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Hey people! I'm a 30 year old guy who would like to share my story with you and hopefully receive som feedback.
It all started about a month ago. I've always had an oily t-zone but not problem with acne as an adult, although I did have LOTS of small non-scarring acne when I was 14-15. Anyway, I went to the pharmacy to buy a cleanser that might help with my oily face and found one that contains low concentrations of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid. The bottle instructions was to use this twice a day. The first 2-3 days my skin looked AMAZING, perfect smooth and not oily but hydrated. About the forth to fifth day I felt my skin beeing somewhat dry, I had been leaving the clenser on up to a minute in the shower the last 2 days. Around the fifth day I woke up and my forehead was covered with 50-100(!) red small bumps, like a sand paper. The somewhat faded away later in the day, but re-appeard when sweating while working out or showering. The first week I tried 5% BP on half my forehead and nothing on the other half, after two days the BP side was worse so I laid it off. I used nothing for about 5-7 days and it got somewhat better but then it stopped. Now after two weeks have the same type of bumps on my neck chest and back, not as much as on the forehead though. The forehead is not dry anymore and seems oily. I've consulted a dermatologist online that thought it may be PF. So now I'm on my second day of ketokonazole. He also recommended Clotrimazole cram twice a day, which I haven't stared yet as i thought the skin needed to get used to the ketoconazole first. As my forehead is oily and it's easy to squeeze sebum out of non ifected pores in the forehead I'm tempted to quickly and gentle use the cleanser that used and probable set off this condition to help. What do you guys think? Is there a way to upload pictures in this forum?
I created this account to ask if anyone has tried what has always worked well for me. At first sign of breakouts and also some other ailments... respitory infections etc. I take 500-1000mg ascorbic acid, Vitamin C twice daily for several days with plenty of water. Overdose symptom is bitter saliva and/or painful (mild)/burning urination - stop C immediately and drink more water. Also, do not attempt using C supplement w/acerola as it has too low a toxicity w/ worse symptoms. This regimen effectively acidifies tissues, including skin, making them exceedingly inhospitable to any narrow ph thriving bacteria. I generally take 100-500mg daily. for maintenance
I just wanted to share my experience on here because I'm hoping I can help someone who may be struggling with a situation that was similar to mine. For the past 15 years ( I'm 31 now) I've never had perfectly clear skin. I was always grateful to have never experienced cystic acne or the kind that scars, but I always longed for perfectly clear and smooth skin. I went to a few dermatologists in my early teen years and was diagnosed with "acne" and given various topicals (retin A is one name I remember) and also oral antibiotics. Nothing really worked and even back then something inside of me told me that taking antibiotics wasn't the answer so I remember refusing to take them. Then I tried pro active and it worked really well for a number of years, but I still didn't have perfectly clear skin where I would feel comfortable without wearing make up. It seemed like the problem for me was the texture of my skin (especially the past few years) I had many tiny flesh colored bumps on my forehead and some on the sides of my face and a few along my jaw line. They were pretty much invisible under certain lighting, but under flourescent lighting or sunlight, forget it....it looked horrible and for a very long time I was really self conscious about it. It was like I never knew if people could notice these tiny bumps or not. Like I said, in the right lighting they were pretty much invisible, so it was like I was always wondering if people could see them or not. So only a few short weeks ago I decided I wanted to do something about these bumps once and for all. I started researching like crazy and learned about Pityrosporum Folliculitis and it seemed like this is what I had. Not regular acne, but the kind caused by candida yeast. This made perfect sense because when I was very young I was always on antibiotics. My pediatrician over -prescribed and every time I had a sore throat she would put me on anti biotics even though I never once tested positive for strep. I had never taken a pro biotic in my life and never liked yogurt, so it made perfect and complete sense that I would have a candida overgrowth since all those antibiotics probably destroyed all of the good bacteria in my system. It would also explain why I started "breaking out" very young...I remember being in 4th grade with a few "pimples" - really they were just small red bumps. I truly believe I was misdiagnosed with having regular acne in my teens..although I could have had a combination of both regular acne and pityrosporum follicultiis...maybe thats why the pro activ did help for a number of years. ANYWAY...the amazing news is that I have COMPLETELY CLEAR skin now after only 3 short weeks. It's the most amazing feeling and I actually feel like I am glowing, from the inside out. Here is what I did:
*After reading and learning as much about candida yeast and how an overgrowth can cause acne or acne like bumps, I decided to try the "acne free in 3 days" diet where you eat 10 organic red delicious apples a day plus a gallon of water a day for 3 days. I only lasted 2 days but honestly I feel like it made a HUGE difference in my overall health. It's not for everyone and only you can know if it's right for you, but for me I felt like it was a good cleanse and a way to kick start my new anti- candida regimen. Any one wanting to learn more about the diet just google it, there is a ton of info available online about it. After the 2 day cleanse I changed my diet by cutting out all sugar (candida feast on sugar) and eating more whole foods...lots of veggies, some fruits and some grains. Nothing refined or processed. I started eating poultry again (I was vegetarian for 5 years and deciding to eat some meat again is the best decision I've ever made - I feel SO much stronger, healthier, and have a LOT more energy). I still try and drink a gallon of water a day.
