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21 hours ago, Canucklehead12 said:I think you're looking too far into this. You don't know exact percentages of ingredients, but I can bet that the polysorbate is in very low concentration. My skin has worked well on Cerave lotion and continues to do so, but really you'd need to test it out for yourself.Cerave AM and moisturizing cream broke me out....so I won't touch those again. I'm going to stick with what works.
Cheers,
Maybe we should start looking deep into this if most of us are still having trouble after so many years of seb derm and folliculitis. What works for some may not work for other - everyone's skin is different I guess. Maybe the ceramides in the Cerave cream/AM broke you out. Or could have been a reaction to something completely different. But if the lotion works for you then yeah, you should stick to it. Did not mean to offend you, hope all of us can work together to get to the bottom of this.
Update from my side - Day 9 of using Nizoral and switching from Cetaphil moisturizer to Cerave. My skin started feeling a lot smoother around Day 4 (probably Cerave). Day 5 - pustules started to clear up or reduce in size and skin became very smooth. The pustules I have been getting now don't last for more than a day whereas before this regimen they would stick around for 2 to 3 days. I have noticed flaking around my chin and mouth around Day 5 mark - not sure why this happened. I broke out again this morning in whiteheads because I ate lots of junk last night - (Chocolate muffins, Doritos and a high carb diet).
I was really hoping now that I am clearing up, diet would not have an impact on my follicullitis but today proved that theory wrong. I do a sulfur mask every night around my mouth and chin and wash my face with Head and shoulders every morning. I want to get to a point where diet does not impact my folliculitis or seb derm but I don't know if this is possible. Tom Busby thinks diet has no relation to this skin condition but I definitely think he is missing something there.
Let me know what you guys think of my regimen. My plan is to switch to E45 climbazole shampoo on Day 15 if Nizoral stops working like it has been over past few days. At least this kind of confirms my condition is fungal related.
Update - Skin isn't doing great at all especially my chin area. Broke out in clusters again. Quite disappointing especially because I had started to really clear up a few days ago. I am willing to attribute this breakout to my shitty diet all week, especially on Thursday night when I ate junk food.
However, I am slowly losing trust in Nizoral. I mean if it is still working, it should have prevented a bad breakout but I pretty much got one today/yesterday. I'll give it a few more days before switching to E45 Climbazole shampoo.
It is sad that this type of Folliculiti/acne really messes up your life. You're always trying to figure out what triggers it - diet or new products you started using? It's hard to go out and eat with friends because 1) You don't know if the food you're eating will break you out so you can't enjoy it 2) I hate going out with those pustules on my face as it gives me a lot of anxiety.
On 8/11/2017 at 11:47 AM, silverlight22 said:I was really hoping now that I am clearing up, diet would not have an impact on my follicullitis but today proved that theory wrong. I do a sulfur mask every night around my mouth and chin and wash my face with Head and shoulders every morning. I want to get to a point where diet does not impact my folliculitis or seb derm but I don't know if this is possible. Tom Busby thinks diet has no relation to this skin condition but I definitely think he is missing something there.
You're washing with head and shoulders in the morning, sulfur mask and Nizoral at night? This seems extremelydrying for your face. Bacterial or fungal infections will only continue to spread if you keep deteriorating your skin barrier imo. I'd suggest only using nizoral at night, and using a gentle skin cleanser or water in the morning.
Thanks Canuck. The only reason I do H&S and sulfur is because it has gotten rid of my pustules twice in the past (got it after using antibiotics) and became a part of my daily routine for 3 years. I figured just adding in Nizoral won't have a huge impact since my skin is already used to H&S and sulfur.
I guess you are right. Maybe that's why it keeps coming back after I get put on antibiotics. I'll drop either the h&s or nizoral and reduce sulfur overnight mask to 10min contact therapy.
Question and it might sound silly but is there anyway you can tell your moisturizer barrier is repaired?
Ok, I am aborting this nizoral+cerave cream trial after 12 days. My skin got pretty clear last Tuesday (5day mark) and I had a really bad breakout on Thursday night which is refusing to go away. I actually realised Tuesday was the only day i was clear 80% and wednesday afteroon i got about 7 small whiteheads but i disregarded them since they were small in size amd went away real quick literally within a few hours. Thursday night was bad.
