13 replies to this topic

[blackblackcat]

hi everyone

i havent posted about this before but i'm desperate now and need some help. i've been to several doctors and they all tell me "you cant do anything about it, it's the way your skin is, etc." i feel like i'm being dupped each time.

ive had this problem for several years now, im nearing 30 and still have it. it's extremely embarrassing and has ruined my life. i have this problem on my breasts and arms - i don't know if it's acne or what. nothing helps and i cant help but picking it. my pores have gotten huge as you can see in the picture and everytime i squeeze them, something like a whitehead/pimple comes out.

i have hypothyroidism but i take medication for it and it's in the normal range. i don't know what could be causing this! i've been tested for pcos and it's come out negative. i have a little elevated testoerone levels but nothing serious. my skin is dry, prone to acne and i have bad texture nearly everywhere (tiny bumps on back of thighs, darker knees and elbows, etc).

i'm desperate, does anyone know what this is? what can i do about it? is it directly linked to diet/lifestyle? i don't smoke nor drink or do drugs. i do have a intake of sugar but my blood is normal. sorry for the gross, graphic pictures. i'm quite embarrassed but i need help :*(



(PS the pictures came out light, the acne and scars are much more noticable in person. the pores are fairly clean here but they fill up daily with gunk no matter how hard i scrub or slather creams or whatever. ive tried: TEA TREE OIL, CARBOLIC SOAP, SULPHUR SOAP, ACNE WASHES AND CREAMS, COCONUT OIL and my doctor did not want to put me on antibiotics because he is convinced it's not acne just the way my skin is genetically.)

Edited by blackblackcat, 22 December 2012 - 09:31 PM.

[Green Gables]

This isn't acne, this is a keratin problem. Google keratosis pilaris. There are other keratin dysfunctions, but that's a good starting point.

[blackblackcat]

thank you for your reply. is there any treatments for the problem?

[Michelle Reece]

hi everyone

i havent posted about this before but i'm desperate now and need some help. i've been to several doctors and they all tell me "you cant do anything about it, it's the way your skin is, etc." i feel like i'm being dupped each time.

ive had this problem for several years now, im nearing 30 and still have it. it's extremely embarrassing and has ruined my life. i have this problem on my breasts and arms - i don't know if it's acne or what. nothing helps and i cant help but picking it. my pores have gotten huge as you can see in the picture and everytime i squeeze them, something like a whitehead/pimple comes out.

i have hypothyroidism but i take medication for it and it's in the normal range. i don't know what could be causing this! i've been tested for pcos and it's come out negative. i have a little elevated testoerone levels but nothing serious. my skin is dry, prone to acne and i have bad texture nearly everywhere (tiny bumps on back of thighs, darker knees and elbows, etc).

i'm desperate, does anyone know what this is? what can i do about it? is it directly linked to diet/lifestyle? i don't smoke nor drink or do drugs. i do have a intake of sugar but my blood is normal. sorry for the gross, graphic pictures. i'm quite embarrassed but i need help :*(



(PS the pictures came out light, the acne and scars are much more noticable in person. the pores are fairly clean here but they fill up daily with gunk no matter how hard i scrub or slather creams or whatever. ive tried: TEA TREE OIL, CARBOLIC SOAP, SULPHUR SOAP, ACNE WASHES AND CREAMS, COCONUT OIL and my doctor did not want to put me on antibiotics because he is convinced it's not acne just the way my skin is genetically.)

Same thing as I have on my shoulders and back. It's probably a combination of the hair color and how it lays, large pores, and a bit of keratosis pilaris. The way you can reduce that is 10% glyolic acid or AmLactin body lotion.

[blackblackcat]

Same thing as I have on my shoulders and back. It's probably a combination of the hair color and how it lays, large pores, and a bit of keratosis pilaris. The way you can reduce that is 10% glyolic acid or AmLactin body lotion.

thats unfortunate :*( im googling KP now and it doesnt have any cure. if you guys think it's KP, why do they form pimples and when I squeeze on a pore, whiteheads come out? from what i read, KP is acne like bumps but they dont actually produce any acne. am i wrong here or just have the unfortunate luck of KP AND acne together?

[Michelle Reece]

Same thing as I have on my shoulders and back. It's probably a combination of the hair color and how it lays, large pores, and a bit of keratosis pilaris. The way you can reduce that is 10% glyolic acid or AmLactin body lotion.

thats unfortunate :*( im googling KP now and it doesnt have any cure. if you guys think it's KP, why do they form pimples and when I squeeze on a pore, whiteheads come out? from what i read, KP is acne like bumps but they dont actually produce any acne. am i wrong here or just have the unfortunate luck of KP AND acne together?

