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37 years old and still have acne (pics included)


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18 replies to this topic

#1 vovin

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 07:23 AM


So I am 37 years old a health nut who eats very well drinks lots of water but still I have acne. I have had it all my life oddly enough I didnt have bad acne in my teens.

I exfoliate and I used clearasil ultra pore cleansing pads and I use lotion daily. My skin is in very good health actually it's just I get acne constantly. Not huge zits all the time sometimes I get bad ones but most are small reddish zits. I do take 2 showers a day. I dont know if that is a issue I usually lotion up after a shower tho but I tend to like my showers hot. Here are a couple pics. I tend to get the acne on my upper chest, shoulders and back. Some on my face and biceps as well but not as bad as the chest and back.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Any suggestions? I am not wanting to go to a dermatologist and spend 100's of dollars if I dont have to.

#2 .fonclea.

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 12:07 PM

Hi,

You can't take a shawer twice a day because your skin is frigalise the next hours after it !

Sometime acne is due to a very dry skin: if your doctor confirmes that, you have to moister it with a special cream for sensitive dur afford nivea. (oily).
Water can be the cause, sun without protection or too acid soap.

I recently change my neutrogena product for "aven" and i am very happy with that. I had sometime a little acne when i am extremly tired.

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#3 nowayout

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 02:01 PM

So I am 37 years old a health nut who eats very well drinks lots of water but still I have acne. I have had it all my life oddly enough I didnt have bad acne in my teens.

I exfoliate and I used clearasil ultra pore cleansing pads and I use lotion daily.


Lotion could be part of the problem.

I have had very good results with plain petroleum jelly (no perfumes or other additives).

#4 Matt

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 03:01 PM

Diet seems to be more important. Eat lots of leafy greens like kale and spinach.

#5 Ben

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 11:33 PM

Diet seems to be more important. Eat lots of leafy greens like kale and spinach.


And avoid that which will create a rise in blood insulin.

Also, try to get a body wash with salicylic acid. Do a search like: "Salicylic acid body wash" on ebay or google. See what happens.

I would also skip one of your showers. I've read many times that over washing can cause pimples.

The soap you use could be causing the problem as well, try changing to a sensitive brand like cetaphil, and only use that on your body.

Edited by Ben - Aus, 02 March 2009 - 11:37 PM.


#6 vovin

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 11:53 PM

I cant see how it can be diet. Basically I only eat pure foods like chicken, turkey fruits and veggies. Very rarely do I ever eat fast food or junk food maybe 2 times a month if that. The soap I use is clan and clear daily pore cleanser but I only soap down once every other day. I do like my showers really really hot. It was my assumption heat would open the pores and get the contaminants out and then lotioning immediately after would ensure that dirt and grime wouldnt get in the pores. I will cut back severely on the heat I am going to go for cold showers and a shorter duration. I need ot take a shower once a day at least as I do exercise 6 days a week and I break a very good sweat when doing it.

I am using the clearasil pads which have salitic acid although I dont use them every single day usually every other day. before I lotion up.

Edited by vovin, 02 March 2009 - 11:55 PM.


#7 Skötkonung

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 12:16 AM

That looks like folliculitis, which can be chronic and persist indefinitely unless treated with antibiotics or antifungals. I had a similar infection that I foolishly decided to live with for eight months before finally seeing a dermatologist. The doctor cultured the infection and classified it as staphylococcus. He prescribed me a topical and oral antibiotics that completely cured the infection within a month.

It also looks like you could have Pityrosporum Folliculitis. This type of infection occupies primarily the upper chest, shoulders, and back.

#8 vovin

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 12:59 AM

Ok now that's information I can use. Will this fungus have white puss like 'zits' or will it just be red bumps. This hits me so hard because a couple years ago for some unknown reason I got a yeast infection in my armpits that took a inordinate amount of time to get rid of. I had never heard of a guy getting a yeast infection especially in the armpits. I am a very clean person so I dont know how it came to be some say eating too much bread could have caused it. I am definately going to look into that tho.

#9 lucid

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 01:19 AM

Damn shawn, looks like you may be right. I think that is what I have too and I have been trying to get rid of it for years. I'm going to do some Nizoral body soaking for the next week and will report back. One thing that worked wonders for me (I had a moderate amount on my upper arm, scalp, shoulders and then i had a little on my chest) was shaving those areas. I'm not sure what shaving did exactly (maybe prevented oil build up) but my sister who had a similar condition said it worked for her. Apparently folliculitis may be exacerbated by shaving (mine is normally worse the single day after shaving) but it is considerable better in the days that follow.

Good luck with your case vovin.

Edited by lucid, 03 March 2009 - 01:21 AM.