I'm switching back to my cetaphil mositurizer and removing nizoral till my skin calms down. Furthermore, Tom Busby from Rosacea forum told me that i might actually not be dealing with fungal acne at all since white/yellow discharge is associated with a staph infection rather than fungal acne so my next plan is to try Hibiclens, and maybe the triple antibiotic ointment therapy for sometime. Meanwhile, I will continue with H&S and sulfur masks.
I now think I might have misdiagnosed my pustules as a fungal problem while it was actually bacterial. The Nizoral and Cerave moisturizing cream only helped for 6 days till last Thursday before I got a pretty bad breakout again. Usually my pustules clear up on their own in 2 or 3 days but this specific breakout refuses to go away since Thursday. I had added Nizoral and Cerave cream to my regimen.
Nizoral could be the culprit but I doubt it since I have been using an antifungal shampoo (H&S) for three years without any issues. Or maybe since Nizoral is a stronger anti fungal it could have messed up my malassezia and bacteria balance on skin and killed the yeast letting bacteria overtake and cause more problems.
Cerave cream could be the issue too- maybe it clogged my pores so I'm seeing more breakouts now. I was using cetaphil for 3 years prior to this with no issues.
I have removed both Niz and Cerave from my regimen since Sunday but the pustules continue to pop up.
The only reason I was convinced that my condition is fungal was because I was getting bumps and pustules on my scalp too. Now I'm starting to think it's actually the staph aureus wreaking havoc both on my face and scalp.
I have a bottle of Hibiclens sitting in my room but I'm a bit scared to use it as I do not want to cause more damage after Nizoral+Cerave trial.
Hi guys not much of an update from me. Kinda been up and down. Started using bp last night. I think im beginning to tolerate it.
Questions for you guys can you please let me know if this moisturiser will work. Unfortunately in aus we dont have creave.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Petrolatum, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Steareth-2, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, Polyacrylic Acid, Triethanolamine.
does petrolatum feed seb derm
@OptimumcureFrom my understanding, it does not affect seb derm. I would however suggest to ensure that you actually have seb derm related folliculitis before going down the antifungal route. I started clearing up this week because I stopped nizoral and went back to just H&S and Sulfur ointment.
I may have what is called Staph Aureus related folliculitis. It gives similar breakouts to what we have been experiencing and lives in your nose and ears. It easily makes it way to your face if you have sinus issues, runny nose or if you have habit of touching your nose and ears and then your face. Application of triple antibiotic ointment just inside the nose and ears has proven to kill this infection for a number of people and solved or minimized their breakouts. Google "Healthyalmonds staph infection" and you'll come across his posts on this website and on Reddit where he explains it all.
Another product known to kill this infection is Hibiclens. I tried putting it on a cluster of pustules on my face and it literally got rid of them overnight. Tried it again on another set of pustules and they went away too. Be careful not to get it into your eyes or nose though as it can cause major damage to both.
You have to be very clean during this process of getting rid of staph related folliculitis as you can easily reinfect yourself either from your own body or surroundings. Need to change your pillow cover often, bedsheets etc.
Hey,
following this post I have noticed a lot of similarities to my condition. What keeps the pustules at bay is decreasing my stress levels which can be reached through meditation. I know it sounds funny but whenever I give a shit about how I look my skin dries up and the pustules subside. Though it is not possible to always maintain low stress levels I'm not completely free of this. Nonetheless I think We should set up a group chat in whatsapp to improve our communication and eventually find an ultimate relief.
2 weeks ago I started using Hibiclens as spot treatment and it got rid of all of my pustules within 3 days. I was clear almost for 10 days with minor breakouts so I decided to start eating junk food again. I was getting minor breakouts but they didn't bother me much since they were really small. However, last Friday I had this huge ice cream dessert and I broke out with 4 pustules on my chin the next day. I was disappointed as I had thought the hibiclens would continue to keep me clear 100% no matter what I ate. The breakout went away in 2 days and I was clear again, getting minor breakouts here and there while continuing to eat junk. The interesting part about this was that before hibiclens, when i used to eat junk, my breakouts would be SEVERE like 15 pustules or so at a time. However, now I only get like 4 if I use hibiclens.
