Facial Cysts with Ingrown Hair

[sloaneylou]

Dr. Rockoff,

Have you ever heard of the type of situation I am facing?  I've been to 8 dermatologists, an endocrinologist, and an internist, but no one seems to be able to figure this one out!

I'm a 33 year old woman who always had "perfect" skin until I hit my thirties.  Over the past three or four years, I've experienced a steady stream of boils/cysts on my face - all on my jawline, as well as an occasional one on my forehead.  The breakouts intensify about one week before my period.

I've been put on various antibiotics...I've received cortisone shots...and have also taken prednisone, but to no avail.  My face will clear up, only to break out again - in the exact same places where the cysts previously appeared.

In the last year or so, the situation has become worse.  These welts are huge - and unbelievably painful.  Even though I know I am not supposed to pick at them, the pain is so bad, I have done so anyway.  And to my horror, I realized that not only is there pus inside these cysts, but hairs as well.  Some of these hairs are vellus.  Once I pulled out a vellus hair that was SIX inches long.  

In other cysts, the hairs are incredibly coarse, much thicker than hair anywhere else on a human body.  Most recently, I pulled out a 2-and-a-half inch coarse hair from a cyst on my forehead.  I didn't even know that hair could grow out of one's forehead!  The pain caused by these hairs is unreal - I truly believe they are getting wrapped up around nerves.  For instance, with this forehead welt, before I took out the hair, I touched the cyst - and the pain extended down to my eyebrow and all the way up to my scalp.

Once I extract the hair, much of the pain subsides... and the cyst is able to heal up and go away.  However, in a few months, the welts come back - in the exact same places.

When I went to the endocrinologist, he did not feel this was PCOS, because I do not have a broad pattern of male hair growth, just in selected places.  Also of note: I have been prescribed spironlactone but have not been on it for very long (3 months approx), and so do not know if this will be of much help.

So, my questions are:
* Should I have these cysts surgically removed?
* Should I go on accutane?
* Have you ever heard of long hairs within facial cysts?  If so, do you believe that the acne is stimulating the hair growth, or vice versa?

I am so discouraged - I feel I have tried everything possible to rid myself of this horrible acne - and, so, any advice you might have would be helpful.  Thanks!!

[ritakaye]

my daughter has not had any help from several drs she has gone to in the past few months. Does anyone else have diabetes or female problems ? My daughter has both. maybe we can find a common link here. Best wishes to all. Rita

[Joe Antonelli III]

Hi, I got this problem too but I'm male and you all seem to be female.  Well I allways seem to have these ingrown hairs after I shave.  If i look closely in the mirror i can see the hair growing under the skin.  Typically what I do is get a pin or something to bring the hair to the skin then pluck it out with a tweezer.  However sometimes these hairs get so far deep inside they make a huge cyst that just hurts like crazy.  It is incredibly ugly to look at and feels like my face is throbbing from the blood flow or something (maybe i'm crazy). I once pulled one out that had to be over 10 inches long and I shave everyday so that thing must have been in there growing for like a month or so.  Anyone know of anything I can do for this?  I have Crohn's disease so I cannot take Accutane because it would be too harsh on my stomach.  I've tried every over the counter thing including Proactiv.   Thank you,

Joey
856-308-4813
if any of you girls want to call me and talk about these things or possibly hook up or something online give me a call.

[Edthebruce]

I am a 38 year old African American male who has encountered a similar problem beginning two years ago. In my situation, I don't have long hairs inside of the pustules, but hairs nontheless are present. I have been to 3 or 4 dermatologists who just want to prescribe oral antibiotics. I have tried multiple topical products for acne (if that's what it is) as well as microdermabrasion, chemical peels and facials. Problem is, the situation may improve for a while, but it returns in the same area and then all anyone can do is shake their head and say that they don't understand why this is happening.

At first I had this problem in my "goatee" area years ago, then it cleared up. Now, in the last few years, it has moved to my cheek area, where the dermatologists seem to think I have no hair. (I thought humans had hair all over their body!?) Anyway, it started on my right cheek, and I had no problem on my left side. After dealing with the painful bumps for months,(trying everything to pop them because that is the only way to get relief) it cleared up, only to move to the left side. I thought that it might be happening now because I sleep on my left side more often and that the pillow might be causing some clogging of the pores, but I just don't know.

My most recent dermatologist has me once again on antibiotics and just a very mild sensitive skin soap and is threatening accutance if it doesn't work.

Will accutane work for this situation? Does anyone know what this affliction is called? Are there any other treatments out there that don't cost an arm and a leg THAT WORK?

I am at the end of my rope.

[patto]

I am so happy to discover that I am not alone in this facial hair dilemma; Girlfriends, I am thirty two and started having this problem when i turned thirty. I had never seen anything like it and have tried several treatments, but have gotten no relief.it has been most frustrating! I get those same unsightly, painful bumps that have hair in them. I can't help but squeeze then-very bad habit, and so now my face has scars. Has any of you guys found a safe and natural treatment yet? do let me know. In the meanwhile, just know you're all not alone, and I am praying for us all that soon we'll be rid of this emotionally and physically distressing situation

[patto]

I am so happy to discover that I am not alone in this facial hair dilemma; Girlfriends, I am thirty two and started having this problem when i turned thirty. I had never seen anything like it and have tried several treatments, but have gotten no relief.it has been most frustrating! I get those same unsightly, painful bumps that have hair in them. I can't help but squeeze then-very bad habit, and so now my face has scars. Has any of you guys found a safe and natural treatment yet? do let me know. In the meanwhile, just know you're all not alone, and I am praying for us all that soon we'll be rid of this emotionally and physically distressing situation

[meddy]

I'm with you.  It's very embarrasing and painful. So frustrating when doctors don't really look at it and just say it's acne.  I don't have a social life anymore - it's too gross.