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Me too Redwine, but I don't have dollars....I could offer a really good milk goat for a definitive answer though
My current leaning on mine is warts. Check out this oral wart pic:
In researching papilloma, filaform warts and HPV I have learned that the virus infiltrates through any skin break (a zit, razor cut, scrape, etc) then goes to the basal layer, enters the stem cells responsible for creating new cells and hi-jacks them. Those infected stem cells then start proliferation of weird cells.
This YouTube is 1:26 animation of wart education:
This YouTube is 4:56 and shows how hpv causes cancer, but it has good animations of what's going on at a cellular level:
On 1/19/2021 at 5:24 AM, Elbee said:Shoober, are you still feeling like you found your answer? Skin staying healed?
I'm satisfied withtreatment at the moment!
I have been sore/lesion/plug free since I started taking Valacyclovir in September.
14 hours ago, Redwine said: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.
Leave it be the best you can!
The best way I have found to remove dead flakey skin is with a microfiber cloth and coconut oil.
Coconut oil can clog the skin and has its advantages and disadvantages.
Unfortunately the tip of my nose is currently covered again. Ive been extra stressed lately. I wonder if stress triggers whatever this is? I know stress can cause viruses to flare.I have to say how incredibly depressing and distressing this is. I wish we werent all dealing with this.
There are some things that make them less red/inflamed, like the sulfur. But I feel like theyre just so deep in the skin, and it isnt possible for topicals to really reach them.Im going to start exploring the virus theory.
I definitely agree with leaving them alone until you have more solid answers. I dont even feel its worth it to pick at them anymore. They come right back, and I have a scar too...
Right now, Im leaning towards either virus or demodex. Ive been on strong, lengthy courses of both antibacterials and antifungals with no change. Has anyone tried those gentle topical wart removers (contain no acids or chemicals but some other ingredient thats anti-wart)?
Hey guys! I'vebeen reading this thread for a couple months and what I see described on here is the closest I've found to what I started developing in June 2020. Some of my lesions started itching at first then tojust erode away until you see multiple keratin-like plugs under and deep in the skin and won't heal at all until they're removed. It also feels like there is glass shards in there and that the plugs are almost rooted in the skin. I've tried everything for6-7 months and nothing gotthe lesions to fully heal with actual skin. It looked maybe 80-90% healed then it would get worse again with the plugs. The dermatologists didn't help either. I had some super deep wounds too.
But I'm really happy to say that I think I may have the cure! About a week ago my dad told me about water diluted withFiberlockShockwave and how it cured his warton the bottom of his foot in 3 days. I tried it because what did I have to loose? After 30 minutes of putting it on, my lesions started tightening up and drying out. I felt a pulsing inside almost like whatever was in there was getting killed. After a couple hours there was an ACTUAL scab over the wounds. I kept applying it everyday until a couple days ago most of the scabs came off and underneath was completely healed! No white plugs, no weird texture or flaking! Shockwave is a medical grade cleaner and kills ALOT of things from viruses like herpes(from what I read),staph,fungus andmold and goes through porous material like skin.
I don't know if everyone in this thread has the same thing but I would highly suggest using a strongly diluted mix of it using a q tip and dabbing it on the skin. Having these lesions really sucks both physically and mentally so I hope we all get through this!
Do you have a ratio of water to Shockwave? Very interested in trying this. Have you had any recurrence since treatment? Awesome and thanks for sharing.
Also I just wanted to update on my problem area - this most definitely can not be a herpes lesion (I stated that I have had these on the nose) due to the way it presents and does not heal. Herpes HEALS. This is a multilayered dermal issue that has left a reddish hue to the problem area and the skin flakes, and anytime I decide to prodor pinch I will get TINY white/clear filaments protrude through the skin. Even if they arent visible before I mess with the area, they will come up through the skin upon pushing/pinching the area. I truly feel like its a parasitic infection or something - what are these little white things I extract? Why do they continue to come up through the skin? They are not the white translucent plugs as seen in the thread (although I HAVE had those) but they are so small its hard to examine with the naked eye. Demodex, maybe. Idk. Not sebaceous filament,not hardened plugs. Im gonna try the Shockwave and see if that helps. But I havent had any herpes type prodrome lately or new true herpes lesions which is comforting in itself since I was getting frequent outbreaks. I am still unsure if they are related to this seemingly different issue or if this is all just herpes in a strange way. Maybe one aggravates the other. I dont know but I am so determined to get to the bottom of it and get my life back.