The condition doesn't bother me at all; it's only noticeable up close. My back acne concerns me more than anything.

KP is a hyperkeratinization disorder, meaning there's an excess buildup and/or formation of keratin (it's not known for sure if one, the other or both happens) in the follicle, which is why a "whitehead" will come out if you extract it. It can be inflammatory if the hairs are stuck in the plug, but that doesn't always happen. KP is only similar to acne because of keratin build up -- acne is also caused by excess sebum and P. acnes bacteria.

There isn't a cure for KP (like with many other diseases), but it can be managed. For stubborn cases, a dermatologist may prescribe a stronger lactic acid lotion or retinoids

Edited by Michelle Reece, 23 December 2012 - 11:02 PM.

[whoartthou1]

wouldn't accutane normalize keratin production?

[Penguin88]

Hey, wow I am surprised to see this because I have the same problem. I have enlarged, visibly clogged pores on my breasts as well. And like you, I pick also (but I also have dermatillomania) which only makes the condition worse! I know it is embarassing. I don't think it is kp, if yours is like mine. When I squeeze mine a wet white substance comes out, seems thinner in consistency than regular pus and there aren't any signs of infections. I attributed mine to oily/congested skin... it can't be kp because it's not like when I squeeze them keratin comes out (keratin is a hard substance lol). I am not bothering with treating mine at the moment because my picking has been so bad there is some scabbing and infection going on... but I have a plan if I can keep my hands off for a week or so. Personally I wouldn't put amlactin or any lotion anywhere near this skin, congested pores don't need thick emollient lotions rubbed into them in my mind. I am focusing on exfoliating in an emollient-free way, I have a great cleanser by murad that combines AHA (glycolic and lactic acid) with BHA (salicylic acid) and I use a soft face cleansing brush when I apply it. It works great for my face, shrinks down pores and clears them out. I am hoping that I can gradually shrink down these big, clogged pores on my breasts with this method.

[Green Gables]

Same thing as I have on my shoulders and back. It's probably a combination of the hair color and how it lays, large pores, and a bit of keratosis pilaris. The way you can reduce that is 10% glyolic acid or AmLactin body lotion.

thats unfortunate :*( im googling KP now and it doesnt have any cure. if you guys think it's KP, why do they form pimples and when I squeeze on a pore, whiteheads come out? from what i read, KP is acne like bumps but they dont actually produce any acne. am i wrong here or just have the unfortunate luck of KP AND acne together?

It seems like a whitehead, but it's actually keratin, not pus.

You're right, there isn't a cure, but you can clear most of it up with very regular exfoliation + lactic acid (AmLactin lotion). One of the AmLactins is about 10% lactic acid...you want that or higher. You can get prescription lactic lotion that's higher.

[Chrysta]

I don't think that it is KP, at least on your breasts, possibly on your arms though. I have had KP on my upper arms and a few other places since I was a kid, and that is not at all what your pictures look like. I also have acne on my breasts. I have large breasts, facial acne, oily skin and I suffer from frequent severe nightsweats. All that combined leaves blackheads all over my breasts. I try not to squeeze them too often, but I hate how it looks and feels and I end up doing it anyway. I haven't tried to find a way to fix it because I haven't had success in fixing my acne or other health problems with going to doctors for five years and I don't think they can help me.

 

I suppose the best way to deal with it is to exfoliate, use something like Stridex pads, and keep them dry and clean of sweat. I myself use Summer's Eve powder under my breasts to keep them dry, but I don't know if that helps to clog the pores.

 

My experience with doctors is if they tell you something can't be fixed, or won't listen, or won't really try and help you... it's time for a new doctor.

 

Good luck.

[littlemehere]

whats up with men,you have had 1,350 views in under an hour,

 

it's a world record

[Manticore]

whats up with men,you have had 1,350 views in under an hour,

 

it's a world record

 

How did you work that out?

 

This thread was started over a month ago.

[armadillo]

whats up with men,you have had 1,350 views in under an hour,

 

it's a world record

 

How did you work that out?

 

This thread was started over a month ago.

When you view threads, in the middle section, it will tell you the number of views and number of followers.

 

I guess men who have viewed this thread for the sole purpose of seeing some breasts must be disappointed though, as these pictures are very modest. 

 

I think the poster has keratosis pilaris.

[Manticore]

When you view threads, in the middle section, it will tell you the number of views and number of followers.

 

I guess men who have viewed this thread for the sole purpose of seeing some breasts must be disappointed though, as these pictures are very modest. 

 

I think the poster has keratosis pilaris.

 

The point I was making was that the views have been spread over a month, not an hour. Why does littlemehere think that it's had 1350 views in under an hour?

 

...and how does she know they were all men?