Posted By Johnny (Indiana, US) on 11/23/2014
Since I was thirteen, I've had folliculitis. I am now 55. Back then, they were only on the back of my upper arms and I thought it was zits and picked at them, put alcohol and other acne meds on them, nothing worked. I purposely bought long sleeve shirts or longer-armed t-shirts to cover them. I even bought long sleeve shirts and had my mom cut the sleeves to a certain length so I could have short sleeves but still not have my condition seen!
When I was around friends or in places that had swimming pools with chlorine, they'd disappear completely. But then as I became an adult, they got way worse. I started getting them on my forearms, legs, buttocks, and sides of my torso and on my shoulders spreading up from my arms. It is very depressing and you wonder if they'll continue until you die.
I've used a scrubbing pad with Nutrogena soap and then after drying off, applying alcohol, did that for years now, this makes them go for a day or two but it is never a "cure", just a temporary fix.
Then I started going to a dermatologist. She was horrible, gave me all kinds of creams which did not help, made them worse, she kept saying they were from dry skin. It didn't make any sense and it was the typical thing where the doctor THINKS they know your body better than you do. Dry skin? Well, all I know is that the creams made them twice as bad and drying out my skin with alcohol made them go away.
Now I use a mixture of chlorine bleach water (very diluted) alcohol, 96 percent. That works wonders. I'm also drinking two tablespoons of ACV in water about twice a week. I may increase that. On the days that I keep up this regime, they are almost completely gone on my arms, but still everywhere else. It's embarrasing and they itch like crazy on some days.
I also think that this is a systemic problem. Ask yourself if you also have frequent lower stomach problems and indigestion. Also if you crave sugar or get frequent headaches and migraines or have ringing in the ears. This is totally a candida, system-wide fungus problem and the only thing that seems to fix it for me is the ACV, which I'm going to increase my frequency of taking. It works for me.
I don't think there is anything that will "cure" this condition. It will always come back. I just have to be more consistent with the treatments and I'll be clearer.
If you've ever been with your partner and they recoil from touching your arm or back because there are so many little bumps, then you know how hard it is to live with this condition. I'm just thankful it's not on my face, I can cover the affected areas and live my life almost normally otherwise.
Replied by Sally (Calgary, Canada) on 11/24/2014
I think I know of a solution for you. I too, have folliculitis, and have discovered the joys of Turmeric! It is truly a miraculous ingredient. Start by getting 1-2 tsp into you, somehow, by mixing in a smoothie or hiding in yogurt, or even in pill form, and you will likely experience what so many others have reported here on this site, almost immediate relief of pain, and a clearing up of symptoms. Please give it a try. I promise you'll experience good things with Turmeric, it leaves the body in better condition than it found it. Best of luck.
Replied by Safari (Chicago Il) on 03/16/2016
You said you use chlorine bleach, water, and alcohol. Try and be clear on the ingredients.
Back to Folliculitis Q&A
