Doctor,
I am a 24 year-old male. For the past 7 years, I have been experiencing whiteheads around my mouth, especially along the vermilion border. Blood tests have consistently come back negative for HSV-1 and 2, as well as all other STDs. I experience a new outbreak (usually an individual lesion on some part of the vermilion border) every two weeks or so.
After seeing several dermatologists and trying all sorts of topical creams/ointments (metrogel, elidel, clindomycin, etc.) and various tetracycline antiboidics (tetra, mino, and doxy), my current dermatologist diagnosed me with perioral dermatitis and prescribed Sulfacet-R, which basically made these pustules cease for about 18 months.
This past winter, the medicine suddenly stopped working, my refills were of a different version of sulfacet-r (it is now more of a clear ointment in a tube, whereas before it was a tinted cream) and I cannot get the old Sulfacet-R back, as my pharmacy said it has been discontinued. Further, the new Sulfacet-R is extremely drying on my skin, and I cannot continue treatment with it (the skin cracks/begins to pus).
Consequently, I am again experiencing the outbreaks. I am wondering, is it possible what I am experiencing is in fact a reaction to shaving? Could these pustules be ingrown hairs? They certainly look like them, as they are whiteheads that often grow a single hair out of them when fully formed. If so, how long might I have to go without shaving to notice a result?