Sensitive Skin/Ingrown Hairs/Boils

SoCo2009

Hi everyone,

Hope Im posting this in the right place. Ive been suffering from long term skin problems that are really getting me down lately and limiting my life and confidence to enter a relationship.

Basically I had acne and boils resulting from ingrown hairs. So I was put on Minocin antibiotics for the past two years which have cleared up my facial acne great. But I am still having problems with spots/boils in my pubic area, chest and shoulders.

Will I have to remain on these antibiotics all my life?

Should I remove all my body hair (laser) or just leave it grown?

On top of this I have REALLY sensitive skin so I find my skin gets very red and dry over the smallest things.

I dunno what I should be looking to alter to improve these two things? I don't know weather it is diet, alcohol, reactions to products im using (fabric softeners, washing up liquid, shower gels etc)

Please if anyone has any help or advise on any aspect of these problems please let me know. Thanks!

Aineoil

I want to reply to you as my son suffers in the same way.
The doctor says diet has nothing to do with acne and my son has a very good diet.

Fabric softeners are things I avoid as my husband has eczema and I use non bio detergents.

My son has been on two antibiotics - I forget the names of them, but his acne was so severe my doctor advised an antibiotic that to me seemed dangerous.

Just never use a tweezer on in grown hairs - makes it worse

smilerxxx

Hi there,

What really stood out to me was the boils you mentioned in your groin area? There is a skin condition called hidradenitis supperativia that causes very painful boils and abscesses, particularly in the groin area, underarm area. It is not limited to those areas however. There is a thread in long term illnesses about it. I can't link from my phone.

Not giving medical advice, all questions re medication, education, treatment options should be saved for your gp, or Dermatologist

all_smilz

try magnesium sulphate paste for the boils? best of luck

Pumpkinseeds

Have you been referred to a dermatologist? If not you should tell your GP that you want a referral. There is a thread on Acne in Long term illness on the Science forum of boards that might you might find helpful. I think the antibiotic the other poster mentioned is Roaccutane, there is a lot of discussion on that drug in the thread I mentioned.

I have a disease that causes very painful abscesses and means a lot of dressing changes, which leaves my skin very raw and sensitive. I read a lot of good reviews about natural products from a company called Moo Goo. They do stuff thats supposed to calm the skin down a lot so I've ordered some things from them. I ordered online as it was much cheaper than the pharmacy was charging. Also Hibiscrub can be very helpful in preventing infection. You can get it without prescription from pharmacies. I hope this helps. I know skin problems can be very stressful.

SoCo2009

Thanks to everyone for the great replies. Think Ill have to start using some more natural, less harsh products that would be coming into contact with my skin. At least that might improve the redness.

As for the boils, I was refereed to a dermatologist would prescribed Minocin and it has improved the situation. But the last three months have been very bad. My chest and pubic hair area is covered in red spots.

Amazingfun

SoCo2009 wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for the great replies. Think Ill have to start using some more natural, less harsh products that would be coming into contact with my skin. At least that might improve the redness.

As for the boils, I was refereed to a dermatologist would prescribed Minocin and it has improved the situation. But the last three months have been very bad. My chest and pubic hair area is covered in red spots.

I've never had a boil in my life until recently, I think it's connected to my Hashimotos/low thyroid meds, but not sure.

Anyways, I was using tea tree oil, which helped on a couple of them, but one of them seemed to just keep coming back.
I then tried a wet mix of activated charcoal (get it at the health food store), spread it on the boil with some paper towel taped overtop, and then went to bed (do not sleep on White sheets unless you want a real mess, lol.
In the morning there was a marked improvement, and it has finally stopped reforming.

Only problem is, I do have mild scarring from the three, but at least they are now gone.

looking_around

I used to have ingrown hairs in the pubic area, laser has completely solved that! (laser only works for dark hair on light skin though)

I can't really mention advice for anything else.

GL.