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Suggest Treatment For Scalp Acne

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Posted on Tue, 7 Oct 2014
Question: Hello , i've been cycling anabolic steroids for years. But this year around 7 months ago I started to get realy bad scalp acne. I went thru 5 dermatologists and they all say it is not hormonal related and has nothing to do with testosterone being high, as a matter of fact they say its commun in some people and theres nothing to be done about it. I am currently taking doxycycline and and shampoo with antibiotic but the problem persists and now I have scars on my scalp .is this problem testosterone related or not ? if it s how come I never had it before,??? they also say that is a gland disfunction where the hair has no strength to come out .....I am lost, and I think all the dermatplogist ive seen are lost as well. Could realy use some help here, thnks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Of course it's hormone related.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Acne starts in conjunction with puberty and the hormonal increases at that time.
every site that deals with testosterone lists acne as a side effect

http://www.rxlist.com/depo-testosterone-side-effects-drug-center.htm
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-10327/testosterone-im/details#side-effects

(second line.. hard to spot but mentioned really near top of the list)
http://www.drugwatch.com/testosterone/side-effects/

main thing to note is that many more serious adverse events are causally associated with testosterone.
... I could keep going......
For acne, one of the few real reversible causes is taking testosterone.
Then, the treatments you mentioned are good
also vitamin A derivatives like RETINOIN/accutane/etc. are very strong and quite effective.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (6 minutes later)
So ,are you saying that the problem won't go away until I stop taking testosterone ? if it so how come after years this problem only appears now ?Probably the only person ive heard having this problem by taking testosterone .also what kind of vitamin A is recomened ? over the counter?>
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Indeed why DID it just come up now?

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Change in weight with increasing obesity causes changes in the accumulation of testosterone. Not, however, as much as would a change in the testosterone dosing itself !!!! So, obviously if you're now taking more, or if you are fatter, then that's the reason why it is occurring now. And it certainly seems likely that you need to at least SEE if stopping for 2-3 months will change acne level.

The prescription vitamin A medicines for acne are much more reliable than the vitamin A oil in the vitamin department (I did Use the vitamin A oil ON THE SKIN, NOT ORALLY; it did work, but this was over 10 years before the prescription ones came out). Tazorac, accutane are some of the strongest.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (43 minutes later)
3 dermatologists suggested that it was a some gland disfunction causing ingrown hair problem . Any ideas what of what they are talking about ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yeah, but why now ?

Detailed Answer:
They really couldn't mean Cushing's syndrome (adrenal), thyroid, nor salivary nor pancreas. If they mean the effects of testosterone... welll.... I've covered that.
If they are thinking ingrown hairs, and they might, it isn't exactly the same appearance as acne and without direct examination, I cannot say in your particular case, but then, antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics would be a reasonable therapy.
I'm sticking with my first opinion that it is the testosterone and there's been some change (includes aging) which has altered slightly but sufficiently how much testosterone is on board to trigger the acne.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Scalp Acne

Brief Answer: Of course it's hormone related. Detailed Answer: Hi, Acne starts in conjunction with puberty and the hormonal increases at that time. every site that deals with testosterone lists acne as a side effect http://www.rxlist.com/depo-testosterone-side-effects-drug-center.htm http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-10327/testosterone-im/details#side-effects (second line.. hard to spot but mentioned really near top of the list) http://www.drugwatch.com/testosterone/side-effects/ main thing to note is that many more serious adverse events are causally associated with testosterone. ... I could keep going...... For acne, one of the few real reversible causes is taking testosterone. Then, the treatments you mentioned are good also vitamin A derivatives like RETINOIN/accutane/etc. are very strong and quite effective. Regards,