Cystic body acne with dry itchy skin-- is there any hope?
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free skin care · Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:55 pm

This is embarrassing, but like the title says, I suffer from PAINFUL back and butt -ne Embarassed

, and eczema as well. Can anyone recommend any products please? I'm peely and itchy and in pain!!

I use Neutrogena Body Clear shower gel on the back and butt regularly with Cetaphil everywhere else. When I have active zits I also use Benzac Wash which is a 5% BP, and then spot treat with Clindamycin, 30% Lactic Acid, 5% BHA from PSF, Tazorac, Kate Somerville EradiKate (10% sulfer solution) alternately. Plus I own a Thermaclear which is like the Zeno.

The problem is when I DON'T have active zits I generally need to use a super rich emollient moisturizer to relieve my eczema, especially in the winter. I use a homemade oil with macadamia oil, squalene, ceramides, emu oil, vitamin E, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (oil soluble vit C) and Tazorac. Sometimes my skin is so dry that I need to slather Aquaphor or Crisco on top of that to "seal" everything in! I suspect this combination is making me break out, but I'm so itchy all the time that I can't afford not to use it.

My cysts are so deep they take about 3 weeks to go away, and the location of these cysts make it really painful to sleep on my back or even sit upright at times, which in turn causes back and neck pain... Mad

Is there anything that can moisturize and YET not cause acne? Please please please Pray

if anybody can help, I'm ALL ears! Pray

Thanks in advance, ladies!

Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:37 am

Hello fat_swan,
How terribe to be in so much pain and discomfort! One can only imagine what you must be going through. It sounds like you've tried many products without the success envisioned. Have you heard of Intraceuticals? As a firm believer in their line I can recommend the Clarity treatment as a possibility to clear up your cystic acne. If you visit the companys websitewww.intraceuticals.com you can do some research there. The Clarity line includes phytophingosine (an active lipid that works to diminish bacteria). If you have the finances and can do a series of the infusions with the products to support the treatment I think you will be very happy! Best of luck, whatever you decide to do I hope you get relief and results

free skin care · Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:36 pm

Thanks Tikiandbabu for alerting me to Intraceuticals and phytophingosine. I've never heard of them, but looking forward to doing the research over the weekend. Smile

By the way, can you please explain to me what you mean by "infusions"? Thanks again!

free skin care · Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:24 pm

I'm sorry you are going through that! I can't imagine dealing with both acne and eczema. Have you ever tried accutane? If you haven't, it may be your best option. Some dermatologist say that think that accutane may have a way of "shocking" the skin into behaving itself for good.

free skin care · Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:49 pm

Doctors refuse to give me Accutane because my acne isn't "bad enough" Rolling Eyes

. They're painful enough alright, but just don't have "enough" of them! I only get 2-5 cysts at one time (it's just that they're never ending) so the doctors think my case isn't "serious" enough to warrant taking Accutane Mad

free skin care · Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:03 am

Hi fat swan, Just a thought, why don't you look for a treatment for the eczema that doesn't cause break outs. I recall reading on the Isomers web site that their Copper P helped someone's husband with the eczema, (but I must say, it's not moisturizing). It seems like you acne treatments are good to treat acne, but may be drying out your skin and causing the itchies, while you eczema treatment make help the itchies but be causing the breakouts, sort of a cycle.

free skin care · Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:13 pm

hey fat swan,
wow! i'm sorry about your skin condition. that's some serious stuff. please get regular check-ups with your dermo and keep an eye on them. if the cystics are that deep, and regular, it is serious. cysts can become inflamed, meaning not heal, and cause infection internally. are you in canada and have ohip? regardless, change dermotologists. i can't believe your dermo said no to accutane. i know alot of the bodybuilders in my gym take accutane, due to breaking out from the steriods. i know for a fact they have no problems getting accutane. yes, something about accutane and how it works on the oil glands to shrink the glands, and to lessen oil secretions in permanent and long term manner. i think accutane is dangerous as well. i believe while on this medication, it is mandatory to take blood tests every week or 2nd week.
honestly, please find a new dermo that will take care of you. you have to be firm. if you know you have a serious problem you have to insist!!! there are tons of dermo's. remember you're paying them. being polite and well mannered is one thing but sometimes you have to insist and let pple know that you are serious. i hope the best for you. i know there is a solution to your problem and i hope you find it quickly. take care. lina

free skin care · Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:31 pm

Have you tried the body brush??? OMG... you must be in agony. If you brush, make sure you clean it regularly (perhaps put it through the dishwasher??),