I™ve also been following this forum for months and have read all the pages. Everything is the same for me with the plugs.
I feel like HPV is a great suggestion. As I have been diagnosed myself. (Non wart type but cervix cancer causing type) I also suffer from œwarts on my foot for the last 7 years. I™ve been to podiatrist, dermatologist and several regular practitioners. Who have all told me it is a wart, it is not a wart, it is a wart. Basically the last podiatrist said it was porkeratonosis and there wasn™t much I could do about it and the pain it™s causing in my life: my foot is pretty much deformed bc I can™t walk properly for so long on it. Anyways I begged him to laser it out, I told him I would pay any amount of money to have it gone and he said there™s nothing to laser out and not much is known about it and there™s no treatment for it. I feel like it™s the exact same for my face. I really wonder if the 2 are connected. I wonder if anyone else has any other weird happenings on their bodies?
I think I™ve read every single article or forum about fungal acne and these plugs and really to no avail can I find treatment. I™ve dialed down all my products to ones on the fungal safe lists and there™s been slight improvement but I feel like my skin will never be normal. Especially bc I live in the south and work out frequently and pretty much stay on the move and a little sweaty.
it sucks it™s so embarrassing. I™m 36 and my son is 6 and always asks what™s wrong with my skin. dermatologist don™t care to offer anything but generic acne treatments and tell me to stop picking. It doesn™t matter if I don™t pick bc the scabs are never true scabs and most the time come off somehow anyways.
this started for me about 4 years ago out of the blue, never really suffered from notable acne before that, and over time it™s gotten worse. I think I noticed the white plugs about a year ago. And I™ve had the same lesions on my face for a solid year, some will improve and some will go completely away only to resurface whenever they feel like it.
I™ve found strength reading thru this forum that I™m not alone bc I was starting to feel like a crazy person! I appreciate everyone™s thoughts and advice and if anyone ever finds out any answers please please remember to update this forum!!
thanks for reading
Also missmygoodskin, i put that in Amazon, it™s a disinfectant? I couldn™t find any reviews about using it on skin. I want to make sure I have the right stuff before I spend $29 bc I™ll do it if it will help. What™s the ratio? Thanks!
On 1/24/2021 at 2:32 PM, Redwine said:Do you have a ratio of water to Shockwave? Very interested in trying this. Have you had any recurrence since treatment? Awesome and thanks for sharing.
My dad said he used around 5-7% shockwave, and you could always add a drop more in if you feel like you need it. I wouldn't add more than 10% because it can burn the skin. I only started it a little over a week ago and so far of the 9 lesions on my face, 6 of them pretty much fully healed including the deepest one. I can tell it's real scar skin and just needs to fill in a tiny bit before its completely flat wichis a miracle since it used to be a big elongatedcrater.The other 3 felt like what ever was in there is closer to the surface and this time I only had super tiny plugs, wayyysmaller than I had before. I extracted them and applied the shockwave again and those started to pulse and close up after 30 minutes. haven't had any new spots.
19 hours ago, Skinsorough said:Also missmygoodskin, i put that in Amazon, its a disinfectant? I couldnt find any reviews about using it on skin. I want to make sure I have the right stuff before I spend $29 bc Ill do it if it will help. Whats the ratio? Thanks!
Yes it is the FIBERLOCK Shockwave RTU Disinfectant Cleaner on Amazon. Yeah I understand I didn't exactly want to use it on my face either even after my dad recommended it since its made to disinfect hospitals and stuff like that but I didn'thave any other options so I gave it a try and I'm so happy I did. I wish I had before and after pictures, even from a week ago my skin looked so bad.I would use around 5-7% shockwave diluted in waterand dab a q tip in it on to the spots. Hope this helps and let me know how it goes!
On 8/21/2018 at 2:27 AM, Bluefadedstars said:I've had these too!! They showed up out of the blue with one randomly on my leg. Now whenever I get a cut or bite I have to battle these damn plugs forever! The wound will start to scab or heal over only to have to have these pulled out. Dermatologist was no help. Any help is greatly welcomed.