I ate another ice cream dessert this Friday and I broke out again in 3 to 4 pustules but these are a bit persistent. Without hibiclens, I would have broken out in at least 15-20 pustules. Maybe this confirms that I have been dealing with a staph infection and hibiclens is helping? I have also started applying rubbing alcohol to my ears and inside of nostrils to try and get rid of staph. Overall, my skin has improved a lot but I am just trying to reach a point where diet will have 0 impact on my acne.
Emotion wise - Confused, depressed but determined. Depressed/confused when I brokeout and though hibiclens is losing its effectiveness. Determined because my skin has actually gotten better so maybe I am near to finding my cure.
Just wondering out loud - does anyone know if it is possible to become resistant to hibiclens? Also, BP 10% works well at keeping staph infection away and pustules. Some people have had success with BP+ Hibiclens and have been 100% clear without diet changes. I am nearing the 10 day mark of using hibiclens as a facial wash once a day. My next step is to add BP 2.5% and see if it helps. I have used BP in the past 10 years ago but did not moisturize and believe I damaged my skin quite a bit. However, I think I will give it another shot.
Anyone else had any success?
On 9/4/2017 at 5:47 PM, silverlight22 said:Overall, my skin has improved a lot but I am just trying to reach a point where diet will have 0 impact on my acne.
Maybe.....diet will always have an impact and you should refrain from eating junk? You are what you eat. You yourself see that eating healthy helps clear your skin, I'm not sure why you don't just stick with a healthier diet?
11 hours ago, Canucklehead12 said:Maybe.....diet will always have an impact and you should refrain from eating junk? You are what you eat. You yourself see that eating healthy helps clear your skin, I'm not sure why you don't just stick with a healthier diet?
Maybe because I hate living a life where I'm always stressing about what food will break me out/always feel guilty and wait for a couple of days to see if something breaks me out. You reach a point where you start blaming everything you eat for your breakouts. I've lived like that for a few years and I refuse to give up and live like that for the rest of my life without atleast trying a few different regimens. You can't go out with your friends to eat and always worry about trying something new.
For all I know, eating junk or dairy should give you a couple of pustules on your chin if anything , that should be the normal reaction- not getting 10 zits overnight that ooze yellow/white pus.
I stuck to a diet plan to stay 100 percent clear from 2014 to 2016. All I could eat during those 2 years without breaking out was meat, rice and bread. Everything else broke me out which makes no sense. You can't live like that
On 13/09/2017 at 11:04 PM, Optimumcure said:How is everyone going. Im still up and down like a yoyo. Hopefully someone else has had some success
@OptimumcureIt's been a month since i started using hibiclens and I have gotten 80-95 percent clear. Give it a shot. Only dairy breaks me out
@OptimumcureThey don't have Hibiclens in Canada either but I ordered mine through Amazon. I just wanted to go with the exact same brand everyone has been using. And yes, its is 4%.
When i first started using hibiclens, I washed my face with an antifungal shampoo like head and shoulders. I then applied hibiclens only to areas where I had active pustules (mostly chin and lips/under and above lips/under nose, crease of nose). Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and then rinse.
2 things you need to be careful while using hibiclens
- DONT get it into your eyes, nose or ears as this is some strong stuff and can cause deafness, blindness so be very careful while applying it. I usually pour a small amount on my left palm and then dip my right index finger into it and apply it on my pustules and the areas around it so the application is very precise
- Dont mix hibiclens with other face washes or shampoos as they can deactivate the active ingredient in hibiclens. This is why I use any face wash or anti fungal shampoo on my face first , wash it off and then apply hibiclens.
You should see a difference within 4-5days of using hibiclens twice a day as a spot treatment. If you see any improvement, use it as a face wash for another week and apply it all over rather than just on active acne. Always leave it on for 2-3minutes. Always moisturize after as this is quite drying.