Look into products that have salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy in them... and then perhaps a moisturizer that is light weight (and perhaps has the same ingredients... although It seems like to battling conditions... Is your eczema allergy related? Have you been able to identify any sort of source? Have you looked into your laundry detergent? What you wash your bathtub and shower with? The material that your clothes are made from (just suggestions, I'm not an expert)

Also, make sure that your clothing can "breath"... That you perhaps shower and change anytime you work up a sweat... underpants that are of a thin material that wick moisture away instead of letting it sit on your body.

free skin care · Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:33 pm

Ok... off topic... but seriously... steroids AND accutane? You would think a person could wrap their mind around hard work, get off the reproductive organ damaging 'roids and not need the liver damaging accutane... Clearly people that consider only their outward appearance on not their inward appearance... SAD!

free skin care · Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:16 am

reality. jealousy and hate are a disease. it starts in the heart and mind, seeping into every crevice, till it can be blatantly seen in its physical form. i see you!
go post on the hate forum, under the "sad" thread.

Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:05 am

Hi Fat Swan, my husband has cystic acne on his back. And it can be so awful, can't it?
I haven't found anything to help him yet, but am still searching...
I was wondering if perhaps some kind of LEDS light might help? There's a blue LEDS light for acne?? I also read that you can get zinc formulations for acne, but I got this for my son and it didn't seem to help.
I had a girlfriend once who had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and that caused cystic acne. Elevated androgen levels will give you cystic acne. Could this be the culprit?

free skin care · Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:03 am

fat swan, are your zits on the body only? If so, your problem may be fungal rather than bacterial, in which case you need to treat it differently ... although some topicals are both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, some anti-bacterial treatments make fungal problems worse. And some people suffer from both bacterial acne and fungal zits/folliculitis at the same time, which makes it even more complicated.

Eczema complicates it further. Sorry, can't offer any real advice, but you might perhaps want to do some googling on pityrosporum folliculitis and maybe malassezia furfur (associated with folliculitis and other nasties).

Sadly, I've had to do a lot of research in this area myself the past year, due to "issues" with my previously perfect body skin. It may not be relevant, but I've also had (short-lived) problems with eczema, which I thought was caused by some of the anti-fungal topicals I was using. But prior to my "fungal issues" my skin has always been really tough, never had a reaction to any product/treatment. Made me wonder whether the fungal beasties were making my skin more sensitive/reactive ??

Might not be relevant to your situation, but possibly worth looking into. The common assumption with zits is its bacteria related, but it's not always the case, particularly on the body. Best of luck and HTH Smile

free skin care · Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:58 am

llina... you don't see me at all! I have zero jealousy and hatred towards anyone. It is sad that a person will put their body through something totally unnecessary... as steroids. And let's face it. People that use steroids, are concerned about their bodies... but only their outward appearance... CLEARLY. Perhaps you are very lucky to only know people that have not already acquired serious organ damage... and serious personality problems...

You obviously, don't KNOW me at all. I was raised in the world of body building. I've seen what steriods can do first hand. And if you're seeing people use accutane for their steroid use... don't think it's the only drug they will need.

I know women that have destroyed their bodies.. (usually without really understanding what they are doing) with steriods. Their biceps aren't the only part of their body that becomes man like... Many have to tape down their clitoris during competition. And it often is devastating...usually not correctable. I've known men, that when they urinate, do so with lots of blood. Their testicles usually shrink (they no longer really need to work), their sperm counts usually lowered, their motility slower... etc. Roid rage is very real. I knew the sweetest man, with a beautiful body. His symmetry near perfect...He had amazing potential as a competitive body builder. He will never realize that... FROM PRISON... as one day he just flipped out, and seriously assaulted someone one... And so yes, it is sad to use one drug that requires liver testing regularly (because it damages the liver... and can also cause birth defects... accutane often comes with a birth control prescription as well), because you CHOOSE to use another drug that is just as damaging. Steroids are not a healthy choice. Jealousy, and hate have nothing to do with that REALITY!

