I have been researching, and dealing with Demodex mites for a long time. These are actually very good pictures of Demodex mites, especially the 2nd and 4th one. They are clear, white, or beige and can be rubbery or stretchy. They are elongated and have a pointed wedge-shaped tail. Their œhead end is wider, so they are shaped a little like a golf tee. The mites are found where there is a lot of sebum- usually on the face, scalp, outer ears, shoulders, upper back, buttocks and thighs. They can get into your mouth, lips, nipples, vagina, urethra and rectum.  Their tails often stick out of the skin, as in this posted picture. They are hard to diagnose because they present differently according to how serious the condition is. Many of the pictures here show an ulcer sore with white dots in it - very typical of Demodex. They often will form a lump that looks like a pimple forming, but instead of a white head, the top œpeels off to reveal an ulcerated area full of mites. If you peel off the œcrusty layer, you can peel off individual mites.  Other presentations look like acne. Some people have only a mildly red rash. The sores usually run together to form red inflamed patches of lesions full of mites, but  some sores occur outside of the patches. Individual sores can take months to heal.

 Another problem is that the mites can be many sizes from their normal microscopic size to 1/2 long. They can also come out of the ulcerated follicle opening, lie in the skin surface in layers that form a crust, a leathery œskin that can be peeled, or a dense, tight and hard layer. The condition makes it easy for bacteria and fungi (yeast) to enter the skin, adding bacterial and fungal infections to the problem  

These mites are normal to have and our immune system keeps them in check, but when there is an immune dysfunction, they get out of control. This condition is common in all mammals, but is getting worse in humans because our immune systems are being challenged by environmental toxins (eg chemicals and molds), pesticides, diabetes, and other immune problems. 

In animals, this is known as œdemodectic mange (not to be confused with sarcoptic mange). In humans it it called demodicosis, but once in a while it is referred to as œhuman mange.  It is usually very painful, feels like splinters in a 2nd degree burn, and takes months or years to cure depending on what caused it. 
 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24471456/
 

https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/82565

I would assume that in 2011, everyone was so excited to have the CDC initiate research. What a blow their "research" must have been to all those advocates, to all. I have been aware of the Charles Holman Foundation (CHF) for at least 7 out of the 8 years of my illness. I never registered or reached out to them as their conclusion (Lyme) was not an end to my suffering. In fact, it made me more depressed, as we all know Lyme is chronic. And yet, I looked different from Lyme.

Why do we look different? Bovine Dermatitis isn't a bad theory CHF, but you need data. And you also need to rule out other rare illnesses, also with valid data. Have you collected data on immune systems? You can borrow immune info from other illnesses, but that's never going to be good enough for the CDC. For Leprosy, doctors determined that it was cured by a combination of three different antibiotics. I can't find how they came up with that exact cocktail. Can you?

Why the CDC still doesn't accept anything from Charles Holman as valid, the data involved from both sides - there are so many issues. I am grateful for CHF, yet also feel as if they feel - that that have "arrived" - which is very premature stance to take. Why do you think Ginger Savely had so many patients commit suicide (cited in movie Skin Deep by CHF)? Because she was their last hope. When the antibiotics don't work - people kill themselves.

And Kelly Pickens, who killed herself after being in the documentary Skin Deep - OMG. Can anyone else see how the documentary might have contributed to her death? I am not saying it did - I have no idea - just that you can see that it could have played in to it.

Never have a last hope. There is always hope. Stopped being shamed into death. I know the suffering can be tremendous. Those fools shaming you - would fall apart at the seams if they went through what we do. Oh, wait - that's what many of us do as well. It's called a natural response. Always remember - you are not alone. Do not give up.

On 3/15/2022 at 5:40 AM, Skinsorough said:

@SlickClickwhat pinworm treatment did you use? Thanks

I used over the counter "Pyrantel Pamoate" Pinworm Treatment from the local pharmacy store...
I treat myself and the entire household once a year now as well...

If you have Pets such as cats or dogs you will want to treat them regularly with Heartgard...
Remember these are PARACITES and have a particular life-cycle, breading cycle, & can jump between species ie cats, dogs, humans, etc. mammals...

Allow me to apologize CHF.

I recently found the below on your website. I don't know how long it has been there. I apparently failed to fully read your website and I apologize. It discusses some Immune components and other diagnostic testing that can aide a patient, especially with credibility (in my experience):

https://thecehf.org/patient-resources/diagnostic-testing/

Quote:

• Lyme serologic testing at many laboratories fails to detect antibodies at levels high enough to be interpreted as positive by the CDC surveillance criteria. Consequently, Lyme disease testing at laboratories specializing in tick-borne diseases is recommended. A physician or other qualified healthcare provider must sign a requisition for Lyme disease testing, and a physician or other qualified healthcare provider knowledgeable about Lyme disease should be consulted for interpretation of test results and for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
• Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, a spirochetal bacterium and causative agent of Lyme disease, has been detected in dermatological tissue from Morgellons patients, as has Borrelia garinii, a closely-related Lyme disease-causing bacterium falling into the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group. Lyme-like illness can also be caused by spirochetes other thanBorrelia burgdorferi (Bb). At present other spirochetes from other genera have not been detected in Morgellons dermatological tissue, but neither have they been ruled out.
• Not a lot is known about the genetic diversity of spirochetes associated with Morgellons disease. Some laboratories offer testing based on several strains of Bb, including European strains and other related strains. In addition to spirochetal infection, ticks may carry other organisms that co-infect the patient at the time of a tick bite. Patients who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease should be tested for tickborne co-infections.
• The most common laboratory tests for Lyme disease are serologic tests forantibodies against Bb. Other tests includeBb antigen detection, PCR detection of Bb DNA, lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT), and culture of spirochetes. Elevated complement C4a levels and decreasedCD57 natural killer celllevels may be associated with chronic Lyme disease. These tests may aid physicians in determining a Lyme disease diagnosis.

