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Our condition is horrible. What docs say?
oh I'm so sorry, sending all the love hope this thread helps you find the cure
but yeah, excelent pictures, thats exactly how my wounds look!
update: vichy dercos is still working for me, face is almost 100% clear, have been washing it daily with the antifungal shampoo, chest is still having a problem, I havent been as diligent, it got better for a while and I stopped using it and now its back, lesson learned will use it for a good while after the skin clears
Also there is different antifungal ingredients that kill different types of yeast so if one is not working try another. But if youre not seeing any improvement after trying some of the products listed on this boardthan maybe its something else?
El Bolillo, I think everyone is wondering if youve gotten any better? I hope so and quickly that looks so painful! Share any news or information, we all understand what youre going through!
Hi I too have this same issue. I've researched and researched. The best thing I've came up with is the dermatitis mites. I've actually looked at the white plugs under a microscope and if you look closely they have tiny spikes on one end. These are the facial mites which our skin naturally have to keep bacteria down. They feed off our sebaceous oil glands. Also, I have cats and I believe it has something to do with them. And not to burst anyones bubble but I also do meth. So it's a combination of all of the above mentioned comments. Peroxide and alcohol work wonders. You still have to pull them out. Anyways I just wanted to put my 2 cents in.
Hello All!
An update since my first post in August.
I think I can safely say I have finally found lasting relief/cure/preventative measures.
Though there may be a lot of similarities we are not all suffering from the same thing.
We're here either desperately searching for relief and a cure or we have found something [that works for us] and don't want others to suffer as we have. Here is a list (and photo for you visualizers) of what prescriptions and products that has cleared up this issue for me after 5-6 years.
Scripts:
Spironolactone 100MG twice a day
Valacyclovir 1 gram a day
Tretinoin 3x a week
Clindamycin daily
Ketoconazole as a face wash as needed for dryness
Over the counter:
La Roche-Posay Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Hydrating Cleanser
Tarte Knockout Exfoliating Cleanser
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
The Ordinary Buffet
Cerave PM Lotion (NO SPF)
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Essano Clear Complexion Toner
I do not promote picking at anything, ever. For myself this sore with plugs would not heal until the plugs were out by whatever means.
For context I was on these products alone for two years with minimal help: Spironolactone 100MG twice a day, Tretinoin 3x a week, and Clindamycin daily. It wasn't until the valacyclovir was introduced approx. 6 mos again that I have experienced complete relief.
Best of luck to all!
Photos attached are from my worst episode of this issue (more can be found on page 6) and of myself today in my office 100% healed.
I still have not been able to find any mainstream physicians that will even consider trying to make a proper diagnosis. I found an alternative clinic in Grand rapids Michigan called The Born clinic that was willing to think outside the box and is treating me with Diflucan orally 100 mg and ketoconazole shampoo topically, and I am almost all healed, I have only been on it for 2 and 1/2 Weeks and the difference is incredible. However depending on what medications I take or foods I eat I still have breakouts and figure that I will need to continue treatment for at least three more weeks before I feel safe considering stopping treatment. Thank you all for your comments.
I want to thank you all for putting your information on this very strange and debilitating subject out there. Ive been suffering with embedded fiberglass since January of 2019, and it seemed to have morphed into this whole candida/keratin deal. (Ive read every post and look forward to doing something a bit different for treatment) I agree that it doesnt seem to go away until you get the plug out and much of it works out to the surface but only after much stabbing pain, sensitivity, and itching, sleepless nights, embarrassing days, etc-you all know the story-makeup only burns, washing was becoming difficult because I couldnt rub, especially when the fiberglass was present. This is a serious problem and has affected my business, or at least me working it since I sell anti-aging and acne fighting skin care. How do you when your face looks like youve been doing mass amounts of drugs while going through puberty??!! I got a staph infection (cellulitis) and couldnt walk for two days, had something removed from my shoulder, dr thought it was cancer but couldnt tell me what it was because henever saw anything like it. It seems after almost a year, under much better control, and it heals quickly when I use my products, but its painful on the open wounds. Some of those (I refer to the big one -plug-the one that you get out that feels like a sliver of glass coming out of a deep cut, the Queen-once shes out,the area heals. Its definitely different than when I had the fiberglass. Its been hell, Ive fought with people over it, and the suffering is a lonely one. Its such a damn relief, to see you all here! I hope you all are having good healing progress!
