Fleshy Plugs Under Skin In Pores on Face

[M7166]

there is a spot on my nose that i've rubbed raw washing, trying to get these "things" out of my pores.  these are not whiteheads, nor blackheads.  these are clusters of white or fleshy hard and sticky plugs-- not filled with anything, but they stick straight out from the pores. They are not bumps.  If I rub the area w/ a towel they do not rub off at all.  I tried to remove one with tweezers, and it was very tacky (as in sticky)  and clearly goes deep under the skin.  Part of it broke off but I could still see that the pore was plugged and a day or two later top of the plug was sticking out again. i can't find ANYTHING online that looks like it.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Without examination, confirmation of a diagnosis is tough but it can be a sebaceous cyst or a cutaneous horn. A sebaceous cyst is a closed sac occurring just under the skin which contains a "pasty" or "cheesy" looking substance called keratin.They may occur anywhere on body but scalp, ears, back, face, and upper arm, are common sites for sebaceous cysts.

A cutaneous horn is a conical projection above the surface of the skin that resembles a miniature horn. Cutaneous horns usually are asymptomatic.But sometimes they can become inflamed and cause pain.

I suggest you to get an evaluation done from a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[sp11969]

Here is my advice take 6 drops of each of theses oils three times a day in a glass of water,clove,cinnamon,rosemary,red thime,lemon,oregano this is the only cure,trust me it works to kill morgellions

[ToriBS]

I have this type of acne, but have recently developed an allergy to colophony. Do you know of a colophony-free remedy? I just started Differin a few months ago (dried out my skin a lot, so now titrating from BID to QD) and have had relatively quick results. Hoping it will continue to improve! :)

[skyj95]

Hello,  I sent you a friend request last night but I do not know if it went through.  I have the very same condition and I am not insured so I can't see a dermatologist. These breakouts are a nightmare and take forever to heal.  Mine never heal until all pieces of the plugs are removed and by then I have dug so deep into my face to get them out till I am embarrassed to go out in public.  I have searched the web till my fingers were numb trying to find an answer and solution and I was so relieved to see your post.  I do not know if stomach ulcers can cause this but I have noticed both flaring up simultaneously.  I would like to find out what type acne this is and how to prevent/treat it.  Could you please keep me updated on your progress.  Thanks and I hope you are doing better.  

[LikaGar]

I’m sure I have the same thing as you; it’s awful... Any new news? I’m scared to go to the hospital because they hurt so bad after digging .

[M7166]

the doctors frankly are stumped and i'm also at the end of my rope. they did a biopsy shortly after i did this post, and nothing specific came back. i've had it treated w/ medication (pills and topical) and also laser and it'll seem to look a little better for a few days but then i'm almost to square 1. it just will not seem to heal. just today they decided to do a second biopsy, because they also find it odd and worrisome. they did diagnose me with rosacea b/c in general i am very pink with capillaries close to the skin. i blush very easily and  when i get hot my face turns ruddy. but they just do not know what this specific area on my nose is being caused by so here i sit w/ more bandages and more of my nose shaved off.

i am sorry about not having insurance and having to worry through this alone. I will post if I find anything.

[M7166]

PS It is not a subcutaneous cyst or horn as the gentleman thought it might be from the picture. I realize how hard it is to try to diagnose from a tiny picture, and I do appreciate his efforts.

[iam_seeker]

I have something similar. Hard whitish things sticking out of my pores on my nose, cheeks, chin and my jawline. ‎​​I hav beenn searching the web for answers but to no avail. they stick out like small hard white hairs. ‎​​I try to press them out without hurting my skin buh that's ‎​​so impossible because they are under all my pores ‎​​so my pores look swollen and raised. Pls let me know if you find out anything. Thank you. Hope you are better.

[slr123]

Are you freak'in kidding me!!!! I have finally heard the story of my face from you! Exactly what you described is my dilema also. I cant stand these things! No one seems to know what they are!!  And yes, untill I get them all out the spot will not heal. I have a spot I'm working on now that I nhave had for at least 4 mths. And it will leave a slight scar. Have you gotten any farther in finding any solutions? It kills me that we can fly to the moon, do brain and heart surgerys, have cures for crazy things but not a stupid little white plug in our face!!! Please let me hear from you on your search. ps i am 45 and this just started about  2 yrs ago, what the heck!!! sherri

[slr123]

Are you freak'in kidding me!!!! I have finally heard the story of my face from you! Exactly what you described is my dilema also. I cant stand these things! No one seems to know what they are!!  And yes, untill I get them all out the spot will not heal. I have a spot I'm working on now that I nhave had for at least 4 mths. And it will leave a slight scar. Have you gotten any farther in finding any solutions? It kills me that we can fly to the moon, do brain and heart surgerys, have cures for crazy things but not a stupid little white plug in our face!!! Please let me hear from you on your search. ps i am 45 and this just started about  2 yrs ago, what the heck!!! sherri

[Mermaidaaa99]

I've found 1 solution online. I have the same thing. Try an antifungal cream. It's likely ringworm.