I don't think you can access link from website's top bar. Go Support and Resources - Patient Resources - scroll down - left side button - Diagnostic Testing.

Here's how you can register:

https://thecehf.org/patient-registry/

There is a survey on symptoms etc, and you can see the anonymous data of all others as well as a global map of cases.

On 6/21/2022 at 12:52 PM, coma666 said:

Hello guys I've been dealing with this crap for almost 4 years sooo many doctor visits and derm visits. So any way try zinc mine have been responding very very well to it I believe it's a wart from hpv

What type of zinc product please?

@LolaMeHey! Sorry I take so long in between....I forget to check in because my skin is doing so well.

In regards to the clotrimazole cream: I did try that. Several times actually. It would bring down the inflammation a little but never solve the problem for me. I've honestly tried every anti fungal you can think of...both oral and topical. Because I'm a nurse and have done so much wound care experience, I have had the upper hand to know and try pretty much every kind of medication you can think of, as well as have access to products not on the market. And NOTHING WORKED. Nothing. The only thing I've actually tried that helped was Ivermectin. Since there's this crazy thing with covid that caused Ivermectin to be impossible to get, I just bought the "horse" Ivermectin on Amazon. I'm not even kidding. Haha But it's the same medication. It's a gel in a syringe. It's dosed by weight and the weight is on the syringe to dose yourself. Since horses are so huge, your dose from the syringe is really small. So you can use one syringe for a long time.

BUT....the actual healing came from using the LED mask. It's odd your dermatologists would deter you from using it with antibiotics on board because "light sensitivity" refers to UV light....like from the sun. LED light is NOT the same and has no UV light. UV light is damaging to skin.....the LED is not, it's healing to the skin. You can check this for accuracy on the Cleveland clinic.org site. So it's safe to use no matter what medication you're taking. My dermatologist had said the same thing but kept giving me meds that made my skin worse! So I finally decided to follow my instincts, stop the useless meds and just use the LED mask. Because it DOES work and it cures all kinds of skin issues....not just this one....so I figured since it targets almost every kind of skin issue AND helps rebuild the skins natural health overall, then it's probably gonna hit on whatever the heck this problem is. And it worked!!

I rarely use it now. Sometimes I'll get a tiny little breakout....where it's just a couple of spots.....but since that first week of the mask killing everything....I've never had those big ones again. Only tiny little ones. But just a couple uses of the mask and I'm back on track. Used to, I would get massive breakouts from going into the sun at all...like explosive spots and redness....but now, it's like the mask helped it get back it's strength and durability so my skin isn't reacting to stuff like that anymore. It's such a God-send.

@LolaMe

@HanU

@FinerFeedback

So here's a photo of me just a few weeks ago. As you can see the LED mask was truly effective after just that one week. I randomly use it for a few tiny spots that might pop up here and there but I haven't had ANY of those big nasty ones since. 

I used RED, BLUE, GREEN. Each for 20 minutes, right in a row.

The RED works to rejuvenate the skin entirely to get it working right again and rebuild it's health from just about any kind of skin issue.

The BLUE kills and basically sanitizes. Think of all the LED light products they've come out with recently that sanitize your phones or keys or whatever to kill covid....it's all blue light. So it is there to kill....whether it's acne or fungus or parasites.

The GREEN is to soothe and reduce inflammation but it also helps melasma. I use the green last so my skin has that wonderful soothing effect at the end. 

Mine only took 4 uses over 4 days to clear up. But everyone is different depending on your severity. Mine was really severe. 

But as you can see....it's been many months later and I've only used it maybe 6 times since then just for an occasional tiny spot. And no medications or crazy creams. 

I do use VaniCream face wash and lotion did my face because it is even more gentle than any of those CeraVe or Cetaphil products. And it's a little cheaper too. Even though my skin is so much better and stronger, I'm still cautious with adding any potential aggravating products on it. Just to be safe basically. 

You can see on my jaw line and forehead that there's still white areas from all the horrific scarring. It looks worse in person, the camera doesn't pick it up well enough. For that I'm going to have a treatment done at a med spa....there's this new thing called a Spectra laser they're getting next month and supposedly it removes all the melasma and scarring perfectly, whereas the current lasers and stuff just decrease it over time and multiple treatments. So I'm excited for that! But the mask stopped all that horrible redness and dullness and "sickly" appearance my skin had during those years with these sores. It actually looks and feels healthy now.

Hope this helps!! ™¥ï¸

I™m back to make a comment to help anyone else who stumbles across this post from a Google search like I originally did. 
 

i was free from the condition for over 6 months but somehow something triggered it to resurface. 
 

