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Post by warmfuzzygirl on Sept 2, 2004 22:12:19 GMT -5
Sleepless, Anne, Anonartist, everyone...
I'm so glad this thread is continuing! I am now determined that we find out just what these things are! I did skim the article on collagen, and the way the skin heals, and it just seemed so logical to me...that I really wanted to leave those plug things alone. My face is healing, albeit slowly. I think because the dang sore was so deep/bad, it just takes awhile.
I do have one bit to add about my experience with these things...I actually squeezed something OUT of one of these plugs ( i know this is gross. sorry). It was like the plug was a casing. Could it be the pore itself? who knows, I'm just hoping Sleepless will find out!!
And Milia!! That's what those things are! They DO look exactly like little pearls...when I exorcise them with a straight pin!
And Sleepless, sorry to hear you are feeling all wacky. There is nothing worse than feeling off-kilter. It seems to be ALL I feel nowadays! Hope you get your caffeine in check (you'll have to pry my cold dead fingers off my mug), and any medication as well. Good luck! And keep researching!
warm fuzzy
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Post by Glamourpuss15 on Sept 3, 2004 14:09:07 GMT -5
I was just going to write about millia the other day.
In 1996, I freelanced for Lancome and I will never forget seeing multiple women with millia! The sales clerks would warn them to wash their compact puffs/sponges regularly to prevent them. I am almost positive that this is when the idea of CSP got planted in my head.
Now I know what is cuurently around my nose is NOT millia. Millia seem to sit on top of the surface. The sort of thing that looks like it needs to be lanced in order to go away.
The white places around my nose just barely pop up out of a pore. If I am lucky, I can pluck it, but sometimes it is very stretchy and resilient and either doesn't come out or it breaks, leaving some in the pore, but under my skin.
Anyway, hope that helps some!
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Post by coolhandluke on Sept 3, 2004 15:15:42 GMT -5
I think I missed something. What exactly is milia? Could someone pleeeeeease explain it to me? ;D
Thanks!
cool hand luke
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Post by SleeplessInTucson on Sept 3, 2004 23:00:49 GMT -5
Milia are a kind of pimple. It is a white cyst under the skin, I guess rooted kind of deep, but visible just under the surface. It is hard, and pearl or rice like. Most often under the eyes, sometimes on the eyelid (I guess they are difficult to remove there!) Thought to be a plug of the sweat gland and common in drier skin, from heavy ointments or occlusive dressings that block the pores exit. I've seen them in older women. My white things are as Glamour describes them, although they are also underneath the skin if I pick that far. Lovely, Just lovely to dissect yourself! But I think we ARE getting somewhere. I couldn't find the reference I had saved regarding follicles as generating new cells somehow. Am drinking wine now, so my research skills have diminished somewhat! Giggle! I know that other people have these white things coming out of their pores, not just us OCD types. My sister, with only a somewhat more normal skin approach has them as well. She has oiler skin than I and can afford regular facials and still has them. Perhaos they are keritinized pore linings? Or perhaps the reason they "spring" back is that they are related to the follicle, which is attached to the itty bitty mucscle that causes goose bumps. So the muscle springs it back when we pull?  ? A thought. All I can think of at the moment. I should drink more often. Sleepless |
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Post by Duchess Dutchy on Sept 4, 2004 4:52:16 GMT -5
Unbelievable girls! As usual, I really thought I was the only one picking at those elastic, white little devils. For the record, I have got some milia as well, but thats'not a problem, because they easily come out without scarring. Ok, let me be plastic...Those little devils are on my nose and on my chin and between my eyes, or should I say IN my skin? When they get inflamed, a pimple forms and I have learned that if I squeeze it, the pus will come out (o, gros, sorry about that...  ), but that THING will stay in and I cannot get it out. And than the digging starts. Just before I gave birth to my second son I had one inbetween my eyes and I tried to clip it out with a nailclipper (o my, what a sorry person I am...). I don't know if nailclipper is an English word, but you will probably know what device I am talking about since we all are experts LOL! The next step is that it is trying to heal, but doesn't because there is so much pus formed. I guess it's that THING that causes the inflamation. So I pick again in order to get it out and it gets worse and bigger and more inflamed. And in the end the wound is so big that more THINGS are getting visible (like the ADVIL-like nosewound). Usually I look like some kind of freak by then and I don't get out of the house, since wounds like that are almost not concealable...I use a bandaid when I have to go out... Well, when I gave birth I had to leave the house after 1,5 hours of pushing to go to the hospital because my baby didn't come out. And there I was in that bright lighted hospitalroom thinking more about my face and everyone staring at it than giving birth,...So sad... BTW (O/T!!!) in Holland it's common to give birth at home without pain relief or epidural. You only go to the hospital when something is wrong or in my case when the pushingprocess lasted too long. Unfortanaly I had to go to the hospital twice with the birth of my first and second child. But...no painkillers, nothing! It maybe sounds crazy to you people, but it's safe and common in Holland! Right now I know that I should leave them (those THINGS) alone, because when I wait a while I can gently squeeze the THINGS out without hurting my skin. But I should'n be touching them anyway...... Love, DD |
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Post by warmfuzzygirl on Sept 4, 2004 11:11:25 GMT -5
Dutchess,
Way to go on the childbirth! Yes, America is so oddly backward about childbirth and nursing, but you CAN work around the system if you try hard enough! I had a midwife in a hospital with my first (however, he was breech, which equals instant c-section here in the U.S.), and a unmedicated birth with my second, but again in a hospital. I had a doula, which is so wonderful. The doctor only came in right at the end of it all, which was fine with me!
Sorry this is so off-topic! My Advil is healing nicely, it's just at that hard lumpy stage, dangit! At least the Rubbery Tubers aren't visible anymore...
warm fuzzy
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Post by raerae on Sept 4, 2004 16:18:00 GMT -5
i was interested to know what keratosis pilaris is, cos someone mentioned it (CHL, i think) and i found an image which looks, from what you all have said, like it might show one of these 'things'. (i was gonna post it but i previewed the post and the image came up huge). what do you think? could this be the 'things'?! check out dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/display.cfm?ImageID=785120222btw, thanks to whoever it was who mentioned milia... the boyf has a few and id been wondering what they were for absolutely ages (and, yes, i have tried to get him to allow me to pick them. shame on me!). rae xxx |
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Post by raerae on Sept 4, 2004 16:20:50 GMT -5
p.s. warmfuzzygirl, what is a doula? r xxx
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Post by ameise on Sept 4, 2004 17:10:48 GMT -5
Hello all:
I wanted to weigh in briefly on the "things" --
first, just to agree with all of you who have noed how utterly amazing it is that there are other people out there like me who have knowledge of these things, and have tried to extract them.
It crossed my mind the other day -- there's that adage or/ knowledge that eskimoes have something like 20 different words for snow, depending on the quality of the snowflakes, etc... it occurred to me that in my mind I have probalby as many categories in my mind for the pes of blemishes I can get, how they develop, the parts of my skin (including the things) and the healing process... but I don't have words for them all. It's very funny/ interesting/ odd for us all to be talking about the properties of these things, determining if we're talking about the same thing, etc...
anyway, my "things" are white, elasticy, can get inflamed. I see them pretty much any time I break my skin at all -- they are these white rooed srands in the more raw surrounding area. I'm pretty sure I've had something come out of one, too. up till now I pretty much thought they were the structure/ casing of pores....But one reason they are of interest to me it that when I've had these open places healing, sometimes I've felt like these things were helping it heal -- as if new skin was growing out of them. but other times, when I've removed one, I've felt like that helped the healing go faster & be smoother after healing.