Another thing i did was purchase 70% rubbing alcohol from a nearby drug store and cotton buds. I dipped the cotton bud in alcohol and applied it to the inside front of my nostrils and in my ears in the morning and evening. I did this since i suspected my pustules are caused by staph aureus and they usually grow in your ears or nostrils. Rubbing alcohol and hibiclens are known to kill these.
Hi again guys,
Two pages ago I posted how happy I am finding the cause of the same problem as yours being food intolerances...
Forget it.
After three months on a strict diet, the problem didnt disappear, sometime it got even worse.
What I forgot to tell you previously is that in the beginning of this diet, for about two weeks I switched from smoking to vaping. That WAS the real reason for clearing. After returning to normal cigarettes, no matter what I ate, I had pus all over my beard again.
So for almost a month now I am only vaping again and my skin is fine. I am not saying the cigarette smoke was the cause of my problem, but I am hoping that I may be in the right direction this time.
So I wonder how many of you are smokers?
I am so happy I found this thread you have no idea.....Ive been dealing with this gram negative follicuitis/perioral dermatitis/acne/ whatever the hell else this is for almost two years now. I have the same exact story as everyone else here and have tried EVERYTHING diet/acupuncture/herbal medicine/topical and oral antibiotics. Of course the antibiotics work like a charm then you stop and BAM! Back even worse.
Ive had mine cultured before and it came back positive for entobacter and staph. The antibiotics worked but came back worse and when I was re cultured it was negative every time.
I know the frustration you all are dealing with and how god awful this is especially when youre clear and then all the sudden the burning and itching start and you just go goddammit not again.
Multiple derms have wanted to do a biopsy but I dont want a scar on my face but that might be the next option. One year ago I met a derm who swore it was gram Negative follicuitis and gave me accutane. I take a super low dose, like 5 mg a day (just puncture a hole in the pill and do a drop) Ive even able to keep it in remission for a year now with minimal side effects (no chapped lips even) of course when I stop the accutane it comes back but not as bad as before. If youre at your wits end and need something to help while we figure out the cure I would go this route for any one whos desperate.
Whoever suggested to exchange emails or WhatsApp Im in 100%, we seriously need to band together and work as a team to get this taken care of
lol you guys.. i tried something and it worked; i dnno why you do not want to try something that works? try what i posted above. Trust me if it is staph, hibiclens on face and rubbing alcohol in your nose and ears twice a day will work like a charm. Don't get lazy with rubbing alcohol though, i stopped it for sometime and staph pustules came back for a couple of days.
Try it out guys, its worth it!!
I have the same thing and have been dealing with it for 10 years. At first I used antibiotics, but it didn't last. I found I break out when my immune system is weak- a cold/flu, stress, right before my period. Ugh! I got the flu recently and broke out bad enough to see my dermatologis, who of course, put me on antibiotics. Which I'm glad, because it does help temporarily.
This starts in the nose and goes down. My dermatologist tested it in ta fierce mode (the severity ranges) and said it was staph. Recently tested in a moderate stage n was told all tests were negative. It's resistant to bacroban and the other antibiotics in Neosporin triple antibiotic cream. I'm allergic to sulfa so I can't try that, but I was told it works and is in a cream form.
This is what has worked best for me:
Styptic pencil - dries them out quickly
rubbing alcohol - pressed onto them if they popped or you break them, seems to keep them from spreading as much and as quickly
finacea - prescription- dries them out and gets rid of redness incredibly quick.
l-lysine ointment applied around your lips at night keeps them away from your mouth. It also helps anywhere to keep from spreading.
Vitamin C serum, Jobo oil, shea butter, coconut oil - all great moisturizers and keep your skin from drying out from the bp we are all using because of our oily skin.
Coconut oil actually will dry them up somehow, as well.
Hyaluronic acid - seems to strengthen my skin
Im trying hibiclens. I got it on amazon, not sealed. So not sure if it's watered down or not. It doesn't appear to be helping.
So frustrated. It's sad to see so many people with this issue, but I'm glad I'm not alone.
I would also be interested in a chat/support group.
