How to get rid of red bumps?

Does anyone have advice on how to actually get rid of these red spots on my face caused by a skin condition? I’ve tried various creams, but nothing seems to touch them. My dermatologist prescribed some pills, which helped for a while, but as soon as I stop taking them, everything just flares right back up again...

It’s either time to switch up the treatment, find a new dermatologist, or just overhaul both.

gentlebear8 said:either switch up the treatment plan, find a new dermatologist, or maybe just do both.

Yeah, I suppose, but if I do that, I don't think there's any help left for me at all.

What kind of illness are we even talking about here? And those spots... are they scars or just breakouts? You might want to dig a little deeper into the condition itself and look into some alternative approaches.

...they aren't really scars, though I wouldn't call them blemishes either since there isn't actually anything underneath. If you press on them, there's nothing there; it’s almost like a bit of fluid just seeps out, and then you end up with a wound that lingers. The strangest part is how unpredictable they are—sometimes they vanish completely for a few days, and then suddenly they reappear and stay for a while before shifting again. I guess I was wondering, how much does hitting the sauna actually help or hurt your skin health?

Saunas are killer for your skin—really helps get that healthy glow by sweating out all those toxins.
But you still haven't mentioned what the actual diagnosis is. What kind of skin condition are we talking about? How did your dermatologist break it down for you?

Kevin Mitchell20 said:Saunas are actually great for your skin—really healthy for it! It helps sweat out all those toxins.
But you still haven't mentioned what the actual diagnosis is. What kind of skin condition are we talking about? How did your dermatologist explain things to you?

..It’s a moderate skin condition called acne papulopustulosa. At first, my dermatologist prescribed a lotion, but that didn't really do much since my skin is incredibly sensitive. Then he tried a cream, which was also a bust. Finally, he put me on antibiotics because apparently, this is something you have to treat from the inside out. Honestly, the pills work wonders; my face looks amazing now, totally clear... but I can't just stay on them forever. You eventually build up a resistance, and then the condition might actually get worse. You really need to take breaks for a few months at a time. And the frustrating part is that as soon as I stop taking them, everything starts creeping back within a day or two. It’s pretty aggravating. Besides, because my skin is so reactive, I can't even handle the gentlest facial cleanser, deep cleansers, or almost any kind of moisturizer....

Ugh, acne... I honestly thought you were talking about some serious skin disease...
I'm no dermatologist, but I know my way around holistic health and body care. Not sure what's triggering yours—maybe hormones, diet, whatever—but there are a few universal things that might help. You basically have to tackle it from the inside and the outside.
Inside-wise, watch what you eat. Too much grease? Way too much sugar? Just cut down on the processed junk food as much as possible. Drink plenty of clean water—ideally spring water—to flush everything out. Nettle or calendula teas are also great for skin issues. And get some fresh air; make sure you're airing out your rooms regularly.
Outside-wise: stop touching those spots!!! Try making a tea with 3/4 chamomile and 1/4 sage, soak a gauze pad (or something similar) in it, and apply it to your face. I do that with cotton pads whenever a pimple pops up. Leave it on as long as you can... chamomile is soothing, and sage acts as an antiseptic. Instead of using a ton of different creams, try asking at a local pharmacy for a simple "cream base." The fewer chemicals on your skin, the better. It also helps to occasionally nourish your face with a quality oil, like wheat germ oil.
Personally, I wouldn't touch antibiotics unless I actually knew what was causing the breakouts.
My advice is a bit all over the place, so just ask if you need specifics. Good luck!🙂

..Hey guys.. I honestly don't think my diet is the culprit here. I don't eat particularly greasy foods, I stay very well hydrated, and I usually just stick to one main meal a day, followed by just some fruit in the evening. I actually have a smart scale at home that tracks my metrics; according to that, I’m sitting at 15% body fat and 65% hydration, which I guess is about as good as it gets for a 25-year-old. The real issue is how my skin reacts to temperature changes. For instance, if I'm out in the cold and then step back inside into a warm room, my face starts burning and turns bright red, and it stays that way for a really long time.. almost like my skin just can't regulate itself. It's the same thing after I shower—my face stays flushed and stings for quite a while. But the biggest headache of all is shaving. My skin gets incredibly irritated, and I haven't found any gel or balm that actually manages to soothe it. This inflammation lasts for about three days; my face stays constantly red and covered in these little red bumps. It feels like the irritation kicks in specifically when my stubble is just starting to grow in. Once it gets a bit longer, everything seems to settle down—it stops stinging and the redness fades away until my skin looks pretty much normal again. Because of that, I only shave once a week. But just as soon as things finally calm down and I'm getting close to my next shave, the whole cycle starts all over again... and please, don't suggest I just stop shaving altogether! I've already tried using chamomile and aloe vera (without sage), but honestly, they didn't do much for me. Does anyone know where I can pick up some sage? Like, at a local drugstore or something? Also, regarding that wheat germ oil people mention—what exactly is its purpose or function for the skin?........t h a n k s v e r y m u c h !

