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Doctor I Started Having Many Little Bumps On My Forehead
Question: Doctor
I started having many little bumps on my forehead a week ago. The color is reddish, not too red. These bumps do not cause pain or itchiness. It is very surprising to me as I never had the symptom. I am 61 years old. I have been using retinol for years----.08 Retin-A Micro and over- the- counter both. I am very diligent at sun protection. I have wrinkles, but my face is smooth.
At first I decided not doing anything. Three days in, it was not getting better, I started putting 2.5% Hydrocortisone on my forehead. It did not seem to do anything. Two days after I had forehead bumps, I had bumps on one side of my lower face, then the other side of my lower face and the bumps are getting toward middle part of my face. Starting from yesterday, I am putting the Hydrocortisone cream on those areas as well.
In the morning, before I go walking, I always put on a very thick layer of Blue lizard Face SPF 30, which has Zinc Oxide and Octinoxate. I wash my face with an oil cleanser only in the morning. I wonder if it is due to non-sufficient washing induced clogged pores? After the bumps, I have stopped using the thick consistence sun screen, which I have been using for many years although I am not sure that is the cause; also, I do double cleansing in the morning just like what I do at night.
My questions for you are:
---What is the cause of these bumps and what I can do to prevent this from happening?
---What is the treatment, do they go away without doing anything?
---Should I continue with the 2.5% Cortisone, is it not proper treatment/ non effective one? I know there’s side effects and I should not use it for long.
Thank you
Hannah
I started having many little bumps on my forehead a week ago. The color is reddish, not too red. These bumps do not cause pain or itchiness. It is very surprising to me as I never had the symptom. I am 61 years old. I have been using retinol for years----.08 Retin-A Micro and over- the- counter both. I am very diligent at sun protection. I have wrinkles, but my face is smooth.
At first I decided not doing anything. Three days in, it was not getting better, I started putting 2.5% Hydrocortisone on my forehead. It did not seem to do anything. Two days after I had forehead bumps, I had bumps on one side of my lower face, then the other side of my lower face and the bumps are getting toward middle part of my face. Starting from yesterday, I am putting the Hydrocortisone cream on those areas as well.
In the morning, before I go walking, I always put on a very thick layer of Blue lizard Face SPF 30, which has Zinc Oxide and Octinoxate. I wash my face with an oil cleanser only in the morning. I wonder if it is due to non-sufficient washing induced clogged pores? After the bumps, I have stopped using the thick consistence sun screen, which I have been using for many years although I am not sure that is the cause; also, I do double cleansing in the morning just like what I do at night.
My questions for you are:
---What is the cause of these bumps and what I can do to prevent this from happening?
---What is the treatment, do they go away without doing anything?
---Should I continue with the 2.5% Cortisone, is it not proper treatment/ non effective one? I know there’s side effects and I should not use it for long.
Thank you
Hannah
Brief Answer:
Acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
Most likely they are acneiform eruptions induced by the sunscreen that perhaps was too occlusive. I suggest you to not use cortisone as it is a steroid and won't help with acne. I suggest you to use benzoyl peroxide 2.5 % gel, once daily. Use only a thin film as too much of it can irritate specially since you are already using tretinoin(retino) which makes skin sensitive. You may continue with Retino at night. If you can upload a few images of the affected areas in " Reports Section" I would be able to guide you better.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
Most likely they are acneiform eruptions induced by the sunscreen that perhaps was too occlusive. I suggest you to not use cortisone as it is a steroid and won't help with acne. I suggest you to use benzoyl peroxide 2.5 % gel, once daily. Use only a thin film as too much of it can irritate specially since you are already using tretinoin(retino) which makes skin sensitive. You may continue with Retino at night. If you can upload a few images of the affected areas in " Reports Section" I would be able to guide you better.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you doctor Kakkar.
Also, I have been using 5%Minoxidil for about a year, never had reaction in the past. I suppose it would not be the Minoxidil?
I have been using lots of sunscreen for years; I wonder why this is happening now? Does it have to do with my age/ aging?
Is it true that typical symptom of certain Acneiform eruptions does not hurt and starts in forehead and then to lower face area?
If I do not do anything, would it go away pretty fast?
Are there things I can do in future to keep Acneiform at bay?