Piglet... you are right... the excess androgen level often causes cystic acne. (this is why steroid users end up with it.) Fatswan... have you been able to get your Drs to test your hormones? (although I THINK that would effect your face as well.) But it would be worth that question/test... as messed up hormones effect so many other areas of concern...

Best...

free skin care · Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:38 am

MarieIG wrote:

Hi fat swan, Just a thought, why don't you look for a treatment for the eczema that doesn't cause break outs. I recall reading on the Isomers web site that their Copper P helped someone's husband with the eczema, (but I must say, it's not moisturizing). It seems like you acne treatments are good to treat acne, but may be drying out your skin and causing the itchies, while you eczema treatment make help the itchies but be causing the breakouts, sort of a cycle.

I use copper peptides on my face, but using on the body seems awfully wasteful and expensive doesn't it?? Sigh, when I win the lottery... It's so difficult to break the cycle of dry skin -- clogged pores, and it's like playing Minesweeper, you never know where it's gonna pop up!

free skin care · Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:46 am

llina wrote:

honestly, please find a new dermo that will take care of you. you have to be firm. if you know you have a serious problem you have to insist!!! there are tons of dermo's. remember you're paying them. being polite and well mannered is one thing but sometimes you have to insist and let pple know that you are serious. i hope the best for you. i know there is a solution to your problem and i hope you find it quickly. take care. lina

I've been denied Accutane by several derms already. So many doctors think acne is a vanity issue that unless I go in looking like "pizza face" (no offense!) nobody takes me seriously. They just tell me to suck it up and deal with the pain. Mad

But in all honesty I'm not sure it's something that I'd want to take on a long term basis as the side effects do seem to be rather serious, but from limited research I've done, it appears to be a drug that one needs to take for extended periods to get the most benefits...

free skin care · Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:59 am

ClaudiaFE wrote:

Have you tried the body brush??? OMG... you must be in agony. If you brush, make sure you clean it regularly (perhaps put it through the dishwasher??),

Look into products that have salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy in them... and then perhaps a moisturizer that is light weight (and perhaps has the same ingredients... although It seems like to battling conditions... Is your eczema allergy related? Have you been able to identify any sort of source? Have you looked into your laundry detergent? What you wash your bathtub and shower with? The material that your clothes are made from (just suggestions, I'm not an expert)

Also, make sure that your clothing can "breath"... That you perhaps shower and change anytime you work up a sweat... underpants that are of a thin material that wick moisture away instead of letting it sit on your body.

ClaudiaFE wrote:

Fatswan... have you been able to get your Drs to test your hormones? (although I THINK that would effect your face as well.) But it would be worth that question/test... as messed up hormones effect so many other areas of concern...

Best...

Do you mean dry brushing or just a brush to use wet? I don't, because I'm a little afraid of germs and mostly because it's really difficult to reach my whole backside without a long handle. Instead I use those scratchy cloths in the shower to spread soap onto my back and exfoliate at the same time. The soap I use has 2% BHA but it really doesn't help.

I already use a special laundry detergent recommended by my derm for sensitive skin, and I try to wear cotton clothes and underwear so my skin can breathe. I only take showers, so I really can't imagine how my bathroom tile cleaner can affect my back and behind. Laughing

I've also had my hormones and blood sugar checked twice this year, and everything's normal. I'm also on the pill, which at least keeps most of the cysts off my face!! Last year when I was trying to go off BCP in an effort to "detox" my system, my face literally went berserk in multiple explosions of cysts everyday. It was so painful I cried a lot, and it took me nearly 9 months to figure out the culprit. Long story short, I don't think the body acne are hormone related as the BCP would probably suppress those as well if it were.

Anyway thanks for your help! I will continue in my search for the perfect dry skin acne product.....................

free skin care · Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:03 am

piglet wrote:

Hi Fat Swan, my husband has cystic acne on his back. And it can be so awful, can't it?
I haven't found anything to help him yet, but am still searching...
I was wondering if perhaps some kind of LEDS light might help? There's a blue LEDS light for acne?? I also read that you can get zinc formulations for acne, but I got this for my son and it didn't seem to help.
I had a girlfriend once who had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and that caused cystic acne. Elevated androgen levels will give you cystic acne. Could this be the culprit?

