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Chronic Scalp Folliculitis - *please read*

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Posted 9/8/2019 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Firstly, hello and thank you for taking time to read my post.Any feedback or help is greatly appreciated.

Hi I am 30 years old and from Cape Town(South Africa).

I went to a dermatologist like any teen at age 14 and was placed on antibiotics for acne.In those days probiotics weren't suggest by doctors in South Africa.

The antibiotics cleared up my acne but I started developing pimples on my scalp afterwards.The dermatologist labelled it "scalp acne" and I started accutane.

I continued to see the same dermatologist as a teen and continued accutane each time.

I have been low dose accutane from age 14-30..My liver function was always checked along the way.

At age 24 I wanted to stop accutane and went to another dermatologist..He was a senior dermatologist and offically diagnosed my scalp with folliculitis.

He made a scalp wash for me that reduces oil on your scalp and also antibiotic cream.

The bacteria eventually gets use to the antibiotic in the cream and stops working.

He prescribed an oral antibiotic but it gave me tummy issues and i gave up.

I couldnt take the folliculitis and went back to taking accutane.

Age 25 I had a terrible tummy issue,diarrhea and eventually got a colonoscopy.

The gastroenterologist mentioned there is a possibility of crohns disease but would see how it progresses.

I take mesalamine aka pentasa everyday.

I have gotten sick on occassions but mesalamine has helped me.Im unsure about the diagnosis of gastro issues.My current doctor says I could have experienced a bad infection.

My gastro symptoms are under control but I am very concerned about my scalp folliculitis.

I can no longer take accutane for folliculitis.The accutane has dried up a gland in my eyes ,causes eye styes and eye infections.

The only option western medicine can offer me long term use of antibiotics.This terrifies me.

I have no idea what the effects of long term antibiotics will be.

I have experienced 2 respiratory tract infections within 2 years,athletes foot once and my gp has mentioned there is a possible fungal infection in my armpits.

I think it might be possible that I have yeast overgrowth but i am not sure.

Can somebody please provide me with advice

.If you know of a good Naturopath in Cape Town,South Africa please let me know.

I have tried the specific Carbohydrate diet in the past but didnt improve the folliculitis.

I am currently on a Keto Diet(almost 2weeks now) and my scalp hasnt improved.

I have lost so much hair , it will continue to thin and kill my hair follicles

I am so depressed and dont know what to do anymore.

Thank you for reading this far.
Posted 9/9/2019 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, sorry to read about what you are dealing with. I had to do some reading at the Mayo Clinic’s website about Folliculitis, my memory wasn’t that great. If you will visit Mayo Clinic.com & type in Folliculitis you will get some excellent information about your condition. It’s too much for me to put here.

There is more than one type of it too. People with acne & use antibiotics long term to treat it are more prone to have Folliculitis. It sounds like what you are describing to sounds like a fungal infection, not bacterial. For a fungal infection aa completely different type of antibiotics are used to treat, not sure if your dr treated you this way.

Yes, antibiotics taken long term can cause horrible gut issues. They not only destroy the bad flora but the good that is needed to balance the system. These can be bought over the counter. Long term use of antibiotics can also lead to becoming tolerant to them. Meaning when you really need one they are no longer effective.

When you had the colonoscopy done several years ago did the dr take any biopsies, if not he should have. The biopsies confirm a diagnosis. If you haven’t had one since the original you really need to have one with biopsies to get a proper diagnosis. I realize you are in a different country but here a dr would not place a patient on medication based on a maybe.

Again, check out Mayo Clinic.com & read about your condition. Take care.
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