before reading this, LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!!
The rash consists of tiny itchy dome-shaped pink papules with an intermingling of small pustules. The spots are located mainly on the upper back, shoulders and chest. Sometimes spots are found on the forearms, back of the hands, lower legs and face. The tendency to scratch spots is greatest on the forearms, face and scalp. Most patients have oily skins.
Most patients seek advice because of the itch. This may have lead their doctors to suspect scabies or other mite infestations. The itch tends to come in episodes, accompanied by a stinging sensation. Some patients notice the itch is worse after sweat-inducing exercise or after a hot shower. When scratched, the spots may display a local hive-like reaction with a surrounding red flare.
Patients may also have pityriasis versicolor, a condition where light brown and pale, itchy patches appear on the trunk; or seborrhoeic dermatitis, where a red scaly rash appears in the scalp ("dandruff"), behind the ears, eyebrows, sides and angles of the nose, cheek folds, moustache area, chin, armpits, chest and sometimes the groins and buttock cleft. In these conditions an overgrowth of the same pityrosporum yeast is believed to be involved.
Patients may also have true acne accompanying the pityrosporum folliculitis. This is not surprising because increased skin oil also encourages acne but in this case there is an overgrowth of the normal skin bacteria rather than yeasts.
Host factors
An oily-skin tendency - the yeast feeds on skin oil. Skin oil production mainly depends on hormone factors.
(my 2cents - steroids increase oil production)
Decreased resistance to microorganisms (immunity).
Stress or fatigue
(my 2cents - strenuous workouts)
Diabetes
(my 2cents-maybe insulin changes while on cycle could effect this?)
Oral steroids such as prednisone
Being overweight, resulting in more sweating and tighter clothing.
(my 2cents - although most of us are not fat, we are infact overweight. we sweat like beasts at the gym, and wear tighter shirts because even extra larges wont fit us anymore.)
Oral antibiotics such as tetracycline can aggravate pityrosporum folliculitis because skin-inhabitant bacteria and yeasts are normally in competition on the skin surface. When the bacteria are suppressed by antibiotics the pityrosporum yeasts can over grow.
(my 2cents - yes so this means that by taking anti biotics for acne, you could infact be making your acne worse!!!!)
Check out the pictures!!!! i know plenty of you have it, and you need to stop taking anti biotics if you do, and see your dermatologist!!
oh yea that skinny kid in the pic isnt me lol.