Acne / Rash Solutions

[conductingchaos]

Starting to get a bit of body acne in the middle of my cycle. Last time I didn't get it until PCT and it stuck around for awhile turning into pretty bad cystic acne until my platoon medic in Iraq got me on some doxycycline.

I'm currently using a product called Acnetame which is mainly Pantothenic Acid. It does help keep my skin from becoming super oily, I can tell the difference when I don't take it but still getting some acne.

I'm using SAL3 soap which is 3% Salicylic Acid, 10% Sulfur. Works pretty well to keep my skin dry as well but lately people at work have been complaining that I smell like cooked spinach or spoiled milk so I need to use a body wash after that lol. Rinsing with cold water to close pores as well.

I have Oxy pads, also Salicyclic Acid to hit trouble spots.

I ordered some more doxycycline on my own and started taking that again however I don't want to run antibiotics for my entire cycle. Really no longer than a month at a time. I'm considering trying to cycle it.

I also seem to be breaking out in an itchy rash on one bicep. I have no idea what from. It's not spreading from that area. It didn't start until I started Deca but it's not near the injection sites.
I had a lot of blood drawn over the past few weeks and I've considered that it's an allergic reaction to the rubber tie off that they use. That's exactly where they tie off at and my father has an allergy to certain kinds of rubber though I never have. I considered that they reuse this band on multiple patients and I picked up some kind of fungus from it but again it's not spreading, just looks like heat rash and itchy.
It's strange because I grow hair on that bicep and not the other. I considered maybe it's elevated DHN from the Deca that could be causing new body hair growth and the hair poking through the skin is what's itchy and the rash is just from myself itching it?

Ideas?

 

[Ricnixon]

Two topical products work for me really well. Call me crazy but they work for my skin.

Sulfur soap 10% I know your using the combo, I think that's a script and pricey. I buy the bar on amazon 6 bucks leave on for 30 seconds. Smells....but I use it only before bed. You don't wanna dry out your skin too much. That will cause more oil production.

Also, nizoral shampoo I use it as body/face wash. Really helped me.

I have also tried to lower my dht levels (just a little bit tho) with saw palmetto recommended by my trt Doc. Take it mon wed fri. This combo has my skin almost perfect. But acne has so many causes everyone is different as far as what triggers it.

As far as your bicep might wanna get that checked out by a derm. Could be anything and always wanna check for staph as it comes in all different types and that blood draw using that same tie off makes me a little concerned.

 

[conductingchaos]

The soap is on Amazon for 6 bucks as well. What's special about the shampoo? I'll have to look into it.

Deca converts to DHN rather than DHT. I am on test as well so I get where you're coming from with the DHT but my test vial was severely underdosed so I'm still within normal ranges (which I'm thankful for still getting some exogenous test while on the Deca). Just got my new vials that are g2g.

I wouldn't say that my skin is too dry yet. We'll see after I've been on the doxy for a week but I've had good results with it in the past.

I've asked my medic about the rash. The typical response they give is always, draw a circle around it with sharpie and if it gets any bigger we'll get you seen. Since mine isn't spreading this doesn't help. Gotta love the Army.

As far as the tie off, I never really thought about it until now so I'm sure the people at LabCorp haven't either. I plan to ask about it next time I go in.

 

[Ricnixon]

The nizoral shampoo has ketoconazole 1% which helps eliminate the dht in the hair follicle. This stuff really changed my skin. Because I take large amounts of testosterone and I'm sensitive to Dht, probably because dht is a much stronger androgen. I'm gonna plagerize this study.....

Among other causes, acne is often the result of hormonal imbalances, more specifically DHT—the same hormone that causes men to lose their hair. DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone, is a hormonal byproduct of testosterone that naturally occurs in both men and women.

In this study, the researchers demonstrated that ketoconazole amplifies the inhibition of DHT (dihydrotestosterone, an androgen produced from tesoterone) that is begun by finasteride. Therefore, the combination of oral finasteride and topical ketoconazole is the most effective way to treat androgenetic alopecia.

I'm not trying to eliminate dht just lower it to manage my skin...... and so far it's been a complete 180 for me.

 

[Ricnixon]

But Im with you on the deca bro. During the cycle I had clear skin...... after...... fuck stand by for some deep cysts on my back

 

[Bj990]

dapsone cream works great but it's more for inflammation. And it's crazy expensive but if you're desperate and don't want to go for accutane it's a good option. They have manufacturer coupons to help.

 

[Nutpuncher]

I used nizoral shampoo as a body wash too. I got Idea from a TRT forum. I also have gotten cystic acne on my jawline and middle center back. Tren is the biggest calpurit. And in 2nd place is a muthafuckin.....SARM called LGD.

Use exfoliating scrub. First I was my face with bar soap (lather hands w/ soap and then wash face and then use bar soap to wash body. 2nd I used a back scrubber with nizoral shampoo and then use back scrubber/brush for entire body up to my Adam's apple. 3rd I use Target brand apricot face scrub. Takes me under 10mins.

When that doesn't work, I go Pharma. Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution 1% does the trick. Takes 1-2 months. And if that doesn't work, I have other Rx for other Pharma acne meds, but I haven't had to get yet and I don't know if still available or expired.

Get your rash checked out by a doctor before you scratch your arm off (not kidding about seeing doctor, but kidding about arm falling off)

 

[conductingchaos]

I need to get one of those back scrubbers. I can't really reach back there anymore ha. I did get a back scratcher for christmas a couple years ago, that thing is perfect.

At least LGD doesn't give you weird vision problems like S4.

 

[kelso312]

Try Vitamin A and Benzoyl peroxide. Accutane is a form of Vitamin A. Benzoyl peroxide works better on cystic acne for me in the past that Salycidic Acid did.

 

[Nutpuncher]

I need to get one of those back scrubbers. I can't really reach back there anymore ha. I did get a back scratcher for christmas a couple years ago, that thing is perfect.

At least LGD doesn't give you weird vision problems like S4.

Back scratchers are such a great invention. I agree, at least LGD didn't give me vision problems like S4. S4 scares me because I don't think S4 has been around long enough to understand what the potential long term side effect may be.

 

[Nutpuncher]

I just saw Differin Gel at Bartell's OTC. It says it's FDA approved for ance. I remembered reading about it. Nice to have OTC alternatives