[slr123]

hey sky any news on the face plugs? sherri

[oracle4angels]

Ive had this same condition for going on 10 years off and on, they can spead like a plage and hurt oh so godly bad, past few months mine have been dissappearing, the only difference is that Ibe started using a new soap by St Ives, its Hypoallerginic and 100% natural ingedients, Its called St Ives Exfollating with sea kelp and mineral salt, I suggest you give this a try, the soap will burn a bit on newly opened sores but Ive had them clear up within a matter of days after using this, its cheap and can be store bought and its worth giving a try! It works on me! :)

[Dutchy1971]

Thanks for the tip.

[Muffin401]

Hello everyone,

My name is Shevon and I have suffered with the same systems for 17 years. I have gone to dermatologist but no one ever gave me a solution to the problem. This thing has spread all over my body and I am in constant pain. It's looks like red oval sores all over and these white spike things are in my skin. I don't where short sleeves or skirts because of it. I also can't find any images of it, hope someone has the answer...I want my life back!!!

[Dutchy1971]

Sorry others have the same stuff I do. I just turned 41 and have had these issues forever. They start out with a little burning and itching, grow into a red lump, and will not pop like a normal pimple. Of course after washing and messing with them, they always open into a sore and there they are... the white things The sores will not heal until all the white things are pulled out (usually with tweezers). When I finally went to the dermatoligists and told her this she looked at me like I was crazy. She could not tell me what they are and how to get rid of them. This last time I was sick when I broke up in several on the neck, face, & chest. The derm said I had folliculits and staph infection (probably from the open wounds). She said to leave the white things alone, that they would work themselves out on their own.. Basically she told me I was like a picker to feel the need to pull the white things out.. Of course I did not believe it. She told me to mess with one like normal and let one heal on its own as an experment. It bothered me so bad to not pull those white things out to hurry the healing as i feel so gross with the sores. I hate that she was right, but the 2nd sore I left alone healed faster. Day after day I could see the white things migrating up and out of the sore when I washed it. I kept it very clean and covered it with the little round bandaids. The reason I am sharing this is I have no answers to what they are, but I do know it makes us prone to staph infection with the open sores and trust me, it *****. They are so irratating, and were almost impossible for me to resist getting my faitful tweezers out and pulling at the white things. Those little round band aids help a lot :) If anyone learns anything new to help this, please let me know as i was given no info on how to prevent this.

[djkc]

FOLLICULITIS. That's GOT to be IT!! I get these on my forearms (in my 40's). When you bother them or pick at them, and create an open wound, they are always an almost perfectly circular sore around the hair follicle. And yes, the white hard cyst-like thing is right exactly in the middle, in the pore. Strangely, they do itch a little sometimes (like a minor mosquito bite would), like it WANTS you to pick at it. Thanks for your reply comment, Dutchy1971 (I'm 1970, btw). It helped a lot. So, leaving them alone will help heal faster? And they come out on their own? I'll try that. And we don't have to worry much that we have some sort of severe life-threatening infection or anything. Right?

[djkc]

FOLLICULITIS. That's GOT to be IT!! I get these on my forearms (in my 40's). When you bother them or pick at them, and create an open wound, they are always an almost perfectly circular sore around the hair follicle. And yes, the white hard cyst-like thing is right exactly in the middle, in the pore. Strangely, they do itch a little sometimes (like a minor mosquito bite would), like it WANTS you to pick at it. Thanks for your reply comment, Dutchy1971 (I'm 1970, btw). It helped a lot. So, leaving them alone will help heal faster? And they come out on their own? I'll try that. And we don't have to worry much that we have some sort of severe life-threatening infection or anything. Right?

[NitaCM]

Hello,

I believe I know what you all are experiencing. I'm not a doctor, but I've had the same symptoms and sores that you describe. They are called cystic lesions or cystic acne. Additionally, because they have the word "cyst" in the name does not mean they are cancerous. They are benign. My doctor diagnosed me with them recently and they can occur for various reasons. In my case, it is a hormonal problem, so I have been put on oral contraceptives. I am uncertain whether all women may want to consider that as treatment, but that is what I'm using now. Topicals and stuff don't work, since it is a hormonal issue, they will keep coming back unless I have the medication.