Jaimie
Has anyone experienced this issue accompanied with excess fluid under the skin? I get these along with swelling in other areas of my body. When touching the swollen areas it feels like a thick fluid that I can move around with my hand.
I have had severe swelling and liquid under my lessions the whole time and it gets worse once you start treatment and the Malassesia fungus start dying. I believe that the swelling and liquid are an immunal or histamine response to either the fungus in general or the dying of the fungus. Staph infections are common with this condition and can slow down your limphatic system, causing additional liquid in the skin.
Also food for thought, secondary staph infections can slow the healing and lymphatic system, however the only treatment I know of that is used for staph infections is antibiotics which will make the fungus grow faster, so you're basically in a catch-22.
Hey guys,
I've been following this thread for a few years as they started for me about 4 years ago when I took on a very stress job traveling cross country constantly @ 30.
Im now 34. During this time Ive seen multiple dermatologists & GP specialists and been diagnosed with SD, Hormonal Acne (PCOS), P&PRosacea (prescribed Soolantra)and Hypothyroidism, for which I take Armour thyroid meds daily.
Ive tried Dapsone for the hormonal acne, which did nothing, and also was on YAZ BC for a while.
YAZ seemed to help acne around my jaw and chin, but seemed to makemy SD and rosacea so much worse and also gave merecurring Yeast infections, so I had to stop.
Ive gone down the path of FA safe products due to the SD diagnosis and they DID help, but never truly addressed the lesions I would get similar to so many photos show here, namely Shoobers.
I was getting them in the exact same spots over and over: mountain peaks of lips, tip of nose, crease of chin (chin Identical to Shooberpics) and sometimes on my cheekbones or jawline( even sometimes in little clusters on the nape of my Neck). They would pop up seemingly overnight and Id get a tingle or twitching in the area 24 hours before.
I suspected HS-1, which my derm disagreed from clinical presentationbut gave me an RX for Acyclovir. Didnt ever seem to do much but topical and oral Lysine DID help.
They also thought it was Discoid Lupus as another poster was diagnosed but refused to do biopsy to confirm due to scarring risks.
Sun and stress make it worse, as does myDiet (anything high in Arginine like chocolate grains or Beer), so Im back to Lysine supplements and trying Valacyclovir daily to get the sores under control as other other areas of my skin are healthy and heeling.
What Im getting at is I know for sure my skin situation is a combo of diagnosis not mutually exclusive of each other and there will never be one silver bullet. 4 years ago I rapidly ran down my immune system and adrenals with no regard for the consequences and the repair will not be overnight.Getting my hormones and inflammation under control (stress, food triggers like dairy)+ treatment for the rosacea is working, so hopefully the antiviral will be the final key to healing.
And NO PICKING - seriously!
Shout outto @Shoober for the detailed pics and story.
Hopefully sharing my experience can help someone else work through this.
17 hours ago, Shoober said:Lymphomatoid papulosis might be good research for some here.
Doesn't seem to mention plugs but that could be a secondary issue?
Looks a lot different from my personal issues but I believe a few people here could benefit from theread.
You're absolutely right.
On 7/18/2019 at 4:36 AM, DiorDymondz said:Posting to come back later. Ive finally found a corner of the internet with shared symptoms. Incredible.
Posting to come back later. Ive finally found a corner of the internet with shared symptoms. Incredible.
4 minutes ago, Redwine said:
Posting to come back later. Ive finally found a corner of the internet with shared symptoms. Incredible.
How do you delete posts? Sorry for the sloppy post above with the erroneous quote.
Okay, so I have a minute to chime in here.