*I oil pull every morning first thing when I wake up ( swishing one table spoon of olive oil in your mouth and spitting it out when it turns from oil to a milky white substance) It sounds gross, but it's not so bad. Theres a lot of info on the internet about oil pulling - it's basically an ancient ayurvedic healing remedy and is supposed to literally pull toxins from your body. It honestly has made my teeth stronger, whiter, and my breath fresher so I know it has to be doing something good!
*Each morning after I oil pull I drink two table spoons of Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar mixed with some water. It has anti- fungal properties and a TON of health benefits and I actually don't mind the taste.
*I take a probiotic once a day and incorporated natural, very low sugar yogurt into my weekly diet.
So the plan was to kill off the candida yeast with the apple cleanse and apple cider vinegar, assist with further detoxifying by oil pulling, and re- populate my gut with good bacteria in the pro- biotics.
Now for the topicals. I went out and bought everything I could find that research said would be helpful. Tee Tree oil, Lotrimin athletes foot cream, and Selson blue anti dandruff shampoo. And i use them all!
I wash my face in the morning and night with purpose gentle facial cleanser. Then I use the Selson blue as a mask...I literally put it all over my face and leave it on for 5 mins and rinse it off. Sometimes I use the tee tree oil on a cotton ball and sometimes I don't. I've been using the Lortimin every single morning and night and sometimes i'll put more on in the afternoon.
It's really about finding what works for you individually, and trusting your own intuition. Maybe one of these things will work for someone or maybe all of them will. I'm going to stick with the diet because I just feel better over all and keep mixing it up with the topicals. The point is that I'm convinced my problem has been fungal the entire time and I had no idea because I was diagnosed with regular acne. I even went to a derm for microdermabrasion before i started all of this and mentioned to him the idea of it being fungal and he sort of brushed me off saying he thought it was regular comedones. I may just go back to him to show him my perfectly clear skin in only 3 short weeks and tell him I was right and he was wrong! It just goes to show that every person is different and it's just about listening to your own body and trusting your own intuition. I'm currently back in college majoring in health studies and thinking about medical school...I feel like there is a need for Dr.'s who really want to help their patients by encouraging more holistic approaches and who recognize that each person is unique and we can really learn to help ourselves by listening to our own bodies!
Hopefully this can provide some insight for someone and be of some help!!
i have this little tiny bumps on the forehead. i saw the pictures what they have called pf. it looks like what i have on my forehead. its been 6 months now since i got this sandpaper-like on my forehead. i've been using sulpfur soap now for 2weeks and it dries out my skin after i wash it.i feel better after washing and a little improvement i guess?but it was not completely disappearing. i just want to ask if i could get rid of these itchy bumps on my forehead in just using sulphur soap on it?for6 months of having it also ive developed so much likely to be brown spots on it. could anyone help?this thing brings down my self-esteem on the ground 
im 17 yr old female.
i have this little tiny bumps on the forehead. i saw the pictures what they have called pf. it looks like what i have on my forehead. its been 6 months now since i got this sandpaper-like on my forehead. i've been using sulpfur soap now for 2weeks and it dries out my skin after i wash it.i feel better after washing and a little improvement i guess?but it was not completely disappearing. i just want to ask if i could get rid of these itchy bumps on my forehead in just using sulphur soap on it?for6 months of having it also ive developed so much likely to be brown spots on it. could anyone help?this thing brings down my self-esteem on the ground im 17 yr old female.
