I've been dealing with these small flesh colored bumps on my forehead and hairline for quite a few months. One dermatologist told me it was a reaction to the estrogen in my birth control so I stopped taking my birth control. It cleared about 40%. I went to another dermatologist and they said it's a sub type of Rosacea. He put me on Doxycycline and Soolantra. After 3 weeks of that treatment, the forehead bumps almost doubled in number. I also added the Cetaphil Antibacterial Bar to my regimen because it's supposed to strip bacteria from the skin. Anyone else have this before? It seems everyone is stumped and I'm left embarrassed.
Me ( raising my hand.) I have blown so much money on trying to fix this. I have diagnosed myself with every sort of acne possible. This week I believe that it is
Pityrosporum Folliculitis .
I wasn't sure on this diagnoses as most people seem to have redness to their bumps. Mine are mainly flesh colored. However they do get irritated time to time and a little itchy. Mainly after I wash my face or it's cold.
There is a whole thread on here about this and I recommend it! I basically scrounged up what I had that had the ingredients listed in the thread. And then bought Lotrimin. I currently had head and shoulders shampoo from a crazy dandruff phase I went through. First, I washed my face with the head and shoulders. Dried my face well. Then I put on the lotrimin. I went to bed and let it do it's thing. And I had a pretty big difference just overnight.
I am trying to document my progress on here. The picture that looks like I have jaundice ( odd thing my husbands camera did) Is the before. The pale real me is the after. My tzone is pretty cleared up. Which was the lessor of the spots. I'm hoping this is it! And it keeps clearing up. Very excited about this. Here is the link to where it explains this in a little more detail... http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/208147-pityrosporum-folliculitis-faq/
Good look on your quest for a cure. Keep me posted if you find anything that works for you. In case I wake up tomorrow covered in a face full of flesh colored comedones:p
Your forehead looks amazing compared to mine I'm jealous! Mine also spreads down my hairline near my temples. They are in random clusters. I know it isn't acne because it comes and goes and varies in size. Closed comedones is the closest I've gotten during my research. I've read online about using Head and Shoulders on head and forehead while in shower, but I've also read that putting "anti-fungal" on face can cause some other long term side effects that aren't pretty. I'm nervous to put anything on my face that isn't meant for facial skin. My skin is so sensitive. I wonder if there are any topical ointments made for the face that have the main anti-fungal ingredient in it. I've been using Cetaphil Anti-Bacterial Bar twice daily and that has Triclosan in it. Doesn't seem to make a big change though on my forehead.
Thank you for your reply!!
With using the Cetaphil Antibacterial bar twice daily on my forehead and applying an AHA toner, my forehead has cleared a little BUT I'm also not on my period. I've noticed my forehead gets bumps everywhere when I'm about to start my period/when I'm on my period. Hormones bring them out! Here's a before and after pic (on period and not on period). I'm going back to dermatologist on the 18th of this month. If this is hormone driven, I'm not sure how anyone can help it
UPDATE!
I've started to use the Neutrogena 2 in 1 Fight and Fade Toner 3x a day along with the Cetaphil Anti-Bacterial Bar and Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. Here is a picture of my forehead taken today (2.5 weeks since using toner in regimen. I went to my dermatologist on Thursday and instead of treating me for Roseacea (doxycycline and Soolantra), he's now treating me for acne (Tazorac and Aczone). I haven't ordered these two creams yet because the reviews scared me! Plus, my acne is very mild. I wonder if I should have another week or two to see if the toner eventually clears my forehead up. Anyone have any advice? Advice on Aczone or Tazorac?
Hey! I have these bumpa on my forehead too, aswell as on my cheeks and particularly bad around my mouth. Have you found any information as to what it is caused by/what products work.
I noticed you stated that you used the neutrogena and cetaphil products but I am a bit nervous about using generic brands (I use an expensive paramedical skin care brand called DMK, but its not making my bumps go away at all) Any advice would be appreciated- i am over it like you wouldnt believe!!!!!
Thanks
Last year I developed perioral dermatitis at 20. Clear skin my whole life, and I turn 20 and had 6 months of painful yucky acne looking dermatitis all over my face. Took 3 antibiotics and many creams later. I think what kicked it was tetracycline and aczone acne cream. Now I have the same bumps being talked about in this feed on my forehead! You can only see it up close. I washed my face with non medicated face wash, used some peroxide and then the aczone cream followed by mosturizer. FYI if you have dermatitis medicated creams like salycylic is the worst thing for it!!! It dries it out and makes it 10x worse. Who says your skin gets better after your teenage years
I found a link describing the small bumps and maybe how to treat them. https://www.verywell.com/types-of-acne-blemishes-15616
It's number 1.
Wow I have not been on here in a while to see all of these posts! So sorry!
I'm thinking it's hormone/food related. I haven't quite nailed down what causes my forehead "rash/bumps."