3 years ago I began experiencing oral herpes (cold sores) in very bad outbreaks that would recur often. Until I knew how to manage them and not to pick at them, I often made them worse. They have stopped in frequency and severity over the past 3 years (as my immune response has gotten better) and now when I do get them they are essentially small spots that are barely visible for a day or two. Not the weeks at a time of 3 years ago. I recall when I was picking at them years back that I could dig down into the skin removing the top layer and I would see these same white plugs in the flesh.
Fastforward to this year and I have been alleviated of my cold sores around the lips, but they are now prominent and recurring in the nasal area. That meaning under the nose but above the lip, on the sides ortipof my OUTER nasal passage,and even at times on my forehead. Ive even had a case or two of herpetic whitlow on my fore finger, and probably 5 or 6genetical outbreaks since 2017. These do not occur often and they disappear fairly quickly.
Until I discovered Demodex mites, fungal skin infections, Staph possibilities in the nose, etc - a lot from reading this thread - I always assumed I had a rare, rehabilitating case of oro-facialHSV. I still believe this may be the cause. In picking at my nasal sores which I tend to do when I get fed up with the prolonged healing time, I have seen these same white spots as depicted in this thread. They can be extracted but cause heavy bleeding for a short period, and then the crater is left to heal over a period of many weeks. Its easy to disrupt the healing process at anytime by picking at it and then the clock is essentially reset on recovery.
Herpes is very often self diagnosed, and so I have not officially gotten tested to see what type I have (HSV-1,2, of GHSV-1,2) but I do plan to. I strongly encourage everybody in this thread suffering from this to be tested for HSV and any other potential STD that can cause lesions on the skin.
I do feel that I almost have a hyperactive, antiviral resistant strain of Herpes due to antivirals (generic Valtrex) not doing much to alleviate or prevent symptoms over the course of this year. I have since gotten off of these to allow my immune system to try and stop them itself, much like they did with my cold sores. However, it seems like by now an immune response should have shown effectiveness at this point. Ive seen very little stoppage in the recurrence rate of my outbreaks. Its been rehabilitating and socially crippling.
This dilemma has led me to researching other causes for my skin issues because typical herpes lesions (such as my cold sores and genital outbreaks) heal rather promptly as they normally should in any healthy individual. But the nasal sores persist, and are extremely stubborn. They present, itch, ooze, and react just like other skin herpes, so that is my primary assumption. But the prolonged healing still has me questioning things.
Any insight or help would be appreciated. I take Lysine, which seems to help when a sore first begins to appear. I stopped antivirals. I also take Turmeric and a multivitamin.
One peculiar case with myself is that I can, at essentially anytime, see small white spots (such as plugs) protruding through my skin that resemble dry skin. When I squeeze my nose, they tend to jet out just like the stiff spiky plugs seen in an open sore as discussed in this thread. Clear fluid can also be seen secreting from otherwise blemish free skin. Enough picking and clearing of these annoying little white spots can sometimes cause that area of my nose to remain red for days, and even begin to crust even where there is no true sore present.
Essentially it feels like my ENTIRE nose is CONSTANTLY infected with herpes outbreaks, and to avoid visible lesions I have to completely avoid touching it or messing with my skin for any reason. On top of that, there are also true lesions that will be exhibited at any given time, with maybe a full week over the course of 2020 where I had no visible symptoms. I get nearly daily prodrome itching, which seems to be worsened by light (not just sunlight) and obviously scratching only makes things worse.
Again, Im looking for solutions like everybody else. But I strongly encourage all in this thread to be tested for HSV.
On 12/30/2020 at 7:24 AM, Redwine said:Any insight or help would be appreciated. I take Lysine, which seems to help when a sore first begins to appear. I stopped antivirals. I also take Turmeric and a multivitamin.
I have not tried this product myself but wanted to share the link for those still looking for relief as it may be worth a shot...