As for guys, I'm not sure what the problem may be. You may want to visit your doctor and mention cystic acne as a possibility. Bring in some research from credible sources on the internet to back up your findings, as this is usually the only way a doctor will actually listen to you.

For those of you without insurance, there is another method you can try. My sister had these as well, not quite as bad as mine (or some of you with yours, for that matter) but we did some research and found that Nature's Cure works. It cleared hers up within six months. She also used the topical that came with it.

Moreover, both she and I are gluten intolerant. So, when we eliminated gluten from our diet, we both saw a significant decrease in these cystic lesions. Before going gluten free, I used to have five to seven of them on my face at a time, and usually all the time. Now I only get one or two every so often. They got worse around my period. When I mentioned this and other symptoms to my doctor, including giving her my research I did, she agreed it was the cystic acne.

I hope this information helps. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, but many of you said it isn't the cutaneous horns. Mine aren't either, so I'm assuming it is the condition I mentioned. I wish you the best!

- Nita

[Susieishere]

Sounds like a BIOFILM.  Very tough once they anchor in place.  They can be treated prior to the anchoring, or what the scientists call "colonization"....can't you just see the colonies and as they form, they stand up in place, unwilling to budge.  Caused by a variety of different pathogens, some from the soil being stirred up, to sewage backing up...also, if the doctors do not specify which disease to search for, in some cases, and if they don't put your sample on the correct medium, then you will miss a diagnosis.  Pseudomonas can also cause a nasty situation, along with infection from a tooth that hasn't had that root canal yet because you're too broke to put $1200 in your mouth.  In that case, you can get a bacteria that is fungal like in nature, throwing the apple cart upside down.  That one is called actinomyces israelii--little crystals-like sparkles thingies.  Other than the last disease, research showed a great deal of success for recovery with a good quality colloidal silver, believe it or not.  There was little success with antibiotics and hydrogen perioxide and other agents.  See, the biofilm is like a waxy thing and the disease is inside the wax coating, making it very difficult for antibiotics to reach.  I would imagine if it were on top of my nose, I would try and soak silver on pads and leave it on for several hours at a time, along with a trial run of ten days orally or so--not much silver, too.  Make sure you read the lable that you are getting silver, too, and not a homeopathic solution.  Another solution would be some powerful oils from a Chinese doctor, but you need the right doctor and the right solution or you are spinning your wheels.   Shame on doctors and specialists for discounting your condition and not giving you any answers.

[FrustratedinCT]

What is the ppm and particle size of Silver Colloidal you recommend?

[Susieishere]

check out Molluscum Contagiosum--yeah, you have to get the "corn" out for it to heal--or so we think.  It seems that more and more, dermatologists are quick to call us "pickers" and like to think we are self mutilating when they have no diagnosis at hand.  That was a good experiment, however.

[Susieishere]

also, should get a biospy to rule about a more serious condition.

[Susieishere]

I see you had one already; then it's a biofilm.

[swh76]

It's a staph infection - i had something that looked exactly like that and in the same spot. Initially suspected as MRSA, but the cultures indicated others - just regular staph. A ten-day course of oral antibiotics with a prescription cream took care of it. The only effective OTC cream that i've found for treating this is Curad's new silver antibiotic cream, but i doubt it would be very effective at eliminating yours, as it looks fairly deep.

[frankenkittie]

These are enlarged sebaceous glands.  I get these all the time underneath any pimple I get.  The pimple comes back until I dig out the "bulb" deep under it.  I showed a dermatologist what I was doing, and she said I am pulling out the actual sebaceous glands!  This is self-surgery, and very dangerous.  Spirano-Lactone is a wonderful drug for calming this condition.

[2befearless]

Spironolactone is a diuretic.  You are treating yourself for inflammation?  

Inflammation causes literally every disease [almost.]   A recent bit of research indicates that you can treat inflammation by increasing the Luteolin in your diet.  This is an EASY thing to do if you just add some herbs to your diet:  [Mexican] oregano, peppermint, sage, thyme, bell peppers, radicchio, and celery seeds.  Other veg, herbs and a couple of fruits lemon & blueberry.

IN order by wt/value Veg/Fruit:  Radicchio, Green sweet pepper, Green Serrano Pepper, Green Hot Chili Pepper, Chicory Greens, Celery, Lemon, [actual] Pumpkin, red leaf lettuce, artichoke- globe or French, kohlrabi [root], peppers jalapeno, peppers yellow sweet, spinach, broccoli, green leaf lettuce,  cantaloupe, watermelon, peppers red sweet, navel oranges, pink and red grapefruit, kiwi, beets, cabbage pak cho Chinese cabbage savory [bok choy? try baby bok choy], brussels sprouts, lettuce cos or romaine, lotus root, cabbage, cauliflower, blueberries, chives, snap green beans, cabbage red, collards, carrots, sweet potato leaves.  

