I have big boob and Braille on the underside
October 22, 2021 10:20 AM   Subscribe

I have the biggest boobs I've seen in real life (ok, an odd reality star might have walked part me, but I bet she didn't grow them all by herself. These magnificent but middle-aged mammories have pores on the underside just wishing they were pimples. They are tiny and hard to squeeze: because they are tiny and I am not an acrobat. Other than sandpaper (which I don't think will work, thank you pert-breasted Anja), how do I rid myself of these tiny little annoyances. I have recently had my breasts squished for free (thank you Australian Gov who now wants a stool sample) and they reassured me 2 (!) pairs of eyes thought my books were cancer-free

No, no pictures.
posted by b33j to Health & Fitness (21 answers total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
Soaking in a bathtub instead of showers might help. Changing the detergent you use to wash your bras might help. Changing to a clean bra every day might help, especially if you're somewhere hot. Corn starch? Consult a dermatologist? Facial blackhead scrub?

Mine are not as big but still, at times, annoying. I hope you get this resolved soon.
posted by mareli at 10:28 AM on October 22, 2021


Try contacting an esthetician. They're geniuses at ridding bodies of all kinds of little bumps. They could probably give you some guidance as to how to avoid them in the future too.
posted by mezzanayne at 10:29 AM on October 22, 2021


Maybe a nylon bath towel? I do not have big boobs so maybe mine aren't as sensitive, but I use these all over my body and don't find it painful, and my bumpy areas have felt much smoother. I am pretty sure I'm using this one but they might come in different levels of abrasiveness.
posted by sm1tten at 10:33 AM on October 22, 2021


Sounds like possibly Keratosis Pilaris. The page I linked has some suggestions for skincare. I've had this issue on my upper arms and backs of my thighs. I'm not great at using lotion, but I do notice it gets somewhat better when I use exfoliating gloves in the shower. Also, it improves a LOT when I remember to take fish oil regularly. This makes sense as it has been linked to a fatty acid deficiency.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:36 AM on October 22, 2021 [4 favorites]


Have you tried an exfoliating moisturizer? I really like Paula's Choice 10% AHA body lotion. I find it does a decent job of keeping keratosis pilaris at bay, though I'm not sure if that's what you have. I use an AHA toner that also helps with milia on my face so I just kind of think of it as a miracle when it comes to bumps on skin.
posted by misskaz at 10:37 AM on October 22, 2021 [5 favorites]


Not sandpaper, but exfoliation is a component. You can use a shower scrubbie, Japanese beauty skin towel, loofah etc or you can use a scrubby cleanser (but please use one that is sewer/ocean-safe).

Really, any gentle skincare routine for facial blocked pores/blackheads/pebbly skin will work. You can use a low-concentration salicylic acid treatment or other chemical exfoliant instead of a scrubby cleanser (but do use some kind of cleanser, because removing sweat/accumulated oils/sloughed skin is part of what you need to do).

None of this is instant, same as if it was your face, but you should see improvement over time if you maintain a bit of a skin-care routine there.

Also if you are not a diligent bra-washer (lots of people aren't, it's a thing) you should do that. And if you don't have enough bras to make that happen, you may need to increase your inventory. There's also bra liners, I have never had great success with them but I do know some people who have, and that would let you use a clean one daily (or more than daily).
posted by Lyn Never at 10:37 AM on October 22, 2021 [3 favorites]


keeping fabric between boobs and ribcage might help, maybe by wearing something like a breast nest which you wash frequently to avoid oil buildup
posted by nouvelle-personne at 10:41 AM on October 22, 2021


Hi, I'm in the same boob-boat.

Things that have helped:

- Daily treatment with an alcohol-free salycilic acid toner
OR
- Daily treatment with a lactic acid (heh) serum

Sometimes that's not enough. (like now, actually...) In the past, I've gone to a doctor and they prescribed an acne treatment that works. I should go back and do that.
posted by homodachi at 10:53 AM on October 22, 2021


Another fan of the Japanese/Korean bath scrubby towel things here. I got one when I was still in a cast right after breaking my knee and wanted to give my feet some attention in a sponge bath - and not only did it not hurt, the happy moans I was making about how good it felt made my roommate briefly wonder if I was watching porn.