I believe strongly it is fungal. But as per Aussie Scientists posts it does matter what yeast is causing it. I assumed mine was candida. 
 

so this outbreak I managed to get some Nystatin online from a German pharmacy. Can™t seem to buy it in the UK. 
 

The nystatin didn™t seem to eliminate it, I persevered but then reverted to canestan (clotrimizole) 

started washing twice a day with Nizarol and then canestan 3 times a day and things started to improve. So I thought I would try terbafine (Lamisil) because that is what was recommended for malassezia and it™s working better! 
 

so maybe all along I had malassezia 

this does make some sense - I do get dandruff or at least a very thick feeling scalp. It only ever felt really clean when I had my hair dyed - so must have been the hair dye really stripping back the dandruff like scalp skin 

I also started to get this problem monthly originally when it was quite mild and assumed it was hormonal acne but the yeast must have been able to feast on my more oily skin at that time of the month 

some important things in clearing this up

1. do not exfoliate, it feels like ur helping at first but then everything gets more inflamed 

2. use Nizarol twice a day, it helps at removing the fungus but also the dead skin without irritating the skin further 

3. use Lamisil gel if you can find it, not so creamy on the skin and so helps to dry out the fungus better it seems. Use it twice a day unless it irritates ur skin

4. use the gel/cream at least 1cm surrounding the outbreak patches

5. use the gel/cream for at least one month after being clear. 

6. Once clear use products which are fungal acne safe and use an exfoliating product once a week minimum. Possibly continue to use Nizarol and Lamisil once a week - this is what I™m planning this time for a significant while
 

some pics below of this outbreak. The first picture is where it was inflamed

second where nystatin was only helping mildly 

third is where it™s hopefully starting to get better 

4th shows one of the bigger linear lesions I had this time 

5th - hopefully some further improvement

OMG!!!

For years i have been told stop picking, given antibiotics tablets and creams. I was considering an acid peel. I have been to dermatologists with no help I currently have a sore on my face that has not completely gone in a year and the dreaded plugs keep reading their heads.

I get them on my arms and legs, I remember seeing my dad have the same thing.

I do get psoriasis is there a link?

Thank you all for sharing you have changed my world!

I'm pretty sure the disease is actually called M.mageritense or mycolicibacterium mageritense. I've been dealing with this for year and researched for years finally found it. They has only been 9 reported case in the world as of 2018 but seems to be more common than that. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(21)00827-4/fulltext#relatedArticles

@Laura123. Your pics look SOO much like what I have! Its been about 2ish yrs of this and its awful.

Ive had some relief with CLOTRIMAZOLE but it doesnt resolve things. And I do worry that the cream is clogging my pores (although I wld absolutely accept that over this).

Ive used Nizoral a few times but I never stick with it bc I just dont know whether its doing anything. But I do still go for it every now and then.

Ill try the Lamisil! Does it burn? Depending on where in the cycle these things are, even the most gentle face wash stings so so bad.

I have this. Started after I got a Mirena IUD put in and then my husband died. I was definitely drinking too much ass well. It cleared 50% when the Mirena was removed but a year on my skin still reacts this way on my jaw line back of neck ect ect. Never had ecne before. Some morgellons slides look like it but most don't. Have tried fungal creams and everything. I know it was triggered by birth contro,l stress, some alcohol maybe. It im proved drastically immediately when I had the Mirena removed. This partially healed one afte a got out of the shower and wiped the dissolved scab off it. They aren't as bad.

I™m now going through the worse before better stage which some other posters have discussed. This happened before with my original bad outbreak. Once using the anti fungal things seem to get better then I seem to get a lot of ˜superficial™ fungal patches crop up. 
 

They aren™t deep like the spots that some up originally. Those deep spots start as large painful nodules which seem like an under the skin acne bump but then they ooze the clear acidic like orange fluid, skin comes off, often see large keratin plugs and a raised ring around the edge. 

All I can assume is this is the dying off of yeast in the hair follicles. It™s more rashy and only affects the upper layers of skin. 
 

im now using Lamisil and nystatin because I don™t know if I have both types of fungus and needing to use a little hydrocortisone while it™s inflamed. 

Adding pictures from last bad outbreak and this one. Just to show various stages/types of lesions

Some extra info:

1. I had not take antibiotics in years. However this was initially triggered by mask wearing due to covid. Luckily my friend who is a facialist had suggested it may be yeast/fungal as she had seen some milder maskne cases

2. Really not sure why after being 6 months totally clear it came back. I had a very bad stomach bug which lasted 5 days and I didnt take my probiotics in that time. Thats my only trigger I could think of

3. Using an exfoliating product such as differin seemed to help keep it clear. But only once the skin was healed and could tolerate this

4. Nizarol seems to dry my skin too much - stopping that but keeping it for my scalp once a week

5. lamisil gel also seems too drying. Will use that possibly once my skin is healed as a maintenance treatment as other products can layer easier with it, compared to the cream

Drying out and starting to heal. Little breakouts still pop up at this stage because fungal treatment takes weeks/months not days. 

@Kiki RN where did you purchase your LED mask?

Hi all, im new here, but have had this schitt for 20+ years. My dad had it really bad. My mom and I picked on him to get them out of his neck and back, and then we got them. Mom and dad are no longer alive, but no one would ever look or biopsy them, so now it's my turn. We are convinced my dad got this from Vietnam, but again - can't prove it nor did anyone test for anything. Anyone that has this, were your parents in the Vietnam war?  