[deleats]

If this is the same thing I have, white are what feel like rough patches of skin, with little white things sticking out of the pores. They look like white heads, but they dont squeeze out quite as well or as easily as white heads can. I notice they go away for a few days if I do hot yoga, where I am sweating for 90 minutes, or after a long run. So cleaning from the inside out seems to be the case.

To be entirely honest i think its the body trying to detox. I didn't get these until I started drinking two 44oz sodas a day(because my job was stressin me). Processed foods have a lot of toxins and not many nutrients, and Ive read that if your body spends more time and energy trying to get rid of those toxins without enough energy from nutrients the body shuts other organs and processes down, to dedicate its energies to getting rid of toxins. My hair is thinning on top of this face thing. So ive decided to do the master cleanse to clean my body out.. ill let you all know if it works.

[deleats]

oops, sorry frankenkittie, my comment was meant towards everyone

[yousarocker]

I am a 40 y.o. female suffering from this same issue with the pores on my face. It started 3 years ago with a red spot right on the tip of my nose. I picked and dug out the little white plugs until they were gone, but scarring occured and now there is a crater on my nose, lol. The plugs "spread" over to my cheeks and chin. They have cleared up over the years but do flare up on occasion. The scarring from picking and digging at them is terrible (my own fault, I know). Just tonight I pulled the biggest plug yet from my chin, it left a bleeding wound. I've searched the internet as well without luck as to what this condition might be.

[Rustycage]

Same thing here. Started on nose in one cluster (at 50 yrs old), removed all white plugs and it finally after several months went away. Then it spread to cheeks, chin, forehead, even temples. It finally cleared up on forehead, temple areas but got very aggressive in smile line area of face and chin. Just when they look like they're going away and relatively smooth - except for the scars - all hell breaks loose. Now, it's also back to origin place on nose and it's horrible. It's a large area, painful and now severly cratered! It's been about eight months since this area went crazy. I too have been to 3 different Dermatologists and they look at me like I'm crazy. They think it's acne or milia but it doesn't quite sound the same to me after all my futile research. One website stated that Vitamin D supplementation can cause such problems. I was doing that a few months before this started so I was wondering if any of you were using Vit D? This condition will remove just about every ounce of self-esteem. I only go out when I have to work, get food, etc. Oh and it's been 4 years since this began. And, I did an experiement with a small area and left some of these little xxxxx in place. Yes it closes up but then it eventually swells back up and there they are. They have also fused together and come out in large "chunks". I've tried many natural remedies but still looking.

[HAC1982]

This may seem like an odd question, but do you have gasto-intestinal issues as well (cramping, constipation/diareah, mucous in stool, etc)? If so, you may be suffering from a fungal infection. I'd been getting progressively sicker over the past few years and none of the many specialists I went to could figure out the cause of my MANY symptoms (broad range, developed over time so they seemed unrelated). After doing my own research, I discovered I had severe yeast (candida albicans) overgrowth in my digestive tract & lungs, which made me susceptible to other fungal infections, including aspergillus which caused white sacks/spikes rooted deep in my skin to pop up on my ears, face, neck, thighs & chest. Topical Over The Counter (OTC) antifungal creams helped a little, but I found treating from the inside out by killing the fungus and boosting my immune system was the best approach. I highly recommend  Syntol by Andrew Arthur Medical to everyone fighting a fungal infection as it's an oral supplement containing many yeast digesting enzymes in addition to multiple strains of probiotic spores (spore germination = better  recolonization of good bacteria). Syntol can be purchased online and in select health stores like The Vitamin Shoppe). Oddly enough, the product I found to work BEST topically is a nasal wash I found at Walgreens called ALKALOL. It contains essential oils known for their antimicrobial  properties so i decided to apply it to my skin by saturating cotton rounds and applying it like you would a facial toner. This magical liquid did more for my skin in one day than the typical OTC antifungals had done in months (yes, MONTHS). I even pour some in my bath along with organic coconut oil (another antifungal) and Epsom salt (replaces magnesium in the body and eases discomfort by drawing out toxins).

Below is a link to the Candida Questionnaire developed by Dr. Crook which can help you determine if yeast or other fungi are negatively affecting your health. 
  http://www.flora-balance.com/candida_questionnaire_long.php

[HAC1982]

FYI I also recommend Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree liquid soap (one with the orange label) as it contains antimocrobial essential oils (does not clog pores or leave skin oily). Avoiding sugar & antibiotics was also key for me. I hope this helps!