I recently discovered info about the demodex mite that live on our skin. The tiny black thing inside the plug might be one of them... please google demodex mites and the fungus that often accompanies their proliferation.
On 1/15/2021 at 8:05 PM, Redwine said: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.
It seems bizarre to me too! As I mentioned elsewhere, please read up on Demodex; some of your description matches Demodex overpopulation on skin. I have them too, almost everywhere on my body. I dont have rosacea and I dont get the larger sores w multiple plugs like some of you guys do, but I get literally hundreds of these plugs that look like whiteheads. They dont go away unless you remove them, which leaves a crater in the skin and makes a large scab, no matter how carefully I remove the plugs.
Ive also found a helpful article on [Edited link out]; check it out. There is a long article on demodex and associated fungus (look for it on homepage where a-z of articles are listed.
Good luck to everyone
5 hours ago, Missmygoodskin said:My dad said he used around 5-7% shockwave, and you could always add a drop more in if you feel like you need it. I wouldn't add more than 10% because it can burn the skin. I only started it a little over a week ago and so far of the 9 lesions on my face, 6 of them pretty much fully healed including the deepest one. I can tell it's real scar skin and just needs to fill in a tiny bit before its completely flat wichis a miracle since it used to be a big elongatedcrater.The other 3 felt like what ever was in there is closer to the surface and this time I only had super tiny plugs, wayyysmaller than I had before. I extracted them and applied the shockwave again and those started to pulse and close up after 30 minutes. haven't had any new spots.
Yes it is the FIBERLOCK Shockwave RTU Disinfectant Cleaner on Amazon. Yeah I understand I didn't exactly want to use it on my face either even after my dad recommended it since its made to disinfect hospitals and stuff like that but I didn'thave any other options so I gave it a try and I'm so happy I did. I wish I had before and after pictures, even from a week ago my skin looked so bad.I would use around 5-7% shockwave diluted in waterand dab a q tip in it on to the spots. Hope this helps and let me know how it goes!
Thank you! I got nothin to lose at this point! Keep updating and I will too after I start. Ill do before picture
Most of you are me. The sores, the plugs, the scars, it generally all looks just like me. Let me explain where it has brought meafter 6+loooong years.
Yes, white plugs, rice like, black specs, hairs, whatever you want to call it...but many other things as well. 6 years ago it exploded, but I'd say it started slowly prior. Just a few oddly presenting "zits'. Horrific experience with doctors followed, as many others have expressed. I certainly never mentioned morgellons (never, ever, say that word!). Don't bring samples of your skin to a doctor. Never. They call that "matchbox syndrome". SO messed up what they do to us when we are just trying to get help. If you get to this point in illness - don't express crawling sensations.
I should say that after years of hopeless struggle with doctors, I read a post on this site by Aussie Scientist, who expresses thatthey are not a doc ( https://www.acne.org/profile/696158-aussie-scientist/) - but that our issues were fungal.I had issues with my toenails that I had never brought to light with doctors. So I approached a virtual doc appt with a new general doc as if my toenails were my main issue. Anti-fingals prescribed. Very low dose, enough to cause my toenails to do funny things. It was not enough medication to make my skin completely heal, but it did give movement towards skin healing that I had never seen before. It was still something that seemed to waiver - kinda better, kinda not. I was just unsure.
Months ensued. After a long battle with doctors, I have finally been diagnoised with something. They still don't know my infection - but suspected candida (Chronic mucocutaneouscandidiasis)or possibly another Herpesinfection. Fluconazole has been helpful. I am in US, so this is prescription only in my country. If I were you, I'd also have the many Herpes Viral infections ruled out (EBV, CMV, HPV, etc). Turns out I have immune issues. It took 6 years to finally get doctors to take me seriously. Horrific process. I hope my post can somehow spare you from that. *Update: Docs believethat my immune issues have caused a Chronic atypical Herpes Infection (EBV, Zoster, CMV, HPV) and anti-virals have really helped. I'm still on anti-fungals, whichseem to help but to a lesser degree. Happy to be on both. I'd go anti-viral if you must choose (Acyclovir).