I had a punch biopsy in April 2021 and it came back as ..... wait for it ...... Lichen Simplex Chronicus and Prurigo Nodularis  which i totally disagree with, but im not a pathologist!  lol

I get them on my chin and like everyone here, it does not go away until all these "critters", as my parents used to call them" get pulled out. 

I have a follow up with my derm today and asking them to research this form, view the pictures, and gave them a list if things i want them to research for me. I also want them to punch biopsy this lesion as they only did a shave biopsy two weeks ago, and since then I have pulled out 15 more of the phuckers.  I HATE IT. Its so gross, embarassing, humiliating, etc.

Thanks for letting me vent. I will post a follow up later on. 

IM SO GLAD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE! Im sorry we all have to deal with this.  Send me any info you may have, there is a lot of pages to go through here, but I AM DOING IT

Make it a great day!

KCP

https://virtublog.wordpress.com/2015/09/22/what-does-yeast-candida-related-acne-look-like/

This accurately describes my issue. Have you tried anti fungals?

On 8/6/2022 at 9:22 PM, EdenMT said:

I have this. Started after I got a Mirena IUD put in and then my husband died. I was definitely drinking too much ass well. It cleared 50% when the Mirena was removed but a year on my skin still reacts this way on my jaw line back of neck ect ect. Never had ecne before. Some morgellons slides look like it but most don't. Have tried fungal creams and everything. I know it was triggered by birth contro,l stress, some alcohol maybe. It im proved drastically immediately when I had the Mirena removed. This partially healed one afte a got out of the shower and wiped the dissolved scab off it. They aren't as bad.

Yours looks exactly like mine. It's not Malassezia or any other critter, it's like keratin, almost fingernail-hard at the tips. It heals slowly and scales a lot if I don't pull them out. It seems to heal quickly if I get them all. I really don't think it's sebum either, because my most recent clusters were in my inner elbow, not face or back.

I believe it is some form of hyperkeratotic plugs, but I don't know for sure. I wish I could have the plugs themselves examined by an expert. I read that doctors consider it a sign of being a crackpot though if you bring in "samples," so I don't lol.

@Laura123and @Kiki RN- thanks for sharing all the info.
Thanks to all actually actually, there are likely many different issues b/w all of us, I appreciate the help and info.

I do believe yeast and/or fungal is my issue. Thing is, i have been to 3 different derms over the last 2+ years and this has never once been suggested. The suggestions some have posted are so mild and not invasive (otc creams, nizoral, etc) that I dont understand why a doctor would not suggest it?? It might not help, but these products are meant to be used on skin and tested for safety, surely it wont lead to a complete destruction of pores or anything if someone uses it and DOESNT have a fungal issue.

The last derm gave me antibiotics, and I was told stop any other active products on my face, just vanicream face wash and very mild moisturizer. Nothing else.

I did this for about 2 months, and at first, things did not get worse. No improvement but I maintained patience.
this is the weird part -when my first prescription ran out, a refill was so expensive unless I went to one specific pharmacy that was way out of the way. Since it wasnt helping anyways, I just figured Id wait until my next derm appt. Thats when my face went from bad to worsethere were odd white lesions in places that did NOT come on due to picking existing acne. But they didnt burn, just looked terrible. I no longer had noticeable plugs, and it didnt seem to be inside a pore but instead, a patch of tissue wld be affected, like eczema or something.

Its getting worse at the moment. DARK spots seem to appear out of nothing, while the white lesions cycle through seeming to heal but returning.

And on top of this, I have the more typical congested pores and blackheads bc Im was not using anything like retinol or salicylic as a standard routine.

So yea, im back to ignoring my last derm, using treatments I am finding online like here and looking for another derm.

Adding some pics here (if it works)

On 5/19/2020 at 3:27 AM, Busymomof4 said:

Finally some comfort knowing that I am not insane or just a "stressed picker". I have been dealing with this for 1year and 1month. I have been to 4 different doctors. All 4 said that it was in my head and not to pick. My face, neck, back, and arms have all been effected. I have sores and scars. I am a 44 years old and I never had an acne problem. Not even when I was a teenager. I spent every day of the last year reading and searching the internet for an answer. 

There are thousands of possibilities and it is quite overwhelming. I felt that the key to this was the white plugs. Once they are removed, my sores will heal. The sores itch like crazy and bleed until the white spots were removed.... Boom instant relief. I have to agree with this being fungal. I have searched parasites, bacteria, mold/fungus... I have checked into morgellons. I have pictures documenting my journey and at least 30,000 screenshots of my research online. Since I can't find a doctor to listen to me, I knew that I was on my own. 

I know that I look like a methhead walking in public, but I have never tried meth or any other type of drug. I have offered to take a drug test for the doctors. It's absolutely ridiculous that no blood tests, skin scraping, nothing.... I have been completely dismissed as it being a "mental issue". 

Each time I searched, I have been coming back to fungal. I have been taking a shot of apple cider vinegar daily for a week and I have noticed an improvement. I also shower daily using baking soda. 

I am going to share some of the pictures I have taken. 

I added the photo of my face without any sores to show how horrible this has been on my skin ... My face literally exploded with the sores April 2019.