#10 Skötkonung

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 04:36 AM

Ok now that's information I can use. Will this fungus have white puss like 'zits' or will it just be red bumps. This hits me so hard because a couple years ago for some unknown reason I got a yeast infection in my armpits that took a inordinate amount of time to get rid of. I had never heard of a guy getting a yeast infection especially in the armpits. I am a very clean person so I dont know how it came to be some say eating too much bread could have caused it. I am definately going to look into that tho.


Yeah, I think many people who get diagnosed with folliculitis mistake it as acne because the red bumps can contain pus and the hair follicle is not always obvious. I would skip the self-help bit and just go straight to a doctor. Really, its worth the extra effort and money if they can diagnose and cure it immediately. You should know that sometimes topicals aren't enough and you need to take a oral anti-fungal otherwise you just make the infection more resistant. The fact that you had a yeast infection on your skin previously only confirms my suspicion.

You can get yeast infections on your skin by taking too many antibiotics, being exposed to a damp environment such as sweat (from exercise or hot climate), wearing shirts that are too tight and cause irritation, or having a depressed immune system. And sometimes it just randomly happens!

Best of luck! Let us know if it gets better.

#11 vovin

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 05:08 AM

Anyone know how much a dermatoligist typically costs? I live in orlando area if that makes a diffrence. I think I am gonna take your advice on seeing one. It really seems like you hit the nail on the head as to what I have.

#12 kismet

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 09:40 AM

Yeah, I think many people who get diagnosed with folliculitis mistake it as acne because the red bumps can contain pus and the hair follicle is not always obvious. I would skip the self-help bit and just go straight to a doctor.

Looks similar to what I have got on my shoulders and chest. I thought it's some type of acne and started treating it with a retinoid. Selftreatment is the only reasonable choice I have. Is there any way to know if it's a bacteria or fungus without culture?  Antibiotic and antifungals could exacerbate the situation if used against the wrong one, no?

The last two doctors only said "oh-- it's nothing!" At least I don't have to pay for that type of incompetence in this country. Healthcare - it's free and it sucks (as usual). I should seriously kick some ass if I got misdiagnosed again.

#13 nowayout

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Posted 03 March 2009 - 01:36 PM

Cutting down on showers after exercise is only likely to make it worse, but you don't have to use soap every time you shower. When you do use soap, be sure to rinse it off very thoroughly. Many people skimp on the rinsing, which requires rubbing the soap off with your hands under running water. Soap residue can cause pimples.

I don't know if you do this, but shaving body hair or using hair removers can also cause these kinds of pimples. In my experience, if you shave or do hair removal, using petroleum jelly afterwards is very effective at preventing their occurrence. It is also very effective at preventing pimples on areas that you do not shave. As for lotions, many supposedly non-comedogenic lotions are in my experience in fact comedogenic, and can cause these outbreaks, as can alcohol-based cleansers.

I do not have personal experience with this, but supplements that raise testosterone are well-known to cause acne. Are you taking anything supposedly anabolic (even over the counter)?

Edited by andre, 03 March 2009 - 01:39 PM.


#14 Skötkonung

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 02:13 AM

Yeah, I think many people who get diagnosed with folliculitis mistake it as acne because the red bumps can contain pus and the hair follicle is not always obvious. I would skip the self-help bit and just go straight to a doctor.

Looks similar to what I have got on my shoulders and chest. I thought it's some type of acne and started treating it with a retinoid. Selftreatment is the only reasonable choice I have. Is there any way to know if it's a bacteria or fungus without culture? Antibiotic and antifungals could exacerbate the situation if used against the wrong one, no?

The problem with most self-help treatments for this type of condition is that they are usually restrained to topical cremes and ointments. Topical solutions can't fully penetrate the dermis into the hair follicle so you need to take an oral antibiotic or antifungal to completely clear the infection.

Now you could try and cure it yourself by ordering the medications online but you risk making the infection worse (by incorrectly diagnosing yourself) or making yourself sick. I'm providing the following information so that if you go to your doctor, you can ask him about these medications and whether they might resolve your skin problems.

For a fungal infection (such as yeast), a common treatment is:
- Ketoconazole Shampoo - Wash infected areas once daily for two weeks then move to twice weekly treatments
- Nizoral or Diflucan tablets - Use for 1 week. Not sure on the dosage. Oral antifungals, if improperly used, can cause serious liver / kidney damage so only use them under the supervision of a doctor. They are typically safe in healthy adults when used for the correct duration and in the correct amounts.

For a bacterial infection, a common treatment is:
- Bactroban creme - Apply to infected areas the have broken open. Must be used consistently to prevent antibiotic resistance.
- Dicloxacillin tablets - 500mg daily for 2 to 4 weeks depending on severity

In both instances, you'll want to wash your bedding and towells regularly durng the treatment so as not to re-infect yourself.

Unless you have a history of yeast infections (such as the OP) I would surmise you are suffering from some common bacterial overgrowth. Yeast / fungal infections tend to be uncommon in colder temperatures.

