Isn't it misguided to use all these topicals to kill the bacteria and yeast NATURALLY found on our skin? No matter what staph and fungus/yeast will exist on your body. In using all these antibacterial soaps and antifungal shampoos you're just stripping your body/hair of its natural oils and you wind up killing the beneficial bacteria which would have been keeping the "bad" fungus and bacteria in check.

I'm going to shower in cold water once every 5 days. Has anyone tried significantly reducing how much they shower while also giving up soaps and shampoos? I know this is simplistic but that's the whole point; I think everyone overdoes it and makes their folliculitis worse/don't allow their body to regulate itself.

Just my 2 cents.

Great Willow59 congratz for clearing up!!!...i guess for me there is some hope..so i want to know what antifungal supplements you were taking...and how does Mandelic acid serum is used??? and can Propylene glycol be alternated with Mandelic acid serum??

Sorry I am bothering you with so many questions..I know I am being pain...

Thanx...keep sharing!!

I have this on my face. i don't know what to do. i iches, i'm told that fungi die more quicky if the skin is not moist

Go to Vitamin Shoppe or another local store and get Turmeric powder as well as Neem. Also, at places like VS you can find Neem and Turmeric face wash. Apply turmeric with a bit of water until it forms a paste onto your face and let it dry for 30 min to an hour. Wash two or three times daily with the neem and turmeric face wash. Harsh chemicals will just make it worse - trust me, this is my third bout with this (after taking Bactrim twice, using Tazorac, Retina-A, getting facials, trying lemon and honey, Benzaclin, Clinadmycin etc--> NONE OF WHICH WORKED ONE BIT) and the only thing that is working is turmeric and neem. It's all natural, won't dry your face out and naturally fights acne, folliculitis, dermatitis, eczema and more. I pray it works for you.

I have a question. I was wondering if I have pf?? I recently did a fast for 36 hours, my face cleared up for the next 5 days! Then everything came back. I get a lot of blackheads and smallllll whiteheads and what looks like comedonal acne...however, i have so much of the "comedonal looking acne" all over my face and back. I can squeeze most of it and I get harder white puss to come out. I bought head and shoulders shampoo and it cleared up the "acne" around my hairline and neck that I used to get. I have been putting the head and shoulders on my back and it hasnt helped much. However, I dont leave it on for very long. Any suggestions? Did most of your pf appear to be like clogged pores/comedonal acne? I question whether or not i have pf because the head and shoulders cleared up my clogged pores/acne/big cyst like acne/ around my hairline. I'm wondering if thats why my face is so terrible.

Hey guys and gals,

Earlier this year I became increasingly frustrated that all of my attempts to fight my acne weren't working.

I found this thread after searching for more answers, figuring that maybe there was something out there I haven't found yet. I stumbled upon this forum, and somehow (I still don't know) found this thread.

I was intrigued because it all made so much sense. It even led me to the realization that the sensitive skin/rash around my mouth and nose is in fact sebhorreic dermatitis, probably caused by the same/similar fungi that is causing my "acne".

I immediately began trying everything that was anti-fungal. Ketoconazole shampoo (Regenepure DR), Selenium Sulfide (Selsun Blue), Zinc Pyrithione (Noble Formula bar), and Tea Tree Oil (Pedifix FungaSoap).

I alternate these, washing my whole body with them. Sometimes I will use them all in one long shower. It's been very tedious but I think it has been effective - though results are limited so far. It has been a couple weeks and I have seen a small improvement, but it is very stubborn.

I have the spots on my chest, back, upper arms and shoulders. I also have them on my face (mostly cheeks, around mouth, rarely on my forehead even though that is the oiliest area). It has also seemed to spread to my thighs, over the quadriceps.

So I am pretty sure I have http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Malassezia induced folliculitis, and dermatitis of the face and scalp. I will report back if the condition improves. If it doesn't I'm not sure what I'll do.

Some more information:

I do leave the products on for 5-10 minutes after working them in really good.

Also I believe I have had this for over 5 years, and possibly longer. It has only recently become a real problem and it coincides with the reconfiguration of my diet and resistance training. Namely, increases in hormones, insulin, total calories, nutrients, everything that goes along with a bodybuilding lifestyle. And - I'm not quitting just to make this go away.

Hi guys,

Thought I would share my story.

Junior year college after returning from vacation abroad, I suddenly got what appeared to be acne for the first time in my life. I also noticed a change in my skin generally, which was now very red and dry after showering. My doctor told me it was acne and recommended using the typical cleaners. Of, course this didn't work and probably made it worse.