Specifically, my Natural Killer Cells struggle. You can have normal numbers of NK cells, but theirfunction can be an issue. This immune issue does not neccessarily impact anything else in your immune system or your response to vaccinnes, etc. You can have normal T and B cells, normal other blood tests. Problem is, if they test your natural killer cells (immune) and they come back fine, most doctors will not test how they function. My NK cells were low, but not low enough ("a red flag, but not a diagnosis"). It took me 3 years after having my natural kiler cells tested to having their function tested. Upon which a real issue was found.
I am not saying that I am you, or that I know what Morgellons is. Just sharing my experience. I'l let you know what I learn as I go on. I am finally seen as a real patient after 6 years of struggle. A rare patient. Hope this helps you in some way. I swear, we look exactly the same.
14 hours ago, Fun Gus said:
Specifically, my Natural Killer Cells struggle. You can have normal numbers of NK cells, but theirfunction can be an issue. This immune issue does not neccessarily impact anything else in your immune system or your response to vaccinnes, etc. You can have normal T and B cells, normal other blood tests. Problem is, if they test your natural killer cells (immune) and they come back fine, most doctors will not test how they function. My NK cells were low, but not low enough ("a red flag, but not a diagnosis"). It took me 3 years after having my natural kiler cells tested to having their function tested. Upon which a real issue was found.
I am not saying that I am you, or that I know what Morgellons is. Just sharing my experience. I'l let you know what I learn as I go on. I am finally seen as a real patient after 6 years of struggle. A rare patient. Hope this helps you in some way. I swear, we look exactly the same.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I also have low NK cells, but not low enough. So how do you have them tested? What should I ask my doctor to do? Is there an official name for this?
You want to have your NK Cell "function" or "cytotoxity" tested. I went through a doctor in the Allergy and Immunology Department. A general doc will most likely be clueless (rare condition), but if you find any doc willing to work with you - go for it! Only a few hospitals in the US conduct this "NK Cell Function" bloodtest. I live in the US west, and my test was processedat Cincinnati Children's Hospital (I am not a child, docs took my blood and had to send it to the other side of the country). Natural killer cells can be low in numbers (Classical Natural killer cell deficiency - CNKD) or in function (Functional Natural Killer Cell Deficiency - FNKD). Genetic testing can also help (especially in terms of treatment - but most likely a second step in the NK Cellprocess unless you can convince doctor otherwise). Anything related toNatural Killer Cells has a ways to go in terms of research.
If you get to the point of genetic testing - note that Invitae, a company doctors often use for genetic testing, does not have a specific genetic test for FNKD. SoI had 400 immune related genes tested through Invitae. All were fine, but Ihad to have a gene called FCGR3A tested through a different company (Fulgent Genetics). When I say "had to have FCGR3A tested" - I mean I begged doctor from beginning to test this gene, which he did not in inital test. I found my information from a doctor named "Dr. Orange" out of Columbia University. You can find his research online.I am still waiting on FCGR3A genetic results.It is possible that the gene responsible is unknown, but that makes me/us even more rare.
As a side note, I also have low Mannose Binding Lectin (immune) - but there is just as much unknown about this immune componentand occurs without issue in maybe 10% of the population. It's when it's combined with another immune issue that supposedly it can cause extra problems.
Edit: This post is for anyone the benefit of anyone that actually suffers.
On 1/24/2021 at 3:32 PM, Redwine said:Do you have a ratio of water to Shockwave? Very interested in trying this. Have you had any recurrence since treatment? Awesome and thanks for sharing.
****This is a scam add. Be careful. The response was from "Redwine", the original post was from "Missmyoldskin", who is now known as "Coldhoneydew's". Ass*oles love those struggling. Be careful out there.
So the Shockwave stuff is a scam add? Why would anybody go through the trouble of finding such an obscure issue/topic and detail their treatment with such a niche product? Truly baffling at what people do online. Thanks for the heads up to whomever pointed this out a page back.
17 hours ago, Fun Gus said:
Its not a scam. The other girl shared her experience with it and I inquired more. I got the shine wave 2 days ago and Ive used it only last night. Hard to tell. I was nervous about the mixture as the OP suggested 5-7%. I might add a drop more tonight. I took a before pic. I will update in a few days. I would never scam someone over this and if I found anything that ever worked I would share on this threat bc I know how miserable it is dealing with this. So miserable as I feel half crazy that I ordered a $30 huge bottle of disinfectant so I could add a teaspoon of it to water and put it on my dang face. No scams here.
anyways like I said Ill update but it was not my original post, someone else had posted about it.