As for how much it costs to see a dermatologist, that depends on what clinic you attend and your insurance plan. My insurance covers 100% of a specialist if it is a referral from a general practitioner or only 80% if I go without a referral. That usually amounts to a $50 fee or less.

#15 vovin

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 05:12 AM

I dont have insurance so it would be out of pocket.

#16 Skötkonung

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 06:30 PM

I dont have insurance so it would be out of pocket.

Try seeing a general practitioner first as they cost less (around $175-$200). If you go a county hospital as opposed to a private clinic, you can file for financial hardship and pay only a fraction of the cost.

Make sure to clearly tell the doctor what you think you have and if he only offers you a topical treatment, press him for an oral treatment as well.

#17 kismet

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Posted 08 March 2009 - 02:20 PM

For a bacterial infection, a common treatment is:
- Bactroban creme - Apply to infected areas the have broken open. Must be used consistently to prevent antibiotic resistance.
- Dicloxacillin tablets - 500mg daily for 2 to 4 weeks depending on severity

If I understand correctly the most common bacterial infection would be s. aureus.
Would the Bactroban creme alone suffice? Can I combine it with the Ketoconazole Shampoo to treat both conditions (if I'm not sure which one I have)? Are there any good topical or oral adjuvant treatments? (e.g. a retinoid? I imagine it might improve penetration and it's also antimicrobial to some degree).
If I use the creme only and the treatment fails (antibiotic resistance) will adding the systemic stuff help or am I screwed?

How do I convince a doctor to culture that stuff?

I have been using topical azelaic acid and isotretinoin (assuming it's acne), can I simply add the other topicals?

Edited by kismet, 08 March 2009 - 02:23 PM.


#18 Skötkonung

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Posted 09 March 2009 - 06:36 PM

For a bacterial infection, a common treatment is:
- Bactroban creme - Apply to infected areas the have broken open. Must be used consistently to prevent antibiotic resistance.
- Dicloxacillin tablets - 500mg daily for 2 to 4 weeks depending on severity

If I understand correctly the most common bacterial infection would be s. aureus.
Would the Bactroban creme alone suffice? Can I combine it with the Ketoconazole Shampoo to treat both conditions (if I'm not sure which one I have)? Are there any good topical or oral adjuvant treatments? (e.g. a retinoid? I imagine it might improve penetration and it's also antimicrobial to some degree).
If I use the creme only and the treatment fails (antibiotic resistance) will adding the systemic stuff help or am I screwed?

How do I convince a doctor to culture that stuff?

I have been using topical azelaic acid and isotretinoin (assuming it's acne), can I simply add the other topicals?

Retinoids work very poorly against s. aureus, they tend to more effective in treating p. acnes infections as they work by increasing skin cell turnover promoting the extrusion of the plugged material in the follicle. They also prevent the formation of new comedones by regulating sebum production. Neither of these are very relevant to treating a s. aureus infection. Using a retinoid can actually irritate your skin and worsen a s. aureus infection.

Using only a topical treatment will likely be insufficient if you either have a s. aureus infection or candidiasis because the medication can only penetrate the uppermost levels of the dermis. In the case of s. aureus, this can result in a methicillin-resistant infection. Furthermore, if you incorrectly identify the cause of your skin problems, whether it be p. acnes, s. aureus, or candida, you have can potentially make your infection much worse as you are further disrupting the natural ecology of your skin fauna. I don't know what would happen if you mixed treatment regimens.

My suggestion: go to your doctor (general practitioner or dermatologist) and tell them you have had this infection for x amount of time and that you believe it is folliculitis and would like to have it treated. Doctors will usually prescribe medication for the most common cause of the ailment (s. aureus) and send you on your way. Make sure to ask for both a topical and oral treatment before leaving. Also, make sure to schedule a follow-up appointment in-case the treatment doesn't improve your condition.

In private healthcare situations, since you are paying for your own medical procedures, you can actually ask for testing to be done. However, from my experience in nationalized health care (when I was living in the UK), they won't usually do this unless several treatments fail.

Edited by shawn57187, 09 March 2009 - 06:38 PM.


#19 kismet

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Posted 10 March 2009 - 12:18 PM

However, from my experience in nationalized health care (when I was living in the UK), they won't usually do this unless several treatments fail.

I'm not even sure if it is s. aureus and whether my doctors would recognize it if it was. Which means I'm basically screwed (my current derm is even worse than the last one and I can only visit one per quarter, am I lucky or what?) Shawn, are you into dermatology or did you just read up on folliculitis out of interest?

Maybe I'll go with azeliac acid and whatever my doctor gives me (hopefully bactroban and/or antibiotics or something similarly effective). I've read that azelaic acid is an alternative treatment for s. aureus (especially if resistant). It's said not to result in resistance, is less irritating than retinoids initially are and I guess that a combined treatment would be mor effective anyway. Then again I'm already using azelaic acid and it's not getting better.
What do you think?

Edited by kismet, 10 March 2009 - 12:24 PM.





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