Austin Sanders7 said:..uh..I don't think it's a diet thing—I don't eat much greasy food, stay hydrated, eat once a day, just fruit in the evenings. I've got one of those smart scales: I'm at 15% body fat and 65% water, which I guess is about as good as it gets for a 25-year-old.. The thing is, when I'm out in the cold and come back inside to the heat, my face just starts burning—redness that lasts forever.. like my skin can't breathe. Same thing after a shower—face stays red and stings a bit. But shaving is the worst. My skin gets so irritated, and honestly, no gel or balm seems to calm it down.. the inflammation sticks around for three days, face is constantly red with all these little spots. It’s almost like the irritation hits right when the stubble starts growing, because once it gets a bit longer, everything settles down—no stinging, less redness, basically normal.. so I only shave once a week. By the time things clear up, it's almost time to shave again, and then it's back to square one... and no, don't tell me to stop shaving... I've already tried the aloe and chamomile stuff (without sage), and it didn't really do much... where would I even find sage? At a CVS or something? And that wheat germ oil? What's that actually supposed to do?........t h a n k s !

I deal with something similar, except I'm female and don't shave, so I don't get that specific kind of irritation.
Last winter I started getting these red spots—pimples and stuff—then it cleared up toward the summer (beach, sun, whatever), and now it's acting up again..
I use Aveeno products since my dermatologist recommended them, but now I'm going to try an antibiotic cream I'm waiting for in the mail.
Which antibiotics were you taking, and for how long?

...So, I was on this antibiotic called Skip—or something like that—for about four weeks, taking them twice a day. Even though I started feeling pretty much fine after just two or three days, I stuck with it for the full four weeks because the instructions suggested a course of four to six weeks for proper treatment. It seems like if I stop too early, everything just comes right back a few days later. Besides, you can't really stay on antibiotics indefinitely; I guess you have to give your system a decent break every once in a while...

Did a dermatologist actually prescribe that antibiotic for you? I’ve honestly never heard of it before.
Right now, she just gave me this antibiotic cream—haven't even started using it yet..
I don't know... maybe you should check if you have that H. pylori bacteria in your stomach? I'm waiting on my own test results for that, so I can let you know how things look on my end once they come back..

..yeah, I suppose there’s quite a bit of stuff happening over in Germany that we won't see catching on here in America for another few years... and about that cream? Are you allowed to use it constantly, or is it one of those things where you have to take breaks? Also, what kind of bacteria are we talking about? Do you think that might be a possible reason for everything?

Austin Sanders7 said:...where can I get sage? At a pharmacy? And what about that wheat germ oil? What's the actual point of using it?........t h a n k s!

You can find sage at any health food store, herbal shop, or even a drugstore... it's a solid antiseptic. Good for rinsing if you have gum issues or a sore throat...
Wheat germ oil—or pretty much any good oil—works better on skin than standard creams for one simple reason: creams are just designed to give the skin what it supposedly lacks, period. Oils actually nudge the skin to produce its own stuff, like collagen.
Since you're over in Germany, you've got way more options than we do here, so maybe grab some samples first to see what sticks. Test it on your neck or chest area before putting it on your face so you don't deal with irritation. Wheat germ oil specifically is a massive source of Vitamin E, which skin absolutely loves.🙂
Definitely stick to organic brands (like Whole Foods or similar)...

Austin Sanders7 said:..yeah, there’s a lot of stuff in Germany that eventually makes its way over here to the US a few years later... but what about that cream? Are you allowed to use it constantly, or do you have to take breaks too? And what kind of bacteria are we talking about? You think that could be a possible reason?

The cream my doctor prescribed—Aknemycin—is actually from Germany.
I should be getting it sometime this week. I'm supposed to apply it every night, then just use an Avène moisturizer in the morning.

Helicobacter is a bacterium that lives in the stomach—it usually causes gastritis or ulcers. I didn't realize it could show up like this. But nothing is confirmed for me yet, so I won't say anything for sure.
And obviously, if you're taking antibiotics, it means there's some kind of bacteria involved, I guess.

Austin Sanders7 said:The cream my doctor prescribed for me (Akira Kurosawa) actually comes from Germany.
I should be getting it sometime this week. My plan is to apply it every night and just use an Avène moisturizer in the mornings.

Helicobacter is a bacterium that lives in the stomach; it usually leads to gastritis or even ulcers. I honestly had no idea it could manifest itself like this. That said, nothing has been officially confirmed for me yet, so I don't want to get ahead of myself.
It makes sense, though—if you're being put on antibiotics, there’s definitely some kind of bacterial issue at play.

..fair enough, so please let me know how that cream works out for you once you start using it....