my chest is filled with these tiny red bumps that sometimes itch (especially when I get out of the shower) and my back is a total wreck, as well. I'm wondering if it is Pityrosporum Folliculits or just acne. I'm scheduled to go back to the derm next week. Should I ask for a biopsy? It's difficult to see the detail in this pic. But, does anyone have an opinion on what this could be? I'm so frustrated!!! ick.jpg

My chest looks exactly like that! Did you find out if it is indeed Pityrosporum Folliculitis?

Does anyone have it on their abdomen? I have a lot of these tiny red bumps there. There are also just some red marks with no bump at all.

Also, I notice that if I touch/rub the bumps, the whole area stays red for a while. This is really weird. Also before, I checked my chest because it has been under my jacket for a while and there was this marble-patterned red rash all over my chest. What the hell is this?!?!

[NothingToFear]

Yep that's what my chest looks like, too.

The Metronidazole (sp?) didn't do anything for my seborrheic dermatitis, but it did keep any acne away, which is nice. I haven't had a huge problem with that anyway since I came up with a decent regimen and ended my dairy intake (it gives me cystic acne at random on the chest, arms, shoulders, face, neck, and back).

I now have Ketoconazole Cream, 2%. It was prescribed for jock itch (awesome, huh?), but I will be using it in the fight against the malasezzia as well. Wish me luck...

Oh and I don't remember if I posted about this, but I tried the Metronidazole on my chest a few times. I broke out in folliculitis.

[rachel80]

from wikipedia:


"Pityrosporum folliculitis[1] or Malassezia folliculitis is a skin condition caused by infection by pityrosporum yeast.[2]:314
The skin of the upper trunk area like the back, upper arms and sometimes the neck is often affected and this condition is often seen in young to middle aged adults. Its diagnosis is based on the pruritic (itchy) papulopustules found in a follicular pattern in these regions. "

[NothingToFear]

Yup, and when it's on my cheeks, it's only on the area that I shave.

Never once has it been found on my nose, to the sides of the nose, or the forehead.

[Mandy F]

WildGo0se, on 11 May 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

Mandy F, on 15 April 2012 - 10:16 PM, said:

Up until last year my acne was fairly mild on my face (thanks to Differin) and on very rare ocassions I would break out on my back or chest. A few months ago my face went haywire and I began getting cysts on my chin. So, my Derm put me on 100mg Doxycycline which I've been taking for the last 3 weeks. My face is much better. But, my chest is filled with these tiny red bumps that sometimes itch (especially when I get out of the shower) and my back is a total wreck, as well. I'm wondering if it is Pityrosporum Folliculits or just acne. I'm scheduled to go back to the derm next week. Should I ask for a biopsy? It's difficult to see the detail in this pic. But, does anyone have an opinion on what this could be? I'm so frustrated!!! ick.jpg

My chest looks exactly like that! Did you find out if it is indeed Pityrosporum Folliculitis?

Does anyone have it on their abdomen? I have a lot of these tiny red bumps there. There are also just some red marks with no bump at all.

Also, I notice that if I touch/rub the bumps, the whole area stays red for a while. This is really weird. Also before, I checked my chest because it has been under my jacket for a while and there was this marble-patterned red rash all over my chest. What the hell is this?!?!

I haven't gone in to see my Dermatologist yet. But, I'm scheduled to next week. However, I've been using Phisoderm's Acne Body Wash with Salicylic Acid and it has improved my chest some. (Not to the point where I feel comfortable wearing a tank-top though) I'll let you know when I see my doctor next week!