I've been dealing with this since the fall of 2019. That summer my daughter played a week long softball tournament in Myrtle Beach.  It was ungodly hot/humid. We spent up to 16 hours outside. I showered twice daily but to no avail upon returning home I ended up with a yeast infection under my breasts. After that cleared I was left with these little brown bumps under both breasts.  I have never had acne and barely any breakouts my whole life.  So you can imagine my shock with my face erupted with these types of sores that just would not fully heal. I found some other info about it being a possible yeast infection and began washing my face 2x a day with Selenium Sulphide shampoo. This seemed to do the trick.  However by spring of 2020 by upper arms and chest began to break out exactly like I had experienced on my face.  It has now traveled down both arms, my abdomen and both legs.  My limbs are usually bilaterally affected. Although this time there are far more "sores" in my left arm than my right.  Also, when they do heal it's not like a normal wound.  It scans completely different, and leaves behind an odd, scaly hyper-pigmented scar.  Any future flare ups occur either in the same previous location or adjacent to it. Lastly, sometimes it appears that the sores seem to have a "track" that connects them which turns it into one big sore. 

It is humiliating to go out in public for people to stare at you & avoid you. I have started becoming a recluse, avoiding all family functions (if I can get away with it) and only going to stores when during no peak hours. When I can't do either of those things I do the best I can to color correct and conceal. 

 I don't know if anyone else experiences this but it seems to come in waves and mostly goes dormant in the cooler fall months & winter.  The first sign of plentiful sunlight & warmer weather it begins to flare up again. 
 

In closing, I should note that I do have an auto-immune disease.  I was diagnosed at then of 2009. In 2010, I began treatment with 70mg of Prednisone daily for almost 9 months. During that time I had chronic yeast infections which I have tried to explain all of this to the doctors. But they either don't have time to listen or have already formed a diagnosis upon the first glance at my skin. I have seen several dermatologists who have labeled me a chronic picker, told me to see a psychiatrist because it's a psychological issue, ran "secret" drug screens etc... They gave me antibiotic lotions, ointments, steroid creams and oral antibiotics because I ended up with a secondary infection. Every time I have mentioned a systematic yeast infection I am immediately dismissed.  At any rate, My arms look just like yours. I am so sorry that you too are dealing with this but I cannot help to find comfort in knowing I am not alone. 

Note: I have some pictures to upload, can it only be completed through a url? 

On 5/19/2020 at 3:27 AM, Busymomof4 said:

Finally some comfort knowing that I am not insane or just a "stressed picker". I have been dealing with this for 1year and 1month. I have been to 4 different doctors. All 4 said that it was in my head and not to pick. My face, neck, back, and arms have all been effected. I have sores and scars. I am a 44 years old and I never had an acne problem. Not even when I was a teenager. I spent every day of the last year reading and searching the internet for an answer. 

There are thousands of possibilities and it is quite overwhelming. I felt that the key to this was the white plugs. Once they are removed, my sores will heal. The sores itch like crazy and bleed until the white spots were removed.... Boom instant relief. I have to agree with this being fungal. I have searched parasites, bacteria, mold/fungus... I have checked into morgellons. I have pictures documenting my journey and at least 30,000 screenshots of my research online. Since I can't find a doctor to listen to me, I knew that I was on my own. 

I know that I look like a methhead walking in public, but I have never tried meth or any other type of drug. I have offered to take a drug test for the doctors. It's absolutely ridiculous that no blood tests, skin scraping, nothing.... I have been completely dismissed as it being a "mental issue". 

Each time I searched, I have been coming back to fungal. I have been taking a shot of apple cider vinegar daily for a week and I have noticed an improvement. I also shower daily using baking soda. 

I am going to share some of the pictures I have taken. 

I added the photo of my face without any sores to show how horrible this has been on my skin ... My face literally exploded with the sores April 2019.

8 minutes ago, BucketPinata said:

I've been dealing with this since the fall of 2019. That summer my daughter played a week long softball tournament in Myrtle Beach.  It was ungodly hot/humid. We spent up to 16 hours outside. I showered twice daily but to no avail upon returning home I ended up with a yeast infection under my breasts. After that cleared I was left with these little brown bumps under both breasts.  I have never had acne and barely any breakouts my whole life.  So you can imagine my shock with my face erupted with these types of sores that just would not fully heal. I found some other info about it being a possible yeast infection and began washing my face 2x a day with Selenium Sulphide shampoo. This seemed to do the trick.  However by spring of 2020 by upper arms and chest began to break out exactly like I had experienced on my face.  It has now traveled down both arms, my abdomen and both legs.  My limbs are usually bilaterally affected. Although this time there are far more "sores" in my left arm than my right.  Also, when they do heal it's not like a normal wound.  It scans completely different, and leaves behind an odd, scaly hyper-pigmented scar.  Any future flare ups occur either in the same previous location or adjacent to it. Lastly, sometimes it appears that the sores seem to have a "track" that connects them which turns it into one big sore. 

It is humiliating to go out in public for people to stare at you & avoid you. I have started becoming a recluse, avoiding all family functions (if I can get away with it) and only going to stores when during no peak hours. When I can't do either of those things I do the best I can to color correct and conceal. 