After months of frustration, I tried washing my face with bottled water, and surprisingly, it seemed to help. Encouraged, I starting researching what was in my tap water, and found to my horror that the onset of my symptoms matched the exact date of when my cities (San Francisco) water authority switched disinfectants from chlorine to chloramine (a combination of chlorine + ammonia). By this time, the "acne" was pretty bad on my forehead and cheeks and the bottle water only helped a little and was very impractical to begin with.

After moving to NYC (which doesnt use chloramine, hooray!) I noticed that my skin was feeling like its old self again, but I still bumps and irritation the areas it was the worst (forehead and cheeks). After seven years of battling this but not completely winning, I was on the verge of breaking down due to the stress it caused on my relationships.

Surfing the web for answers, I stumbled upon this thread a month ago. The symptoms that people described sounded very similar to mine, so I decided to try some of their suggestions. I tried the ZNP bar and tea tree cleanser, and it seems to be working. I started about a month ago, and since them my face is about 70% clear. I have never been diagnosed with PF but I am almost positive this is what I had for all of these years and NOT ACNE (grrrrrrr). Has anyone herd of PF being caused by chloramine? From my research I have not found any thing but am 100% positive this is what started the PF for me.

Right now I am happy with the ZNP and tea tree results so far. But I am afraid that the PF will become resistant. I am so sick of dealing with this and just what my life back. I am thinking about trying and oral anti-fungal but dread having to go to the doctors to get a prescription Is it really worth the side effects since from what I read the PF tends to come back after you stop?. However, since Ive had PF for so long (since 2004 ughhh), I am thinking that the yeast is so deep in the follicles that I may need to treat the blood borne causes to get to the root of the problem. Any stories about oral meds would be very much appreciate.

Stay strong guys, a solution is out there

I'm thinking the same thing. So far, I can keep most of the bumps on my face at bay - but my chest, back and neck won't budge.

The dermatitis remains on the face, and I just am not convinced that these measures can reach deep enough...

@NothingToFear

I have made good progress on my back and chest. In addition to the topicals Here is what works for me.

1) let your towel dry completely in between uses (and/or switch towels frequently) This prevents the PF fungus that may be in you towel from reinfecting you after showering

2) after u towel off, let you body air dry completely before putting on clothes.

so far my body is about 80% clear and improving daily.

About the face,

I also have been able to keep most of the bumps at bay, but I noticed that my problem areas are still slightly red/oily, and flush very red when touched. Do you have this same problem? I also noticed a slight warmth on my forehead all of the time, like the skin can't breathe. Also, after I touch it, I feel a throbbing sensation on that area. I am also convinced that even tough the PF is less visible, I may need help to get to the deepest part of the infection. I am making slow progess with the topicals but am considering other measures...

The red on my face is like this, second and third pictures:

http://dermnetnz.org...dermatitis.html

It is dry, itchy and red. I seem to be able to keep 80-90% of the bumps away now, but this problem remains.

Yeah me too. Mine looks like the second pic but without the flakiness and more oil.

How long have you had it? How long have you been treating it? Does it flush red when you touch it? Have you gone to a derma about it?

just asked a derm online (luv the internet ) he recommended sporonox 200 mg / day and lamisil cream. Sporonox is prescription only, but you can also try galic capsules, that may help as well.

has anyone tried sporonox or lamisil cream or oral garlic for PF?

I have considered Lamisil / Lotramin / etc (anti-fungal creams). I'm weary of orals, but am open to the idea.

Lamisil says "Do not use near mouth or eyes".

to those with pitysporum folluculitis... did you start getting this after a course of antibiotics for acne?

I did not get it after anti-biotics. I believe I have had the fungal growth for a long time and recent changes made it explode. Those are:

-Restarting workout regimen

-Bodybuilding diet

-Started using various acids and benzoyl peroxide in facial care

I did have to take some amoxicillin for a dental visit shortly before this, but I do not know if it contributed or not. The timing makes it impossible to prove, since correlation does not mean causation and there are several other variables.

I take a Sedona Labs iFlora regularly, but it doesn't help with this condition.

If you do not mind, can you tell us exactly what your body building diet consisted or? and workout regimen as well

I'm afraid this isn't the place for that.

For one, I'd end up typing a huge post.

Second, I'd just be repeating what's already out there on the web.

After a few months I can honestly say the things I have been using are only mildly effective.

I am going to continue with the Tea Tree Soap, Selsun Blue, and Head & Shoulders.

The Lamisil cream hasn't done anything after a couple of weeks.