Since my last post, my forehead cleared up for a month or so-it was beautiful! It has slowly been returning. I started to use Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Wash and I noticed a difference! It has been back the past couple of days. I also wouldn't be surprised if it was stress acne (I'm a teacher!)
I'm still lost with what helps this....keep the suggestions coming!
On 10/20/2016 at 9:51 PM, Moorej2 said:Wow I have not been on here in a while to see all of these posts! So sorry!
I'm thinking it's hormone/food related. I haven't quite nailed down what causes my forehead "rash/bumps."
Since my last post, my forehead cleared up for a month or so-it was beautiful! It has slowly been returning. I started to use Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Wash and I noticed a difference! It has been back the past couple of days. I also wouldn't be surprised if it was stress acne (I'm a teacher!)
I'm still lost with what helps this....keep the suggestions coming!
Have you been using a different type of shampoo or hairspray? Sometimes that can cause little flesh colored bumps, you could be allergic to something in either that's worsening or causing the acne. Also, you could try to time the forehead flare-ups and see when they're happening in your cycle. If it's during ovulation/a few days before your period maybe it's from elevated testosterone.
I had the exact same spots on my forehead, tried everything to try get rid of them, creams, anti dandruff shampoo, anti fungal creams, prescription tablets etc
After researching online I found someone who said to try cider vinegar
Within 3 days it had improved by 90% !
Apparently all the creams were clogging the spots up thus making them worse!
No need to dilute or wash off, just apply cider vinegar 2 x a day on a cotton pad.
Hope this helps someone as it did me.
Hey guys,
many times our skin reflects the health of our insides. The importance of a healthy gut lining and balanced gastro intestinal bacteria plays an enormous role when it comes to many ailments including acne. If you have a poor diet (high in sugars (incl alcohol), processed foods, lots of red meats, etc) it can lead to / feed candida overgrowth, permeable gut, and in turn flair up acne. If this is the case, any facial treatment cream will only work in short term and not fix the root of the problem. Prescription antibiotics in this case are an absolute no no as well. A fairly effective but often overlooked treatment to try is...change to a strict, good quality, balanced, whole foods diet. Spend a few bucks on a good ebook (for example candida diet)that can guide you through healing your gi tract. Or even better, see a Nutritionist or Dietician. Chances are you may notice changes for the better in other aspects of your life, and a reductions of other ailments. Keep in mind this approach takes time, it won't heal you overnight. Remember that healthcare always starts in the kitchen, and not at the pharmacy.
Hope thathelps, good luck!!
Hello! I have the same thing to help eliminate things for other people Ive been tested for hpv, Ive been tested for hsv1 both came back negative I use proactive. I didnt have acne as a teenager at all. Im not on birth control I do not eat sugar, red meat, gluten. That didnt help anything. Just want to share my experiences so someone else doesnt think maybe Ill try this. Dermatologist said its a rash. Mine comes and goes sometimes its there hours later it looks better. Im really struggling with it as I have never experienced this before. Trying tanning today seeing if that helps I know its horrible but I dont know what to do.
I had similar things mostly around my lines from nose to lips (yep, instead of wrinkles, I had these bumps), also some on forehead.
I found recommendations to use Tea Tree Oil products. I ordered Keeva Organics tea tree oil moisturizer (they simply had a good discount for first time purchase) and it was the only one that worked on these bumps from all acne treatments. I cannot say if other tea tree oil products won't work, I have not tried, but I love the Keeva product.
Note: Keeva product did not work on my usual acne, only on bumps. But well, only one kind of oral antibiotics did work on my usual acne, and derm had issues believing, as they are not usual acne antibiotics.
On 11/22/2015 at 4:10 PM, Moorej2 said:UPDATE!
I've started to use the Neutrogena 2 in 1 Fight and Fade Toner 3x a day along with the Cetaphil Anti-Bacterial Bar and Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. Here is a picture of my forehead taken today (2.5 weeks since using toner in regimen. I went to my dermatologist on Thursday and instead of treating me for Roseacea (doxycycline and Soolantra), he's now treating me for acne (Tazorac and Aczone). I haven't ordered these two creams yet because the reviews scared me! Plus, my acne is very mild. I wonder if I should have another week or two to see if the toner eventually clears my forehead up. Anyone have any advice? Advice on Aczone or Tazorac?
Hi Moore did you ever find any solution , my skin looks exactly how yours does and also flares up around periods on temple area and forehead. Thanks
Hi all! I have similar bumps but they are along my jawline and sometimes appear on my cheek. They aren't itchy, nor are they red, they are the color of my skin. They are also very soft and only visible when seen really up close. I do have acne scars and some acne, but this is not acne. Does anyone know what this could be? I am also aware that this area of the face is linked to your reproductive system, and ovaries.
Thank you!