23 hours ago, Fun Gus said:So Fizika, youcite"testosteroneissues" in prior posts. Hmmm. I am so confused as to why you are afraid of "low testosterone" when you are alsoknown on this website as "frustratedmom" as ofMarch 26 2020, and then "Busymomof4" May 19, 2020. Pick a sex buddy. Pick a name.
Excuse me, I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. I have low T, Low thyroid hormones, also low NK cells - Ibelieve it all parts of the same problem. I'm a woman. Low testosterone is equally bad for men and for women. You can google and see for yourself that low thyroid hormones and steroid hormones affect NK cells numbers and function. Low T is bad for everyone.I am not "frustratedmom" and "busymomof4" - those are the names ofpeople to whom I replied before.May be you misunderstood something, because Idon't understand what you're implying. How I can be known as "frustartemom" or someone else on this website is beyond my understanding.
I'll let you know my NK numbers later today, as I don't have access to my blood tests at this moment.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about NK cells, I'll study information you provided later and probably will have more questions for you.
2 hours ago, Fizika said:Excuse me, I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. I have low T, Low thyroid hormones, also low NK cells - Ibelieve it all parts of the same problem. I'm a woman. Low testosterone is equally bad for men and for women. You can google and see for yourself that low thyroid hormones and steroid hormones affect NK cells numbers and function. Low T is bad for everyone.I am not "frustratedmom" and "busymomof4" - those are the names ofpeople to whom I replied before.May be you misunderstood something, because Idon't understand what you're implying. How I can be known as "frustartemom" or someone else on this website is beyond my understanding.
I'll let you know my NK numbers later today, as I don't have access to my blood tests at this moment.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about NK cells, I'll study information you provided later and probably will have more questions for you.
I think hes just trolling the internet and trying to call ppl out on this thread. Im not sure where hes getting his info but he called my post out as a scam which it certainly isnt. Its hard to tell by his babble but I think he accused me of changing my name also.
3 hours ago, Skinsorough said:I think he™s just trolling the internet and trying to call ppl out on this thread. I™m not sure where he™s getting his info but he called my post out as a scam which it certainly isn™t. It™s hard to tell by his babble but I think he accused me of changing my name also.
I thought so also at first, but then decided that may be he's just confused about how this website works. Let's give him a chance. 
I just wanted to update that my nose is completely healed! Woke up this AM to a tiny flake or two of skin on my nose that I simply pulled off but beyond that, no redness, no sore, nothing. All I did differently was last week I applied a layer of Triple Antibiotic Ointment all over the sore on my nose and surrounding area. I let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Wiped off the residue etc. and at night continued to apply TAO to the inside of my nose and use astringent on my face. The next day I noticed the entire outer layer of skin over the sore was raised and prominent. I pulled at the skin and it all came off almost like a sheet although certain pieces frayed (different layers of skin healing at different times). It left smooth skin but with a very reddish/pinkish hue. That lasted over the weekend and I did have two or three more small white extractions when I poked around. Ive been careful to leave it alone since, only applying TAO at night as I have been doing for weeks. Today it is 100% (to me) healed. My skin is not dewey or smooth as a whole as its cold and dry here, so tiny skin lines, dried pores, etc. give my skin a rough appearance but its all blemish free and smooth. I hope I can prevent further reoccurrences and Ill likely continue to use TAO for a long time to come. I dont know if it is Staph, Demodex, HSV, a combination or what. But for now, for the first time in a long time, I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of as I walk out the door.
Redwine, Fizika, Missmygoodskin, Ishayatandapparently Skinsorough. All of these people also have existing different screen names from what I have seen.
All of you trolls - get a life. No, those weren't people you responded to Fizka, it was your profile. You have changed your profile access, I see. Nice try, buddy.
Anyone looking for real help, I'd seek other sites. Trollscan change their name at anytime on this website. I reported them. Be careful on this site where 2 or more gather and support their sharedagenda....yikes!
The first picture that started this thread - look at her skin around her hand. Totally normal. That's not how it works, but you gave it the old collegetry.