OMG! I was diagnosed with POS more than a decade ago! But I've been in the clear for the last 8 years.... Anxious

Did your friend have special medicine that cleared up her cystic acne, or did she live with it after figuring out the cause? Thanks so much for alerting me to this, I'll definitely have to ask my gyno about it next time!

The problem with LED is that most of my cysts happen on my back and I'm afraid I'd probably get unbelievable shoulder strain from trying to treat each area of my back for the whole 3 mins!! Laughing

free skin care · Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:08 am

appletini wrote:

fat swan, are your zits on the body only? If so, your problem may be fungal rather than bacterial, in which case you need to treat it differently ... although some topicals are both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, some anti-bacterial treatments make fungal problems worse. And some people suffer from both bacterial acne and fungal zits/folliculitis at the same time, which makes it even more complicated.

Ever since I got back onto BCP this summer, my cysts have been sprouting primarily on the body. I do use a anti-fungal shampoo once a week as I am prone to developing folliculitis, but it hasn't helped much with the acne. Besides, the anti-fungal shampoo is extremely drying and makes me itch even worse afterwards. Thanks so much for your help!

Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:41 am

Some home remedies for eczema that I've searched in google.
-Boil 200gr of mustard oil in an iron vessel. In the boiling oil add 50gr of fresh clean leaves of neem. When the leaves turn black, stop heating, cool the oil and sieve it. Apply this oil 4 times a day. If applied for a year the problem will never occur again.
-Soak 4gr wormwood and 4gr kutki in 125gr of water in a glass vessel in the night and cover it. In the morning sieve it and drink the water. Now add 125gr of water in the same material and vessel so that it can be used for 4 days continuously. Then throw away and add 4gr of fresh wormwood and kutki in 125gr of water and change the material every four days. Drink this water for 2-4 weeks and eczema cure.
-Papaya seeds mashed and applied on areas prevent itching of the skin suffering from eczema.
-Carrot and muskmelon are highly beneficial in the eczema treatment.
-Native Americans used witch hazel for inflammatory skin conditions. Dab some on the afflicted area several times daily with a cotton ball.

Sat Sep 04, 2010 1:07 pm

I was just reading through your thread, and thought I might be able to give you some helpful ideas (even though it isn't recent). I've had similar problems with my skin (since I was a teenager), although nowhere near as bad by the sound of it and greatly improved.

You mentioned Cetaphil I think? The one product that made ALL the difference for me was their antiseptic cleansing bar, and leave your skin alone (don't poke at it). Wink

Showering twice daily can dry your skin, but using the Cetaphil that regularly on the affected area is likely to help. You might want to use a different product elsewhere if your skin gets really dry.

The next thing that really helps is to ensure you disinfect your laundry and change clothes twice daily/wash cloths daily. Let your skin dry entirely after each shower, as moisture=bad. A half dozen drops of tea tree oil (or more) into your washing machine drawer helps kill bacteria etc in your laundry. I do this with every wash.

As for creams etc, I recommend Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment on the acne/folliculitis itself (or failing that, pure calendula), and even though it makes no sense, lately I've had a good experience with Jurlique's Herbal Recovery Gel.

On the rest of the body, perhaps something to help combat the dryness? Bliss moisturiser is great. I found whenever my skin was super-dry, taking those vitamins that are good for your skin made my skin really moist and I needed less moisturser.

I'm not sure if you'll read this at this point, or if you do, whether you'll try those things but they've been about 95% successful for me.

free skin care · Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:27 pm

fat_swan, do you still have the problem or you have found some solution? Can you share if you have? I wonder what worked for you eventually, if any.

If you still suffer from the same, i think I may have something in mind on what it could be... Please, update us on how you are doing now.

free skin care · Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:52 am

I really like the Psorzema line from Derma E.
the cheapest place to get it is skincarerx or else vitacost.com
(I usually price match vitacost at skincarerx for extra discounts....)

Psorzema is supposed to help w exzema.
I do not have that but have some skin reactions and dry itchy skin sometimes.

the lotion is very light and absorbs very well,great for very itchy legs and sunburns for me.
the cream is a bit thicker I do not like it as much..but it is good and I'll probably buy it again.
i like the lotion to use all over though.

the psorzema body wash is also good for very sensitive skin.I always rebuy that when i run out.

in Canada at the drugstore psorzema is almost $40
in the US it is so cheap!