 I don't know if anyone else experiences this but it seems to come in waves and mostly goes dormant in the cooler fall months & winter.  The first sign of plentiful sunlight & warmer weather it begins to flare up again. 
 

In closing, I should note that I do have an auto-immune disease.  I was diagnosed at then of 2009. In 2010, I began treatment with 70mg of Prednisone daily for almost 9 months. During that time I had chronic yeast infections which I have tried to explain all of this to the doctors. But they either don't have time to listen or have already formed a diagnosis upon the first glance at my skin. I have seen several dermatologists who have labeled me a chronic picker, told me to see a psychiatrist because it's a psychological issue, ran "secret" drug screens etc... They gave me antibiotic lotions, ointments, steroid creams and oral antibiotics because I ended up with a secondary infection. Every time I have mentioned a systematic yeast infection I am immediately dismissed.  At any rate, My arms look just like yours. I am so sorry that you too are dealing with this but I cannot help to find comfort in knowing I am not alone. 

I forgot to add I even bought I microscope. Although I have no idea what I am looking at and did try to Google. I had quite a bit my photos taken with the microscope however it seems I've deleted them. Probably did it during a fit of frustration. Maybe they are backed up to my iCloud. 

Not only have I mentioned a systemic yeast infection but questioned about mites and or some other parasitic infection that has cutaneous manifestations. The doctors wouldn't even entertain the ideas. 
 

I hope people are still active in this thread

This one is for you Harry.

You have done a great job with historical research, and I really liked the role you played in the movie Skin Deep The Battle For Morgellons. In your article,

https://thecehf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Morgellons_anexerciseinmedicalvalidationbyHarryQuinnSchone1.pdf

You state, "When all attempts at legitimisation have failed, the collective solidarity of sufferers leaves them one last plane on which to find acceptance on their own terms. This is an area in which medicine becomes irrelevant, the very emotional zone of knowing that your suffering is not solitary, and the limited comfort that this knowledge brings."

May I suggest that you look at any online support group for any illness, and I guarantee you, you will find exact same sentiment - and it certainly doesn't equate to failed "legistimisation", "acceptance", or a "last plane". I dare you to find one illness (that has enough sufferers that there are online supports) where fellow sufferer's do not express compassion and empathy for each other. Would you not see those statements (compassion) on "legitimized" Cancer patients/support sites? How about with ligit Heart Disease patients - can those statements be found there too? How about Lupus? IDK, is that now a "legitimisation" illness? I'd love to see any of those stats.

And medicine, is never irrelevant in any of those conversations or expressions. I ask you to take a second look at why that paragraph may be derogatory, degrading, and misleading. What do I know, I'm just emotional - right? I am honestly jealous of the vacuum you live in.

Don't get me wrong - I'm just challenging your thinking, not your intentions. An easy way to self-check as to if you are discriminating, is to ask yourself - am I applying a set of standards to one, that I would not, or that I could not, apply to all.

On 3/29/2019 at 9:31 PM, BitaloBhudey said:

The question is can EVERYONE of you swear on your MOTHER'S life you're not on dope? Lol bc I've used dope and this shit happened to me on a daily basis and I picked and picked bc dope is created using a special fungus so if you use it to get high it will infect your skin. No offense to anyone who might have actual dermatology issues, but science proves that the majority, NOT ALL, but the majority of ppl with these white plugs and skins issues are ppl abusing methamphetamines or even super greasy foods. Just saying. Maybe cut a certain habit outta your life and you'll see improvement. Kinda like me cutting out pill and alcohol use outta my life on top of switching to organic foods has eliminated all these strange reactions within my body.

Wow, Are you really serious right now? Your going to really say that to people, oh can everyone of you swear on your mothers life that you are not on dope You dont know what people are going through or dealing with, these people are trying to find legit answers to what this issue is and how to stop it. I mean do you even know what is all considered to be Dope or are you just saying it to try and be funny, yet just sounding ignorant! Then you say that the majority of people that have these little white plugs and skin issues abuse methamphetamines. Again do you know?

BiochemistryEdit

• Dope, a slang word for a euphoria-producing drug, particularly:
  • Cocaine
  • Cannabis
  • Heroin
  • Opium
    Why Cannabis would even be in that group is beyond ridiculous, but regardless that should be switched withmethamphetamines!! While YES, it is true that a lot of people do use these drugs and the ones they doespecially the heroin and methamphetamines (which there is a lot of now a days in the world, just like there is a lot of people who dont)have sores and pick! Usually pick at nothing, turning nothing into something serious! For you to just say that and assume thats what all these people on here have is wrong of you to do! You do see the first word is ASS-ume correct? Thats what you look like right now! You say that andthen single out like dope is only methamphetamines, Maybe think to yourself and realize that just because you were one of these Meth Junkies and you had this same issue, that not everyone is you! There is many people with unfortunate skin issues/problems and it doesnt automatically make them dope users as you put it.JUST SAYING Also research some things on Acne Myths, you might learn something!

On 4/13/2019 at 1:01 AM, Aussie Scientist said:

You might have to use anti-fungal cream for the rest of your life, if your malasezzia and/or candida are caused by taking antibiotics. Having said that, you will know when the problem is under control as your skin will look "normal". I would keep applying topical anti-fungals for some weeks after your skin looks normal.