However I am going to begin using more topical anti-fungals. I have both Tinactin powder and Lotrimin liquid spray (each will have its own use). These are to treat various areas of the body depending on area and need.

One interesting thing about the Lotrimin liquid spray is that it contains Proplyene Glycol, which I'm assuming is used to aid the "spray" delivery system. However it should actually help the anti-fungal's effectiveness if people's testimonies on here are true.

I will report back in the coming weeks...

Note: Lotrimin liquid spray smells horrible. Use it in an area that you can quickly leave (but not too quickly - don't pull the air along with you if you know what I mean).

I am using it for:

Feet

Groin

Inside elbow (front)

Armpits

Back of neck

Upper back

Chest

Face

Note, when using on my face I spray it onto my fingers and wipe it in. This way it is controlled. I do not recommend trying to spray your face as it is damaging to the eyes and respiratory system. You should keep it away from your mouth to avoid absorbing it into your bloodstream.

Also, I am starting to regularly soak my Braun shaver's cutting block in a dish with 50/50 white vinegar and tea tree fungasoap. I figure it should disinfect it fairly well. This is to address one of my suspected causes of infection: re-infection from my electric razor. I think this is happening because I get the vast majority of the bumps where I shave, and almost never on my forehead. May or not be related but at least it's a good practice to do.

Has everyone abandoned this thread?

i am glad to see this site. i have been fighting Folliculitus for over 8 months and it has been super itchy. my derm has recently begun to show that he is running out of ideas. i started researching this and i beleive that it is PF. there was a biopsy done to show that it is folliculitus but the derm never defined it more specificlly then that but everything that i have seen shows ( including the pics ) all point in the direction of PF. the only thing that has worked for me is Prednisone. but as soon as i stop it comes back. now i am reading evidence that this may be the exact wrong thing for this. that prednisone can make this worse???? i know that when i am taking it i don't itch and the rash starts get better. i am so frustrated with the itching. most of my chest and back are covered. it recently has spread to my shoulders, neck and scalp. my beard adn eyebrows are also affected. i notice some itching on my legs but have not noticed the raised bumps on my legs.

i have a hard time sleeping. i have notices that since all of this started i have a lot of inflammation in my nasal passages which makes it hard to breath through my nose. i am uncommforatable in social situations witht he rash on visable parts of my body. this is getting rediculus. when i do itch it it gets WORSE it increases the itchyness and it turns bright red and almost like hives or welts pop up until i can just muscle through it and stop itching then in about 20-30 minutes it calms down to where it was before. i am willing to try anything at this point. even laser hair removal. but i don't want the treatment to make it worse, so any thoughts on the prednisone would be great thanks.

So far, Lotrimin AF Spray seems to be pretty potent. It does turn your skin red, so you can't use this every night unless you don't care about going to work the next day with a red face. Other areas are of less concern unless this causes problems. It also caused my skin to peel for a few days after using it 3 nights in a row.

Every other night may be okay.

I don't think chemicals are good for your skin. They certainly don't help me and have only made my acne worse. I did a lot of research on the internet in to natural remedies and an underlying theme was that certain natural oils were good for acne. Apparently they can regulate the sebum your skin produces. I'm not too confident when it comes to making home remedies so I searched the internet and came across a product by mama nature called teenage dreams. They said they gave a money back guarantee and since they had good feedback I took the plunge. I didn't really notice any real difference for the first week but after that my skin was less greasy and the spots started to reduce. I haven't completely got rid of my acne but it is hardly noticeable now. Considering how bad it was before I think this product must be amazing either that or my acne got better on it's own. I can't say for sure but I continue to use it anyway. It has jojoba oil and essential oils which are supposed to kill the bacteria that causes acne. Hope this can be of help to someone.

I don't think chemicals are good for your skin. They certainly don't help me and have only made my acne worse. I did a lot of research on the internet in to natural remedies and an underlying theme was that certain natural oils were good for acne. Apparently they can regulate the sebum your skin produces. I'm not too confident when it comes to making home remedies so I searched the internet and came across a product by mama nature called teenage dreams. They said they gave a money back guarantee and since they had good feedback I took the plunge. I didn't really notice any real difference for the first week but after that my skin was less greasy and the spots started to reduce. I haven't completely got rid of my acne but it is hardly noticeable now. Considering how bad it was before I think this product must be amazing either that or my acne got better on it's own. I can't say for sure but I continue to use it anyway. It has jojoba oil and essential oils which are supposed to kill the bacteria that causes acne. Hope this can be of help to someone.

 

It's well known that acne-prone individuals should avoid formulas that contain oils as they tend to clog pores and make acne worse.