I still have it - I got the ultra-scrubby one. I don't use it every day, only every few days when I'm also washing my hair. It's awesome.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:54 AM on October 22, 2021


Also omg please don't squeeze them. I have a couple of scars from trying to extract a boob-pimple where it instead inverted itself and drove it deeper into the skin. Given enough time, the head will harden and fall out. (I also think baths can help here.)
posted by homodachi at 10:55 AM on October 22, 2021 [2 favorites]


Nthing the Japanese Body towel, at first with some antibacterial soap, and once it's cleared with just water or regular soap. It was life changing for both my boobs and my KP arms.
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:22 AM on October 22, 2021


I have persistent folliculitis on the back of my thighs and butt. Nothing, and I do mean absolutely freaking nothing, including many of the suggestions in this thread, made even the tiniest bit of difference until a dermatologist suggested using a daily 10% benzoyl peroxide wash like this one. Cleared them up within a week and they haven't been back.
posted by anderjen at 12:55 PM on October 22, 2021


I came to also suggest salicylic acid. I suggest asking this question on the skincare addiction reddit as the people there have vast knowledge and experience of skincare problems and the best actives to treat them.
posted by roolya_boolya at 1:52 PM on October 22, 2021


If you are interested in the Salux nylon Japanese towel (they are, in fact, great), please buy it directly from them and not potential counterfeits on Amazon or ebay or wherever.
posted by glonous keming at 2:03 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]


Gentle chemical exfoliation (so not harsh scrubbing with scratchy things but a chemical in a soap or other liquid treatment that helps slough away gunk) is what has helped me. I managed to wrangle it with an OTC acne wash intended for the face and other “sensitive areas” but you might need Rx strength. I also spend a lot of time without a bra on. I highly suggest whipping them off as soon as you get in the door, and if you’d like some support while leaning over doing chores try a stretchy tshirt that’s a little small for you, which will keep things contained without compressing the skin around where your bra strap sits. You can even tuck something in the underboob if you feel sweaty - flour sack towels are soft and lovely and you can cut one up into strips. Definitely don’t pick at those bumps. I know it’s incredibly tempting but I speak from experience when I say dang, that is not a place you want to be raw and itchy.
posted by Mizu at 2:32 PM on October 22, 2021


i also came to say salicylic acid. i get those little gunk filled pores and gentle exfoliation plus SA generally helps.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 2:52 PM on October 22, 2021


Have you had your bras properly fitted? I'm wondering if wearing a slightly larger bra would give the breasts more room to breathe, and thus make less clogged pores.
posted by spinifex23 at 8:23 PM on October 22, 2021


Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers and support. If I find anything that works I'll share. I don't have a bathtub. :(
posted by b33j at 2:45 AM on October 23, 2021


I don't have a bathtub. :(

I have spent a few extremely sweaty Texas weeks with enormous boobs and no tub. One thing I did that felt really nice on my skin there was to get a hand towel soaking wet, roll it up, and microwave it for a few seconds until it was almost steaming hot (but not like, burning sensitive skin hot…) Then real quick tucking it under my breasts and letting the weight of them keep it in place as I walked back to hang out in my shower-steamy bathroom. I could have probably just transported it in a covered dish or something to keep the heat in and not be topless in the kitchen but hey, I had blinds and nobody else was home. I just could never get a towel hot enough with just tap heat. Anyway, I chilled in the steamy bathroom on the closed toilet seat and basically steamed my underboobs while doing stuff like exfoliating my feet or finger curling my wavy wet hair. It made strapping the girls back up for another sweltering Houston day much less likely to result in deep red welts along my ribcage.
posted by Mizu at 3:59 AM on October 23, 2021


Aklief is a new retinoid approved for use on the trunk. It’s supposed to be gentler than others. It’s expensive, but could be gotten cheaper with insurance or coupons. Maybe ask a derm about it?
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:21 AM on October 23, 2021


If you decide to try the salicylic acid and/or lactic acid serums suggested by homodachi, wash the underside of your boobs with sulfur soap before applying them. This combination is a good way to remove dead skin cells and make the bumps look less apparent.

You may already know this, but if you don't: Sulfur soap does not smell delightful. Use it before you go to bed so your nose will have less time to be exposed to the, um, assertive aroma.

Also, two to three times a week of the sulfur soap wash followed by the application of salicylic and/or lactic acid serum is fine. (The younger virago learned the hard way that the scorched-earth approach does not always yield the best results.)
posted by virago at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2021


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