I can certainly see the wisdom of leaving them be, but I would really like o know what they are, too.
also, I can't remember if it was in this thread or another, but someone mentioned making deals with themself.... that just came into my mind because I have made deals regarding these "things" -- such as: "I will let myself try to remove those two things & if they don't come out easily, I will stop & that's it." Or I have also made length of time deals -- "I will let myself sqeze a few pores, but I'll be out of the bathroom in ten minutes..." I am trying a more ZT approach these days, but those deals were a little helpful. I just wanted to mention them, because, again, it is astonishing o me how so many of us have devloped such similar rituals, thought patterns, practices, without having anyone suggest it, or show it to us... these practices evolving separately in each of us....
Oh, one more thing -- in response to the idea that it is somewhat the "researcher scientists" in us that make us investigat our skin this way -- I think that is somewhat true. Of course there are lots of facets to it, motivations, but for me another aspect is also the self-nurse aspect... I was reminded of that reading Anne's description in the thread about duoderm/ other wound/ burn dressings... Anne, reading of you trying the warmed honey --- I can relate to the practice of trying different things to help... thoughts like: "does this look like it's ready for neosporin or should I go with the hydrocorisone cream, but first I will soak it with a salt solution..." One day when I was glad to have the afternoon home alone to let things heal/ air out/ and to treat them with steam facial & creams, I realized that part of my addiction/ need is not just for the picking experience/ time, but also for the self-care, nursing-back-to-health time..... So I am loking for means to do self-care without hurting myself first.
SORRY TO GO SO FAR OFF TOPIC FROM THE "THINGS"
ameise
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Post by warmfuzzygirl on Sept 4, 2004 21:48:05 GMT -5
Wow. The self-doctoring aspect of it all. I had not even thought about that as a possible "pleasure" for us, but it makes so much sense!!
And I love the way you described these little private worlds we live in, where we make up the language for what we are doing, etc. So very true. Hidden lives we've never been able to share!
I really hope that because of the Net and this board, that you new pickers out there will fare better than us old-school folks! Man, if I had been able to talk to people when this all started in high school...who knows, maybe I could have controlled it more.
There are some great ideas being shared here!
warm fuzzy
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Post by Louis Stephenson on Mar 14, 2011 15:28:12 GMT -5
For about a year, I have had intense problems with this exact thing. I think that I may have some useful information for you. I think it was caused by a mold/fungus infestation in my apartment. I am currently using large powerful HEPA filters to scrub the air, a dehumidifier and some window caulk to reduce the humidity, and a borax + hydrogen peroxide mixture to kill the mold I have found in several places in my apartment. Also currently showering multiple times daily. My condition seems to be improving greatly.
For a long time, I was very sick. It started out with these little bumps that would form on my face, arms, and legs. They were sort of like cysts; they were greyish, small, and firm. when I would pop them, white stringy stuff came out, and they would scab over, and there would be white spikes reaching down into the wound as if they were rooted in it. it was only a few weeks before I had these small scabs, btwn 1/8" and 1/2" in diameter, all over my arms, legs, and face. These scabs were very slow to heal, and they would frequently burn and itch terribly. I found it impossible to resist picking them. I was disgusted with the white spikes. I thought of them as being my enemy, though I couldn't get any information about what the hell they were or what caused them. In addition, it was around this time that I became confused and very out of it. The cognitive symptoms were off and on, but frequent and pretty debilitating. I went to my doctor, who gave me a shot of triamcinolone, which is similar to hydrocortizone. Then I went to a dermatologist when that didn't work. Dermo put me on antibiotics. This seemed to help, but very slowly- after about FOUR MONTHS on sulfa antibiotics, my lesions had scarred over and I felt myself again. As soon as I stopped the antibiotics, symptoms returned. In addition to skin lesions and mental confusion, I also developed a productive and nasty cough, and my throat became sore. I looked like I was dying. Everyone who knew me was absolutely convinced that I was on drugs or I had HIV or something. Then I found mold in several places of my apartment that I hadn't thought to look. There was a lot of it. I started treating my skin with antifungal sprays and creams which are available over the counter. I noticed that, when treated with an antifungal product, the white spikes would come out or sort of fall off of my skin lesions and I could then wipe them away with a soft, clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Then the wound would ooze a large amount of clear liquid, sufficient to have it running DOWN THE SIDE OF MY FACE, and then it would burn like crazy, and then it would itch. I think that the white spikes were hyphae, the long and stringy stalks of mold organisms. I think that the oozing and burning, etc., was caused by an allergic reaction to mycotoxins, which some species of mold/fungus emit when disturbed or under threat. I am relieved to have found what seems to be the problem, after a YEAR of intense stigma and accusatory blame that I have suffered at the hands of other people. However, I am concerned that the fungus may be growing in my lungs and I plan to see my doctor to have him take a culture from one of my lesions and/or x-ray my chest and quit telling me it's my fault.