Some more information for those of you who have accepted the suggestion of a fungal secondary infection Malassesia, which so far is about the only condition that I have found that creates the carotene plugs, your liver regulates vitamin a which is evidently crucial in the creation of carotene, after much research and being almost completely healed from 6 weeks of diflucan treatment, I have also ascertained that blood sugar levels can drastically increase or decrease both healing and infection levels, since fungus feeds off the sugar in the blood. I also found out that I have vitamin a toxicity and the doctors do not think that is coming from my intake, it may be coming from the fungus in my skin, so these are two things that can contribute to skin lesions, as well as secondary staph infections from just having open wounds, I have been using alcohol on my skin even the open sores to try to limit the amount of staff, I am taking probiotics to try to boost my bacterial response to the fungus, and I have had to stop taking multivitamins and take individual due to the vitamin a toxicity. I know everybody's situation is unique but here is some more information that may be helpful.
3 hours ago, El Bolillo said:Some more information for those of you who have accepted the suggestion of a fungal secondary infection Malassesia, which so far is about the only condition that I have found that creates the carotene plugs, your liver regulates vitamin a which is evidently crucial in the creation of carotene, after much research and being almost completely healed from 6 weeks of diflucan treatment, I have also ascertained that blood sugar levels can drastically increase or decrease both healing and infection levels, since fungus feeds off the sugar in the blood. I also found out that I have vitamin a toxicity and the doctors do not think that is coming from my intake, it may be coming from the fungus in my skin, so these are two things that can contribute to skin lesions, as well as secondary staph infections from just having open wounds, I have been using alcohol on my skin even the open sores to try to limit the amount of staff, I am taking probiotics to try to boost my bacterial response to the fungus, and I have had to stop taking multivitamins and take individual due to the vitamin a toxicity. I know everybody's situation is unique but here is some more information that may be helpful.
Thank you for sharing your personal experienced with us. You also got a point.
So these carotene / keratin plugs are basically an under studied symptom right? The medical community really doesnt understand them or how to prevent them? It seems bizarre to me that enough people havent showed these symptoms to warrant further understanding or study. They emerge and present differently from the skin. I can push my nose (where typical filament and sebaceous pus or white heads will emerge), but in addition to the stuff everybody gets and knows, if its in the infected area, I will see these plugs. Often times they shoot straight out like an in grown hair, but theyre translucent almost with a tinge of yellow/clear sheen to them. Most often cylindrical in shape. They almost seem alive. Some are bigger than others. Also you dont always see them set in the skin. Often you will see the head and know you can get to them. But sometimes just pushing on the skin will cause unseen white plugs to shoot out. Its like theyre constantly under the skin waiting to be unleashed. Its insane and disgusting.
I cant even tell you the comfort I felt when first finding this post topic. Ive been dealing with the same for close to 10 yrs. Ihavea life long antibiotic history and doctors have not been able to help at all. Ive taken the suggestions above. The clomotrozal cream has helped the best, but not much. I tried getting oral nystatin and my doc would only prescribe fluconozal which pushed some tiny white plugs out of my nose and such, but didnt touch my sores. Aussie Scientist, I would be more than grateful if you had any additional suggestions. I appreciate everyones input, thank you.
History- Skin is completely clear everywhere except these plug sores. Ive had chronic constipation and stomach issues for the last 10 yrs. Brain fog and fatigue more recently. Took antibiotics a few months ago. Im currently using a sulfer shampoo and dandruff conditioner on my hair (do not have dandruff though) And Im using a charcoal face wash, silver sol toner and clometrozel 1% foot cream morning andnight.
I tried the rosacea supplement someone suggested, as well as the Iodine supplement. Neither has worked. Iodine supplement made them extremely bad and it looked like they were going to heal, and then came back with a vengeance. I appreciate the help, thank you!
I have finally gotten some pics that are not all blurry. Usually my white plugs are individual like other pics shown. That clump came out so I used my new improved photography skills to capture how warty it looks.
I am constantly looking at derm photos trying to find something that matches. That's when I come back to this thread, go back over the photos and posts. You guys are the closest image matches I have found.
