+ 9 Acne. Are you sure?
I've read a fair few posts over the years regarding acne issues related to steroid use. I'm currently involved with a team of dermatologists at work over the launch of a new problematic product which I won't waste your time explaining, but it got me thinking about some of the posts and pictures I've seen during my time here.
Let's look at what usually happens. Increase in testosterone / poor control of estrogen issues cause a few spots, usually shoulders / back / chest etc. The immediate reaction is always "ACNE". It persists, often after cycle and pct is complete so the user turns to the most powerful solution they can for acne, Accutane. Often this doesn't work and it's not a liver friendly drug to use even with success, let alone when it does nothing to alleviate the skin problems.
Why do some not respond. Often because the self diagnosis of "acne" is incorrect in the first place. Sometimes the problem is "folliculitis".This is an infection of the hair follicle usually with a bacterium called Staphylococcus Aureus" although can be other germs in the more rare types of folliculitis. Realistically the only way to be certain is to see a dermatologist who will take a swab and possibly even a small biopsy to confirm the bacterium involved.
Folliculitis DOES NOT respond to Accutane. It is indeed a difficult condition to treat, often unsuccessfully, but can only be attacked by eradicating the Staph. Aures bacterium from the patient. This can only be achieved with antibiotics, a typical approach would be to progressively use more aggressive antibiotics starting with oxytetracycle, then Lymacyclin, Doxycyclin, Erythromicin etc. until progress is made. Often large doses are required, (1000mg+ per day), and a significant percentage will not respond to treatment.
Next time you get a few spots, possibly as a result of steroids, don't just dive in and order Accutane, get it checked. Spots doesn't necessarily mean acne.
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I am dealing with Folliculitis keratosis pilaris. I had it very mildly on my calves before gear. When on gear, it flared up and went to my forearms , chest, quads and back. The dermatologist has run doxycycline twice and has me washing with hibiclens. It’s done absolutely nothing. Then I went to a small clinic and they gave me prednisone and amoxicillin. That definitely reduced the inflammation and dried it up some. However, once finished it has started to flare up and look kind of bad so I’m at a loss. Don’t know what to do at this point. Any recommendations?
Sorry to hear you’re getting this. The other drug of choose is oxytetracycline. Suprised they haven’t tried that rather than amoxicillin. Maybe give the doc a nudge in that direction?
Need to make sure your blood work is in order so we can rule anything simple out. Might be an easy fix.
Thanks for the reply. I’ll try to get my Dr to Rx oxytetracycline and get more blood work. Hopefully, I can get this to go away. It would be nice to have muscles and clear skin lol. This condition makes it look like I have goosebumps that are inflamed. The hair doesn’t grow as well either. It doesn’t hurt or anything but looks bad. The last blood panel had high free & total test and high RBC. Estradiol was low in comparison and everything else normal range.
Best of luck mate. Hope you get it sorted.
+2 had to push you over the 1400 mark. Excellent post as always.
There are a few things that one can include in his or her diet to protect against Staph. I like a regular dose of Wasabi. Oh yes. Wasabi wasabi wasabi. Love that shit on everything.
Thanks Cat. I read that you mentioned this on a different thread so I checked on it. My acne is weird half of the ones on my back end up with ingrown hairs in them. Not sure if the hair is the cause or the acne just happens where there is a hair developing. I haven't been to a dermatologist lately but I can tell you I think mine is from high estro. I started taking some aromasin a week or so ago and it dried up almost all of it. I still have marks from them but the painful ones are all gone. Now I need to get this ai dialed in. I went from acne and a little bloating to dry skin and chapped lips I'll take the dry skin over the acne any day
When I first talked to my derm. about the "acne" on my back, the first thing she did prior to prescribing me anything was to take a scraping / test the skin. It came back negative for bacterium. However, it should be noted that she even felt that my "acne" was not severe enough to warrant accutane, but instead she prescribed tetra then doxy, and moved on to erythromicin. All in all, nothing seemed to work. So after months of debate, we decided to start accutane. It should be noted that my "acne" became present PRIOR to the first touching of AAS with myself, this reducing the likelihood of self-induced hormone imbalance.
This is a good read, and it helps others make the smart decision. Accutane is a serious drug, and I dont think people realize it. Just because you can order it and take it yourself without any doctor monitoring, the risks are ridiculous. The protocol now requires you to sign up to whats called iPledge and help provide help and information to patients. There is a lot that goes into running a cycle of accutane. If anyone was curious on the blood work that is required each month, they only check lipid and cholesterol levels - no hormones, but it is still required within 30 days to get blood work. Otherwise, you will not get a refill in your prescription.
Very informative post brother. +2 I am pretty thankful for my relatively clear skin.
Thanks PR. I get the odd minor breakout here and there on my shoulders but nothing to get excited about. A mate of mine gets it's terribly. He never had a spot in his life until about 35 then developed folliculitis. Scars all over his chest and back now.
I never once had a pimple on my chest until I started AAS, now I do get a few with it being the worst during PCT. I get a few shoulder ones, but my wife watches like a hawk for them,lol
Yours too huh. Every time I take my shirt off her eyes are on me. I think that she's taking a peak and the next thing you know she's checking my back. I think she gets off on inflicting pain on me
Very good post.. I personally have experienced this. I developed what I thought was just acne and BTW this is all before I even thought of touching aas. Over time it got worse and worse and bigger and bigger. It took going through 3 doctors 1 dermatologist and tons of antibiotics including augmentin to find out it was folliculitis. After any antibiotic they could use and all treatments they finally recommended surgery. Even after surgery I still have issues. But it is no where near what it was in the past.
Interested to hear more about your experience here. Sent you a FR.