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Post by adasdasd on Mar 29, 2011 9:17:13 GMT -5
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Post by AI2IEKMK on Apr 1, 2011 4:07:54 GMT -5
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Post by joey on Apr 11, 2011 22:55:15 GMT -5
They are capillary buds. If left alone, they will merge and wound will heal. For about a year, I have had intense problems with this exact thing. I think that I may have some useful information for you. I think it was caused by a mold/fungus infestation in my apartment. I am currently using large powerful HEPA filters to scrub the air, a dehumidifier and some window caulk to reduce the humidity, and a borax + hydrogen peroxide mixture to kill the mold I have found in several places in my apartment. Also currently showering multiple times daily. My condition seems to be improving greatly. For a long time, I was very sick. It started out with these little bumps that would form on my face, arms, and legs. They were sort of like cysts; they were greyish, small, and firm. when I would pop them, white stringy stuff came out, and they would scab over, and there would be white spikes reaching down into the wound as if they were rooted in it. it was only a few weeks before I had these small scabs, btwn 1/8" and 1/2" in diameter, all over my arms, legs, and face. These scabs were very slow to heal, and they would frequently burn and itch terribly. I found it impossible to resist picking them. I was disgusted with the white spikes. I thought of them as being my enemy, though I couldn't get any information about what the hell they were or what caused them. In addition, it was around this time that I became confused and very out of it. The cognitive symptoms were off and on, but frequent and pretty debilitating. I went to my doctor, who gave me a shot of triamcinolone, which is similar to hydrocortizone. Then I went to a dermatologist when that didn't work. Dermo put me on antibiotics. This seemed to help, but very slowly- after about FOUR MONTHS on sulfa antibiotics, my lesions had scarred over and I felt myself again. As soon as I stopped the antibiotics, symptoms returned. In addition to skin lesions and mental confusion, I also developed a productive and nasty cough, and my throat became sore. I looked like I was dying. Everyone who knew me was absolutely convinced that I was on drugs or I had HIV or something. Then I found mold in several places of my apartment that I hadn't thought to look. There was a lot of it. I started treating my skin with antifungal sprays and creams which are available over the counter. I noticed that, when treated with an antifungal product, the white spikes would come out or sort of fall off of my skin lesions and I could then wipe them away with a soft, clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Then the wound would ooze a large amount of clear liquid, sufficient to have it running DOWN THE SIDE OF MY FACE, and then it would burn like crazy, and then it would itch. I think that the white spikes were hyphae, the long and stringy stalks of mold organisms. I think that the oozing and burning, etc., was caused by an allergic reaction to mycotoxins, which some species of mold/fungus emit when disturbed or under threat. I am relieved to have found what seems to be the problem, after a YEAR of intense stigma and accusatory blame that I have suffered at the hands of other people. However, I am concerned that the fungus may be growing in my lungs and I plan to see my doctor to have him take a culture from one of my lesions and/or x-ray my chest and quit telling me it's my fault. |
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Post by sdfsdf on Apr 15, 2011 1:16:20 GMT -5
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?
), but that THING will stay in and I cannot get it out. And than the digging starts. Just before I gave birth to my second son I had one inbetween my eyes and I tried to clip it out with a nailclipper (o my, what a sorry person I am...). I don't know if nailclipper is an English word, but you will probably know what device I am talking about since we all are experts LOL!