Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with blemishes

The heartbreak of... what?!

arianell — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:56:55 -0800

Over the past week, my skin has developed a number of flaky red spots. What could they possibly be? About a week ago, I noticed a small patch of scaly skin on my left shoulder... quite red, vaguely elliptical, about an inch across, not itchy or painful at all. Since then, it seems like 1 or 2 new spots appear on my body every day. I now also have one on my neck, one on my chest, two on my stomach, and three on my lower back.

My first thought was ringworm, but that seems unlikely since my lovely cat doesn't have any signs of it. Also, my spots lack the characteristic "ring" shape and they aren't raised at all.

These things aren't responding to my vigilant moisturizing efforts, or to hydrocortisone cream or antibiotics. Any idea what they might be?

Why has the dentist left blue marks on my teeth?

Kirn — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:46:49 -0800

I've just had 3 white enamel fillings in the bottom-left corner of my mouth. Looking in the mirror, I now have a small bluish-gray mark at the nearest 'peak' of each molar. Should I be worried? The only reference to 'blue marks' I can find online is here, where it's stated that blue marks can be put on teeth (and then removed!) in order to file down the high points of newly fitted crowns.

But I don't have any crowns, and I don't know what to make of these blemishes, given that I paid (considerably) more to get white enamel instead of metal fillings.

What are these marks? Did my dentist not finish the job properly? Should I be worried?

Icky skin cooties.

missuswayne — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:59:03 -0800

Are these blemishes a result of cooties on the vinyl cover of my physical therapist's massage-type table? I recently have been visiting a physical therapist once or twice a week (back pain) and each visit starts with me lying face down on an adjustable massage-type table with my face resting in the cushioned ring at one end. The ring is vinyl covered, and there is a clean rolled-up washcloth that my forehead rests on - however, my cheeks rest on the vinyl.

Right around the same time I started going to PT I also developed some blemishes on the left side of my face. Coincidentally, they are right around the area of my face that rests directly on the vinyl, although only on the left. These blemishes are not like normal pimples. They are red, slightly raised, and were itchy at the start, kind of rashy. Now they are just red and kind of blotchy and ugly. They won't go away. Tea tree oil, which usually works for me on zits, just seemed to irritate them. When I wash my face (with Cetaphil only) the blemishes intensify and then calm down a bit after a while.

I have a dermatologist appointment in 3 weeks, but I'm just curious if it would be possible for me to catch some kind of disease from the vinyl. (I see pictures of the "impetigo" on Amy Winehouse's face and wonder if that's going to be me in 3 weeks.)

Exciting brand-new treatments for really severe acne?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 03:04:07 -0800

Tell me about brand-new, even experimental, promising treatments for severe acne. My dermatologist is a really nice, very trustworthy older gentleman. He says there's nothing more that can be done for my acne, but I don't want to accept "Here, have this therapist's phone number and learn to live with it."

I have severe acne on my face, jawline, neck (front, back, and sides), shoulders, back (down to waist), chest, breasts, and in my groin. I've been this way for about 10 years and it keeps spreading and getting worse (and the scars are another thread entirely). Obviously, it impacts my life a ton. Living with it is not something I really want to do.

Although the dermatologist is very nice and I like him a lot, I'm afraid that he has been more concerned with keeping up with research in other areas (e.g. skin cancer) and may not know about new acne treatments. It makes sense, as acne isn't lifethreatening, but I really don't want to give up now.

For my next appointment, I'd love to go in with a list of some treatments I've checked out and would like to discuss with him.

Things I have tried, just so nobody tries to recommend them:
Retin-A; no effect
all max strength strains of oral antibiotics approved for acne; only side effects
prescription-level strengths of benzoyl peroxide (topical); some improvement/lightening, this is all I'm on now
all lines of OTC treatment available in the US; no effect
Proactiv; no effect
tea tree oil; no effect
acne.org regimen; basically what I'm on now
other bizarre regimens, memorably one involving ice cubes; no effect

Things I can't try, no really, even if it worked for you:
Accutane
Birth control

What I'm doing now:
Non-soap cleanser (Purpose) morning and night
Benzaclin (1% clindamycin + 5% benzoyl peroxide) night
Zoderm (8.5% benzoyl peroxide + urea) night
Retin-A (0.1% retinoic acid) 3x a week
Cetaphil (moisturizer) as needed -- in practice, hardly ever

Other conditions:
Everything I use is nonacnegenic/noncomedogenic
My acne is genetic, not affected by my diet
Change pillowcases/sheets/washcloths/towels daily
Nothing (e.g. phones, hands, etc.) touches my face

My skin doesn't even notice most treatments. I've given them all a fair try, 6 months minimum, so I could see any effects -- but my skin doesn't budge. It never even dries out (and I'm not overwashing). The benzoyl peroxide I'm using now has a slight lightening/bleaching effect, which is why I'm still on it (that and I don't want to feel like I'm doing nothing).

Partly I'm looking for info on stuff like maybe light therapy or laser therapy. But I'm really not sure about any other options. I would even be willing to participate in clinical trials for new meds. I'll do anything as long as the results seem promising. (And if you cite PubMed, please summarize...I don't have access.)

This question is anonymous because I really don't want to have you look at my username and think "zits on her tits" from now on. Thank you!