Hannah
Also, I have been using 5%Minoxidil for about a year, never had reaction in the past. I suppose it would not be the Minoxidil?
I have been using lots of sunscreen for years; I wonder why this is happening now? Does it have to do with my age/ aging?
Is it true that typical symptom of certain Acneiform eruptions does not hurt and starts in forehead and then to lower face area?
If I do not do anything, would it go away pretty fast?
Are there things I can do in future to keep Acneiform at bay?
Hannah
Brief Answer:
Acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Acneiform eruptions can affect sites like face, chest, shoulders, back and upper arms- the sites rich in oil glans and commonly affected by acne. They are acne like, hence called acneiform. They are usually symptomless or mildly itchy. Sunscreen can induce acne like eruptions, sometimes other factors contribute too like hot weather, excess sweating, stress, diet, topical steroids like cortisone etc. You may continue with retino at night. That would help resolve the bumps. Minoxidil is certainly not the cause of your skin problem.
Take care.
Acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Acneiform eruptions can affect sites like face, chest, shoulders, back and upper arms- the sites rich in oil glans and commonly affected by acne. They are acne like, hence called acneiform. They are usually symptomless or mildly itchy. Sunscreen can induce acne like eruptions, sometimes other factors contribute too like hot weather, excess sweating, stress, diet, topical steroids like cortisone etc. You may continue with retino at night. That would help resolve the bumps. Minoxidil is certainly not the cause of your skin problem.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Doctor Kakkar,
Thank you so very much. I promise this is going to be my last email to you. When I receive your answer this time to my questions, I will close the discussion and give you a rave review right away.
----I started taking collagen powder 2 weeks prior to having the onset of acneiform. I stopped taking it on that day to eliminate all possible factors though I do not think that was the cause. I just want to confirm that with you.
---Would I benefit from using AHA, BHA?
---I have been mixing face oil with moisturizer after using Retin-A or retinol, should I stop using the face oil.
---I am on high fat diet and diary products, is it a myth that this kind of diet would trigger acneiform?
Hannah
Thank you so very much. I promise this is going to be my last email to you. When I receive your answer this time to my questions, I will close the discussion and give you a rave review right away.
----I started taking collagen powder 2 weeks prior to having the onset of acneiform. I stopped taking it on that day to eliminate all possible factors though I do not think that was the cause. I just want to confirm that with you.
---Would I benefit from using AHA, BHA?
---I have been mixing face oil with moisturizer after using Retin-A or retinol, should I stop using the face oil.
---I am on high fat diet and diary products, is it a myth that this kind of diet would trigger acneiform?
Hannah
Brief Answer:
Regarding acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX Thank you.
Dairy products can trigger acne in some individuals. There are people who both support and argue against that but I don't think one needs to stop it altogether. What I feel is that sweetened dairy in particular is not good for skin like icecreams, cakes etc. It is high calorie - A high calorie diet shoots up blood sugar and insulin levels, especially in overweight individuals which have insulin resistance and this high insulin levels can cause hormonal imbalance which may trigger acne. Since you work out so that is good and would help counter insulin resistance, if any. You can avoid sweetened dairy.
AHA (Glycolic acid, lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid) would help exfoliate dead skin and therefore be helpful. However, be careful since they can irritate if you are already using retino. Don't use a higher strength of AHA, BHA.
Face oil could be a factor as it might be blocking the oil glands.
Preservatives, additives though not collagen itself could be causing acne.
Take care
Regarding acneiform eruptions
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX Thank you.
Dairy products can trigger acne in some individuals. There are people who both support and argue against that but I don't think one needs to stop it altogether. What I feel is that sweetened dairy in particular is not good for skin like icecreams, cakes etc. It is high calorie - A high calorie diet shoots up blood sugar and insulin levels, especially in overweight individuals which have insulin resistance and this high insulin levels can cause hormonal imbalance which may trigger acne. Since you work out so that is good and would help counter insulin resistance, if any. You can avoid sweetened dairy.
AHA (Glycolic acid, lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid) would help exfoliate dead skin and therefore be helpful. However, be careful since they can irritate if you are already using retino. Don't use a higher strength of AHA, BHA.
Face oil could be a factor as it might be blocking the oil glands.
Preservatives, additives though not collagen itself could be causing acne.
Take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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