I have learned a lot here. I think I can tell now when I get a secondary fungal or bacterial infection. I feel that I have cleared those, or recognize when they recur. Rarely am I itchy or in pain now. I am reading up on dermatillomania in case I have traumatized my skin and caused all this.
I use hydrocolloidal bandaids when the wound isn't too weepy. Sometimes though they just seem to make things worse.
The photo of my right side has red areas that I am sure will start breaking open again soon if I can't stop them. Getting pretty good results from the sulpher ointment. I am also using a clay based sulfur mask as a spot treatment on the red new emerging areas and getting help from that I think.
Shoober, are you still feeling like you found your answer? Skin staying healed?
Thanks to all who are sharing.
Im so dismayed. Ive gone longer than I have all last year without any spots so far in 2021, however I have had a lingering spot right at the tip of my nose Ive been trying to let heal. It can go three or four days getting less visible by using Gold Bond moisturizing cream and carefully plucking at any flaky skin surrounding it. But it seems just as it begins to fully heal it will roughen up around the edges and cause some sort of circle surrounding the inflamed red skin. This drives me nuts as it is clearly visible under close examination. So I often hinder the healing by plucking away at dry flaky skin until I begin pinching at the area and I witness new plugs emerge. They are extremely small in size but I can tell by the way they exit the skin they are not the standard sebaceous filament plugs or white heads (I have these and I know the difference). But they emerge all within the circle and nearby outside of the perimeteras well. Some can be seen as little tiny white dots on my skin until theyre purged, others literally come up through the skin out of nowhere as I push and pinch. Based on trial and error with this over the past year, I am almost completely convinced that the skin will not 100% heal unless all of these little alien white spots are completely gone.
What I am dying to find out is if they somehow keep the virus/infection/whatever the hell this is alive by nearby proximity or contact if they remain in the skin. If that is the case, it would almost require a dermatology surgery or procedure to completely (or even 90%+) remove them.
The bright side is I have so much fewer than before and my only problem issue is the tip of my nose. Im not dealing with multiple sores, and the tip of my nose isnt even really a sore so much as it is pink skin that contrasts with the rest of my essentially clear face. Ive been applying rubbing alcohol to the spot post white alien spot removal, and then will Q Tip apply triple antibiotic ointment inside my nose and far back into my nasal cavity. Sometimes alcohol as well. Ill then wash my face with a vitamin C exfoliating moisturizer/cleanser and then keep prodding at it. When the skin is sufficiently moisturized, these white spots are much much easier to bring to the surface and extract.
I guess I need to just leave it alone completely for an extended period to see if the skin fully heals. I can go about 3 or 4 days without messing with it but I eventually case. By day 3 or 4 it seems to be 90% healed but I still have the flakey skin and that may be my own mistake in tampering with it. Perhaps it just needs the final layer of skin to heal over. The only thing is the white extractions are still accessible and reachable even at 90% healed which makes me worry that if it healed to 100%, it wouldnt mean that I still wouldnt have those white things under my skin.
Would that cause reoccurrence down the road? How do we eliminate it completely? What ARE THEY? Keratin plugs seem likely based on pictures but these are so small it almost feels like something else. They have a translucent sheen appearance, sometimes cylindrical, sometimes seedy looking (as if a hardened sebaceous plug), sometimes like a tiny flake of skin but barbed, etc.
I cannot accept that nobody in the modern history of medicine has not seen or examined these before and does not have a clear and definitive understanding of what they are or how they behave. Is it Staph? Dermatitis? Herpes as I previously thought? Maybe a extremely rare occurrence of herpes in the nasal region that presents differently? Traditionally herpes sores go away fairly quickly and that is the case with most common herpes symptoms that I do sometimes get. But these seem to stick around an obscenely long amount of time.
Its depressing to read so many others going through (similar? The exact same?) issues without help. It makes me feel like there is no hope and we are a small percentage of people who are unfortunately not being aided due to being such a niche group.
I can rant on this forever so Ill wrap it up but I would pay thousands of dollars to really understand the root cause of this and how to eliminate it.