I believe I have recurring Malassezia (Pityrosporum) Folliculitis..
1 thing that works for me literally over night is Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream (Augmented), 0.05%.
Read the prescription side effects, causes skin thinning...
Gets expensive without insurance and it's not a cure,
Hope this helps someone
Hi people I was reading some of your cases I think I might have this disease as well. I've had folliculitis for almost 2 years, not all the time straight but with 4 or 5 relapses.
I've treated it with trimetroprim sulfa and mupirocin ointment and it seems to work but the last time didn't work totally so I went to see a derm and he sent some products that got worse my scalp (coal-tar mainly); therefore I went to see another one who gave me desonide and ovale 200mg(ketoconazole) along with kelual ds since allegedly I didn't have folliculitis but dermatitis. I started using these things and the dermatitis seemed to vanish but suddenly I had another breakout of folliculitis so I stopped applying desonide and taking ovale 200 mg to take trimetroprim again.- I read that one of the possible side effects of applying desonide is folliculitis- I haven't started yet but I hope this time it disappears once for all. I'll post a picture so that you can tell me whether is PF or no.
PD: I did take Roaccutane but this illness came when I shaved my head. I wouldn't say isotretinoin provoked folliculitis or dermatitis.
Hi guys, I have been suffering as long as I can remember. Looking at all the info on here I am certain it Pityrosporum folliculotis. I am now 26 and am sick of being embarrassed to be topless whether it be on holiday or swimming etc. I did a course of roaccutane which had nasty side effects but did seem to shift it. The itchyness and tiny spots are reappearing on my back chest and top of arms. Latest treatment from from derm through private healthcare is dalacin and dermol 200 shower cream but they arr doing nothing after over 2 weeks treatment. If anything they make it more bumpy. I am worried reading that there are no major cures!?
I am very into tattoos and have a full day on my back in November. But how can I go with this? ! Tattoos I already have from expensive artists also need touching up!! Please help 
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Here is my story: I'm 28 years old and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism over a year ago. I have been taking a thyroid hormone replacement prescription (levothyroxine). I always have had dry skin, but never had acne. My skin used to get compliments, and I never needed to wash my face, I only used lotion. When summer started, I noticed my skin becoming oily. My forehead then began to show small bumps. I thought it was just a reaction from my medication until I found this site. From previous advice, I started using dandruff shampoo (head and shoulders) on my forehead and I have seen a great improvement within the past two weeks. I now believe that it is fungal skin infection. Thank you previous commentators for your advice and I hope others will give this a try 
Hi,
I think I had this on my face for almost three years! it would itch and burn with bumps all over, it started on the chin and spread all over the rest of my face. I even had bumps behind my ears, the front of my neck and the back as well as my chest. Some bumps looked like whiteheads, others were clear and some were red. Prior to this, I never had any skin issues and my skin was sooo flawless that people would ask me what foundation I am wearing.
There was a few things I did that I think worked. First I used clotramizole for a couple of weeks, which cleared most of the bumps. I then used sea salt soaks on my face for about a week (boiled water to get rid of bacteria which has been cooled). The sea salt I think helped to get rid of clogged pores which had also been caused because of the oiliness that usually accompanies this infection, it didn't do too much for the bumps caused by the actual fungus. I then used colloidal silver for two weeks, this is what helped with the itchiness and burning type bumps.
I still have bumps on my chest and will try the same method on these but my face seems clear for now but apparently it can come back so fingers crossed.
I just wanted to let you all know that you're better off trying the more natural methods (especially colloidal silver - but be very careful not to use too much or for too long) rather than the topicals because trust me, I tried most of these. Even with the clotramizole, it cleared most of it but then I would still get a few burning/itching bumps.
Hi,
Has anyone successfully treated this condition with a low dose of Accutane? I have a bad case and it all started after a heavy dose of antibiotics to treat a lung infection... I took fluconazole and it really helped but I still have a lot on the face... I am really concerned that Accutane will just make it worse.