Take the dosage pf nystatin that is on the Nilstat bottle of liquid for mouth thrush, or the number of tablets specified on the container for gut candida (thrush is candida). You swish the liquid around your mouth and swallow it. Nystatin is very saoe. Oral nystin will NOT control skin candida, as nystatin does not leave the gut (the nystatin molecule is too large to go through the gut wall).

Which country are you in ? I can send brand names of anti-fungals to you, when I know which country you are in.

Do you have dandruff or a white tongue, or both? the first thing is to work out whether you have candida (painful/itchy red skin, nodules, cysts, "pimples", ingrown hairs, infected hairs, etc., cracks at corner of mouth, white tongue, sometimes headaches, tiredness etc) or malassezia (itchy spots, nodules, sometimes cysts, ingrown infected hairs, flaking skin, "pimples", dandruff, sebborrheic dermatitis). Malasezzia does not get into one's gut; candida does. Nystatin cream is best for skin candida (although clotrimazole will have some effect). Terbenafine cream is best for malasezzia. Also, shampoo with climbazole (not to be confused with clotrimazole) if you have malassezzia - I can give you brand names depending on which country you are in.

Use 0.5% hydrocortisone cream and/or cream or spray with lignocaine/lidicaine with the anti-fungal cream on your skin, for a few days (not for too long) to stop the inflammation. Candida make prostiglandins which cause inflammation and help the candida to colonise and attack skin. It is necessary to use topical, anti-inflammatory cream/gel for a while to stop the inflammation, while you are killing the candida, to let one's skin recover. Hydrocortisone (like all cortocosteroids) decreases one's own immune response, so don't use it for too long (0.5% hydrocortisone is safe to use for a short while, including on one's face for a while). Lignocaine/lidocaine cream can be dangerous if overused (but OK to use for a short while on not too large areas of skin - read the instructions).

Wash you skin with an anti-bacterial wash - one with chorhexadine is the best, while you have candida and/or malasezzia on your skin, to prevent secondary bacterial infections such as golden staph!! Don't touch infected areas of skin without twice washing your hands first and especially NEVER touch your nose and then touch your skin. Most people carry staph in their nose. Use a different towel to dry affected areas. Wash the towel frequently.

Do NOT use moisturiser on areas of ski affected by candida or malassezia, as malasezzia feeds on organic oils in moisturisers, and both candida and malassezia flourish on moist skin. Dust your skin (not your face if you are going to be seen in public !) with cornflour (maize flour) after showering and after applying anti-fungal cream.

I am not convinced that candida travels to one's skin from one's gut. I think it simultaneously "erupts" in both places, following the destruction of good bacteria by antibiotics. Candida attacks organs in people whose immune systems are seriously compromised from HIV or chemotherapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1797637/; https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/docserver/fulltext/jmm/62/1/10_jmm045054.pdf?expires=1555134469&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=C511DF1A40A71D4E6956FA61264902BB.

Candida does not generally attack the organs in people who are healthy and whose immune systems are not seriously compromised (so don't worry), as our immune systems fight the candida. But, after taking antibiotics, our immune systems are compromised to some extent (not as much as in people with HIV etc) by the loss of the good bacteria, and hence candida erupts on skin and sometimesi one's gut. The signs of having an eruption of gut candida are tiredness, headaches, feelings of disorientation. If you don't have those symptoms, then you probably just have a skin candida problem (if you have a skin symptoms of candida and a white tongue) or a skin malasezzia problem (if you have skin symptoms of malasezia and dandruff, flaking skin).

Re diet - avoid dairy products, (yeast or mushroom products - yes, I know that seems weird, and I did not believe it for a while, but I think it is true because candida sensitises one to all fungal species) and gluten (because gluten is inflammatory). Yeast is a fungus. In my experience, it is not possible to fix a skin candida (or malasezzia) problem with diet, but the wrong diet can make the problem worse. Some vitamins, herbs and foods do possibly help - pau d'arco, magnolia bark, turmeric, berberine (tastes dreadful!), quercetin, mangosteen, vitamin B3, undeconoic acid, coconut oil....

 

On 4/13/2019 at 1:01 AM, Aussie Scientist said:

You might have to use anti-fungal cream for the rest of your life, if your malasezzia and/or candida are caused by taking antibiotics. Having said that, you will know when the problem is under control as your skin will look "normal". I would keep applying topical anti-fungals for some weeks after your skin looks normal.

Take the dosage pf nystatin that is on the Nilstat bottle of liquid for mouth thrush, or the number of tablets specified on the container for gut candida (thrush is candida). You swish the liquid around your mouth and swallow it. Nystatin is very saoe. Oral nystin will NOT control skin candida, as nystatin does not leave the gut (the nystatin molecule is too large to go through the gut wall).

Which country are you in ? I can send brand names of anti-fungals to you, when I know which country you are in.

Do you have dandruff or a white tongue, or both? the first thing is to work out whether you have candida (painful/itchy red skin, nodules, cysts, "pimples", ingrown hairs, infected hairs, etc., cracks at corner of mouth, white tongue, sometimes headaches, tiredness etc) or malassezia (itchy spots, nodules, sometimes cysts, ingrown infected hairs, flaking skin, "pimples", dandruff, sebborrheic dermatitis). Malasezzia does not get into one's gut; candida does. Nystatin cream is best for skin candida (although clotrimazole will have some effect). Terbenafine cream is best for malasezzia. Also, shampoo with climbazole (not to be confused with clotrimazole) if you have malassezzia - I can give you brand names depending on which country you are in.

