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Horrible, painful acne

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Posted 4/22/2015 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
For some reason, I randomly burst out with horrible acne about 2 weeks ago. Its all on my chin (which has cleared up a bit these past few days), and covering my neck to the point I cant even turn my head sideways. I had the exact same thing happen when I came off prednisone over a year ago and it lasted about 4 months. It's fairly normal for that to happen with prednisone though, and I can't think of a reason why this would happen to me right now. Here is a little info and background on what I think could be causing it, any ideas or opinions of why this could happen would be greatly appreciated.

-I went tanning 3 times in total, starting 2 weeks ago. My skin got worse after the first one, and kept getting worse after the 2d and 3d time I went. I didn't clue in that it was the tanning until after my third and final session. This is the most likely culprit, however I haven't been back in 8 days, you'd think things would calm down by now? I went tanning a few times about 3 years ago, and I never had a break out before from it.

-My diet has been roughly the same for about 2 months, so I can't see it being diet related.

-I started niccotine patches to help with my flare (I've never smoked before) - this does seem to be helping with the flare though! I've read that these don't cause acne. Anyone know?

-I'm not on any meds that could cause this.

-I am on a study drug (basically the same as Entyvio), could this be making me more sensitive to the sun, causing acne? I've been on it for about 7 months now.

HELLLLLP :( I can't go out in public it's so awful and painful. I need to take tylonal every once and a while just to take the edge off.
Posted 4/22/2015 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, I had a similar issue on my face, back and other places when I got diagnosed. Can't help you with the reason cause I don't know what causes it.

I use sebamed clear face care gel on my pimples and that controls my breakout, completely clearing up my face. Also I apply coconut oil before going to bed at night, wash it off in the morning and apply the care gel. You can use the care gel on other parts of your body also.

I've been following the above regimen for over a year and whenever I stop the pimples come back.
The following url provides details about the product

http://www.sebamed.com/products/product.html?tx_nsproductdatabase_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=120&lastpid=1403&cHash=e839f6bbbe9a07e0647a4314e218bf40

Post Edited (fuzzyboy786) : 4/22/2015 10:30:03 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/22/2015 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
You might want to look at Manuka Honey, which you can buy online, I use it for my undercarriage and it seems to help a lot, its the most potent antibacterial honey available.

I cut and pasted this for you......

Anti inflammatory properties greatly reduce inflammation (ie. redness and swelling) of breakouts, cysts and pimples

The anti bacterial power reduces the severity of breakouts and speeds up healing

Has a brightening effect and works very well to reduce and prevent scarring

Hydrating and soothing - an excellent treatment to rebalance skin, particularly if you suffer from dryness and dehydration as well as acne
Posted 4/22/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see why tanning would cause acne. It sounds like cystic acne if it's really painful. Maybe you should see a dermatologist. I am going to see an endocrinologist for my acne, i think mine is hormonal. For me, nothing OTC ever seems to help. Sometimes antibacterial skin soaps can help or a toner with witch hazel or alcohol. If it's bacterial and on the skin that is. If it's like mine and it's hormonal, I need spirnolactone or something that changes the hormones. I was taking bactrim antibiotic and my skin improved a lot. Antibiotics are probably your best bet. Low dose they can kill off the bacteria. You need to go to the doctor to get anything helpful unfortunately. UNless you're going to give the soaps and toners a try. I am sorry. Acne is terrible. My face is a mess too. I shouldn't be in public haha.
Posted 4/22/2015 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
I just find it odd/confusing how it was so sudden. My skin wasn't even bad before, then all of a sudden I go tanning and I'm completely covered in it. Just doesn't make sense to me. I agree with you though notsosicklygirl, it does seem more hormonal but I don't understand why it would just come out like that so aggressively. I did do some research and tanning can cause acne, but I just thought it would have been gone by now. Ugh, so confusing.
Posted 4/22/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Frankly this sounds like shingles and not acne. Have you shown it to a DR?
Posted 4/22/2015 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
kazbern may be right - maybe it's something else. Acne shouldn't be so painful that you can't turn your head, plus coming on right after the tanning bed, and to go on for a long period of time without any break? Usually my acne comes and goes. It's bad for a couple weeks and then it's decent for a while...
Posted 4/22/2015 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've seen people with very bad acne on their face and it looks painful, I didn't know the shingles rash could happen on one's face.... know hormones can affect acne and possibly diet too (although they say eating chocolate for example doesn't cause acne) I think if you're not getting enough nutrients or eating a fairly balanced diet it can easily affect your skin via acne....stress can also be a culprit for acne as well.

You can try mashing a banana (some use a banana peel) but I find if I mush up a small amount of banana and then rub it gently on your skin it really helps clear up acne (I've done this as I get some just before my menstrual cycle) I leave it on for a while (an hour or so) then gently cleanse it off and it makes the redness of the acne much better and seems to clear it up faster than anything else I've ever tried.
Posted 4/22/2015 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
I once had a HSV outbreak after a sunburn that covered my chin and hurt like the dickens. No one called it shingles then (I was 19) - I thought it was just an extension of a lip blister, but thinking back it was probably shingles.

A friend of mine currently has a shingles outbreak on her forehead that she thought was either a pimple or a bug bite.

So yeah, I'd take that rash to the DR.
Posted 4/23/2015 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Could be the meds but I think the tanning was the cause.
Get some daily or nightly cream (these are like vitamin creams) which will heal the damage done by the tanning. You can also use Vicks vapor rub on the ones that are under the skin.
Drink much more water, this will help cleanse the body in general and your face. Just don't torture your face with scrubs or anything. (Speaking from experience).
Posted 4/23/2015 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
It may very well have to do with the study drug you're on right now, did they mention anything to you about avoiding tanning and the sun? since you're on a study drug you should probably mention the skin issue you're having to whomever is looking after you (your GI?) while you're on this med.
Posted 4/25/2015 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I spoke to my GI running the study, and I'm not more sensitive to the sun because of this drug. I went to my family doc and both him and my pharmacist believe that it's from the tanning beds. I was prescribed some Minocin, should help calm things down quick. I'll be bumping up my probiotics to 60 billion/day to keep the good stuff around. Hopefully this helps! What a week this has been, if its not the UC going crazy, something else seems to pop up out of no where to ruin things -_-
Posted 5/2/2015 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Just thought I'd post an update. I've been taking the Minocin for 8 days now. I started with 100mg a day, then went to 200mg after a few days to see if it bothered my UC. Doesn't seem be be bothering my UC, and my face has cleared up dramatically! Another week or two and I think I'll be completely clear :) Must have been from the tanning, won't be doing that again!
Posted 5/2/2015 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
That's great! What a relief you must feel now, so glad it's working out for you after all with the acne meds, I hate when I get breakouts (pretty sure mine are stress and hormone related) they just add to making you feel even worse, and when it's painful that's just another pain to deal with.
Posted 5/2/2015 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for updating. I was actually just thinking about you.
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