What's up everybody I've been dealing with acne for quite some time now from moderate to severe acne at times. I'm now 24 years old and I don't really have a problem with my face I get the occasional pimples here and there my main issue is back, chest and shoulder acne. Over the years I've tried different products such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide with some help but it would always come back. Recently I started getting a pretty bad rash on my back consisting of red swollen cysts and small bumps all over.
I've tried everything nothing seems to help. I recently started researching on yeast infections and have come to think I might be suffering from pityrosporum folliculitis. The reason i say this is because I've dealt with athlete's foot in the past and am currently dealing with toe nail fungus. I've tried cutting out gluten and dairy as much as possible but haven't really noticed a difference. I just started putting antifungal cream on the effected areas on my back and just started taking probiotics. I've read ketoconazole shampoo also seems to help out so I will definitely be going out to get some tomorrow. Hopefully I finally found the issue with my skin and can put a stop to it.
Hi there! I've just written a new thread on this - just a minute ago! You can have a read. It's been a month and I've finally won the battle with this dreaded fungus! In a nutshell - these are the things that worked for me:
ORAL:
Sporanox - itraconazole - 200mg x 5 days (prescibed by Dr)
Greek yoghurt + probiotics powder (with added Acidophilus) x 14 days (must be eaten 1 hr before food, or 2 hrs after food)
TOPICAL:
Apply LAMISIL dermgel twice a day -morning and night - for 7 days straight!! Nothing else.
Then after the LAMISIL 7-day battle:
DAY:
Wash face with Dr Cynthia Bailey's Calming Zinc Pyrthione / alternate with Dr Cynthia Bailey's Foaming Cleanser (the soap as exfoliating properties -the oats thingy - and exfoliating everyday will aggravate the skin, so use the soap only on alternate days or spead it out)
Put on Young Living Frankincense essential oil - undiluted - on the entire face (this one is quite expensive but you can use other brands too as long as it is pure and high grade!)
NIGHT:
Wash (see above)
Garden of Wisdom's Mandelic Acid 10% (no alcohol/no seaweed) - leave for 30 minutes before putting anything else after it
All the best buddy! I know how it feels to be battling this fungus. Had the worst skin of my life a month ago. Now it is SO MUCH BETTER!
Do update!
On 3/14/2011 at 11:53 AM, niehaoma said:Update:
Stopped using the Extina foam. It seemed a little harsh (stung on application, seemed to irritate my skin).
Still taking 200mg Fluconazole per day, OoO, Garlic, Pau D'Arco. Forehead seemed like it was getting better, but it was short lived. Currently on day 6.
Read an interesting post that I had read before, using raw honey. I know there are numerous reviews here about it. It is also specifically used to treat Seb Derm, which has commonality with PF. I tried the raw honey tonight. We will see if it has an effect after a few weeks.
I am amazed, there does not seem to be many forums for Pityrosporum [Malassezia] Folliculitis. If anyone knows of any, feel free to share.
[removed]. Read this!!! I know this forum is old but I'm currently starting my journey with treatment. This is the most I or motive extremely extremely detailed post ever.
OK, folks. I figured it out. At least for me. Been rid of this stuff for over half a year now.
Somewhere on the web, I read about a chick who discovered she was allergic to coco-glucoside. I looked at my shampoo bottle--sure enough, there's coco-glucoside. I had recently started using it again (think it was desert organics raspberry shampoo?). Then I remembered the LAST time I got this stuff, I was using the same shampoo! Now. Here's the other thing. Everyone says use Head and Shoulders. READ THE LABELS. Some varieties have started adding coco-glucoside!! Last year they didn't, this year they did to some kinds...so READ to make sure. It's in a lot of stuff.
The dermatologist I went to was an idiot. He wanted me to take tons of drugs. No.
I drastically changed my diet for a couple of weeks. Basically, all whole foods. Meats & LOTS of greens. Salad for lunch every day. Meat & veg for dinner. Also got off dairy and cut a ton of sugar. It was painful, but within a week, I quit itching! After about two weeks, I was able to slowly add things back in, but still try to keep to whole foods and little dairy.
There is DEFINITELY a link to your diet with this stuff. Go over to the Candida Diet website and poke around. It won't kill you.
Mainly, check your hair care & personal products. Good luck!