Use 0.5% hydrocortisone cream and/or cream or spray with lignocaine/lidicaine with the anti-fungal cream on your skin, for a few days (not for too long) to stop the inflammation. Candida make prostiglandins which cause inflammation and help the candida to colonise and attack skin. It is necessary to use topical, anti-inflammatory cream/gel for a while to stop the inflammation, while you are killing the candida, to let one's skin recover. Hydrocortisone (like all cortocosteroids) decreases one's own immune response, so don't use it for too long (0.5% hydrocortisone is safe to use for a short while, including on one's face for a while). Lignocaine/lidocaine cream can be dangerous if overused (but OK to use for a short while on not too large areas of skin - read the instructions).

Wash you skin with an anti-bacterial wash - one with chorhexadine is the best, while you have candida and/or malasezzia on your skin, to prevent secondary bacterial infections such as golden staph!! Don't touch infected areas of skin without twice washing your hands first and especially NEVER touch your nose and then touch your skin. Most people carry staph in their nose. Use a different towel to dry affected areas. Wash the towel frequently.

Do NOT use moisturiser on areas of ski affected by candida or malassezia, as malasezzia feeds on organic oils in moisturisers, and both candida and malassezia flourish on moist skin. Dust your skin (not your face if you are going to be seen in public !) with cornflour (maize flour) after showering and after applying anti-fungal cream.

I am not convinced that candida travels to one's skin from one's gut. I think it simultaneously "erupts" in both places, following the destruction of good bacteria by antibiotics. Candida attacks organs in people whose immune systems are seriously compromised from HIV or chemotherapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1797637/; https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/docserver/fulltext/jmm/62/1/10_jmm045054.pdf?expires=1555134469&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=C511DF1A40A71D4E6956FA61264902BB.

Candida does not generally attack the organs in people who are healthy and whose immune systems are not seriously compromised (so don't worry), as our immune systems fight the candida. But, after taking antibiotics, our immune systems are compromised to some extent (not as much as in people with HIV etc) by the loss of the good bacteria, and hence candida erupts on skin and sometimesi one's gut. The signs of having an eruption of gut candida are tiredness, headaches, feelings of disorientation. If you don't have those symptoms, then you probably just have a skin candida problem (if you have a skin symptoms of candida and a white tongue) or a skin malasezzia problem (if you have skin symptoms of malasezia and dandruff, flaking skin).

Re diet - avoid dairy products, (yeast or mushroom products - yes, I know that seems weird, and I did not believe it for a while, but I think it is true because candida sensitises one to all fungal species) and gluten (because gluten is inflammatory). Yeast is a fungus. In my experience, it is not possible to fix a skin candida (or malasezzia) problem with diet, but the wrong diet can make the problem worse. Some vitamins, herbs and foods do possibly help - pau d'arco, magnolia bark, turmeric, berberine (tastes dreadful!), quercetin, mangosteen, vitamin B3, undeconoic acid, coconut oil....

 

Hi AussieScientist!
Irealize you posted this years ago so this is a long shot regarding whether I hear back from how.
However, youobviously have a wealth of knowledge and understanding on this topic & well, I am painfully desperate to discover whats going on with my skin. I have the white plugs that hurt until they satisfyingly come out it is such a relief when they do I nearly cry because its out of me. I have experienced these blemishes (thats what I call them so I dont feel TOTALLY disgusted with myself because calling it a blemish is putting it VERY mildly.)

These lesions do not heal. Even when they do I know that right underneath where it healed the oozy, painful, white stretchy plugs are waiting literally a crack away (if the skin gets dry). Once the area opens again its all over. Immediately I can see all of the little white pinheads and often times the absolute NECESSITY to GET THEM OUT causes me to feel like I am not even in control of myself. I need to heal. I want this GONE. I never had an issue with my skin never ever(!!!) until my 30s. This is when I started noticing cystic acne & even went to several dermatologists about the suffering that caused. While I dont experience painful under the skin cysts anymore I do get a painful white head- I can think I can get rid of the pain by popping it and then I will! It always seems like a clean pop. But NO. Festering underneath what is posing as your average every day ( Al being ANGRY) ripe whitehead is a plethora of white dots. Sometimes theyre large and even a bit pussy or seemingly infected themselves other times they are hard and painful to dig out but I genuinely become DESPERATE to rid myself of the pain & stinging twinges, the itchiness, & the overall extreme sensitivity in the area where ever they are happens to be located. My chin, for example has had an open sore on it for almost a YEAR now. Please help if you can. I am a mental health therapist in the US & I am embarrassed in front of the individuals I go into session with trying to help them. I feel likewow! They are definitely staring & wondering what the heck is wrong with their therapists face! How can I ensure I am giving the best therapeutic care to them possible when that thought consumes me. What if it makes them uncomfortable? This isnt something makeup can cover without making it even more noticeable still, I try. Bc well, like I said. Its mortifying.

I hope you see this response I would be happy to send photos of the areas or answer any additional questions for ANY chance at help with this debilitating issue.

I appreciate you

Embarrassed in Texas