Derma E unscented lotion with aloe is also very nice for itching!
once I use up my aveno I'm going to use that as my regular lotion.

free skin care · Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:21 pm

Hi, thanks for checking up on me, I've almost forgotten about this thread! Now that it's summer my acne has gotten a lot better. I still get the painful cysts, but only 1 or 2 a month, and my eczema is also totally manageable. I actually haven't done anything different in terms of my routine, but I've noticed it's usually better in the most humid months of the year. So I guess it's a good thing this topic is popping up again because now I have time to figure out a solution before winter and my eczema comes back! I'm not so much of a bar soap kind of person, but will definitely try out the Cetaphil antibacterial soap, thanks WaterDragon! Ottawa Shopper, I've used DermaE before and it wasn't rich enough for my dry skin. I will try Psorzema soon, thanks so much! And Ella Stella, please, if you have any insight as to what it is that I have, I'd love to hear it Pray

Thanks again so much for checking in on me! Wink

free skin care · Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:52 pm

fat_swan,
When I was reading your description of your "acne" two things caught my attention in particular:

1) You said: "My cysts are so deep they take about 3 weeks to go away"

2) and you said that they are "... really painful to sleep on my back or even sit upright at times". And you stressed PAINFUL several times, soo

these two particular details got me thinking that it might be not even acne.

Let me ask you:

1) When you feel the new cyst forming, do you feel any tingling, hot and pulling sensation in that spot and surrounding area, which becomes swollen and hard with no particular epicenter at first, but feels painful on touch?

2) Does the cyst ALWAYS form a white middle, which is when removed or bursts leaves a deep round hole (not like a pore size burst, but an actual hole that will heal over with the new tissue slowly)?

3) When the cyst is healed, does it leave a dark almost purple black round mark often with skin round indentation for a long time, which fades gradually over a year, leaving only indentation (like a bad acne scar)?

If all 3 questions answered "yes" then it is not acne, but staphylococcus infection that is treated by antibiotics. Normally, a doc would have to take a swap to identify which antibiotic will treat it better.

Not many doctors can identify that problem as something separate from acne or other skin problems.

I personally had an experience with that, when I visited another country, and when I came back I developed those cysts one by one all over my body (first 2 one month after the return, and then more boils 5 months after and then non stop!). But I knew where the problem was coming from and how it should be treated, but I'd changed 4 doctors before I was finally heard. I had to open the skin disease encyclopedia in one of the doctor's offices to prove my point as she was arguing with me that it was not what I thought, telling me that I should take showers more often with antibacterial soap. AHH, made me angry!

Anyway, I am NOT saying you have the same, but I just noticed a similarity in what you said, because, normally, acne is not that painful on the soft tissue of the body to make lying or sitting uncomfortable, and an acne cyst normally does not "boil" for weeks. So I thought to share with you about this infection, just in case, so that you can look at it and make sure it is really acne and not staph infection that bothers you.

(by the way a medical name for the condition I described is furunculuosis, and here is the link for pictures and description http://www.skinsight.com/adult/furunculosisFuruncle.htm)

free skin care · Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:38 pm

On the other issue of dry skin...

First of all, your water (in your household) can be very hard, which makes your skin very dry after showers, bath, hands washing etc. If you have an option, try to test it and install a water softener. If you don't have that option, try to wash with a bit of BAKING SODA (try a little bit at first on a test area to see how your eczema feels after it). In general, baking Soda makes water softer and it is very calming for many skin irritations. You will feel in on the skin kinda soapy without a soap.

Normally, I personally have water softener and I never use any commercial body washing lotions or anything for the body except a blend of:
1) extra virgin avocado oil or olive oil (or any that you mentioned before),
2) organic coconut oil
3) honey

Plus I add (but maybe not good for eczema)

4)Sea Salt, and if needed iodine (few drops) for antiseptic
5)and ground coffee beans (a bit rougher than salt)- for exfoliation

I mix it all together in any proportion and combination of said ingredients. I massage it all over the body when I shower (I cleanse, exfoliate, feed and moisturize my skin all at the same time). The result is a very soft and never dry skin ( with a bit of a tan it looks like my legs have a glamor shimmer on all the time).

However, check if any of these ingredients may be irritating for your eczema, and you can tweak the mix to suit yourself.

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