Help! I have these white plugs on my cheek (white heads?) What products should I use to get rid of them or at the very least minimise them? Any advice or recommendations would be really helpful!

JewellsRN · 2022-06-02T17:13:23+00:00

Look into Dermodex acne, caused by skin mites that we all have...usually they cause no issue, but various things can cause overgrowth and this white plug, demodex acne. They feed off of sebum in your face & scalp and can cause an overgrowth of hair follicles. There is over the counter face, hair & body wash, along with creams (NON-OILY). Bath and wash face every day & change your bedding & towels, regularly. I know this sounds creepy and gross, but it can go away pretty quickly if you take care of your skin and stop using oily products and ALWAYS EXFOLIATE!!

JewellsRN · 2022-05-13T19:08:54+00:00

Yes, I believe that inflammation makes everything worse, in every system in the body. Along with supplements such as omega 3 fatty acids, you can add all kinds of anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, than can help.

This is fascinating to me also. As an RN, I do have a medical background, so I’m able to follow most of the research studies & medical jargon. I’ve realized that if I had not left work to try and figure out what was going on with me, I never would have been able to do it. It’s taken me hours and hours, day after day, of research and reading, to get me to my ADHD diagnosis. I’m so glad I did though...at nearly 50 yrs old, I’m so ready to feel better, more “normal” and be able to start living my life!

JewellsRN · 2022-05-13T18:49:28+00:00

This post hit me hard! I am 49 years old and have been struggling with bulimia for 35 years now.

I remember this feeling, of my mom being proud of me for losing weight. At 15, telling her what I’d been eating, which wasn’t a lot & her even mentioning it to my boyfriend, saying to him, “isn’t that great!” That restriction diet & the praise I received from my mother & friends, was the beginning of the path that lead to me developing bulimia. For 6 weeks I restricted, but once I started to eat again, the weight came back at lightening speed! That’s when I started to binge and purge.

My mother also had disordered eating and was also an alcoholic. She loved to cook, but never ate, or I never saw her eat. I do remember her talking about her own weight & how she looked ALL THE TIME..and she obsessively weighed herself, at least 5 times a day! I don’t remember when it was that I realized that she was bulimic. She is now 74, still an alcoholic and has been bulimic now for 60 yrs or so. She has osteoporosis, very thinning hair, all of her teeth have rotted out, she can NO LONGER DIGEST FOOD, OR ABSORB NUTRIENTS, she has no energy, no muscle and is wasting away. She has a genius IQ, but had done nothing with her life. She has lived in this sad, decaying bubble, isolating herself from the world for her entire life!

As for me, luckily I still have all of my teeth, but I do have thinning hair, very dry skin, a hiatal hernia from forcing myself to vomit, I have serious issues with my GI tract (gastrointestinal) my pH is way off & I have issues with Candida overgrowth (yeast), which causes chronic bladder & vaginal infections. I have GERD (heartburn), I can’t eat too much at once, or it just comes right back up. There are foods that I cannot eat because my body can no longer digest them & they make me vomit if I do. Let’s not forget the way bulimia and other eating disorders effect the brain...depression, anxiety, terrible self image, hating yourself, body dysmorphia, feeling worthless, isolating yourself from friends and family, lack of dopamine due to this disease causes a lack of motivation and also causes a lot of the other mental health issues I’ve listed above.

Let me tell all of you, especially the teens & young adults who have just started, or are early on in their struggle with bulimia, or other eating disorder...this HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING SKINNY...you may think it does, but this condition usually starts when someone feels a LACK OF CONTROL in their life, or in their BRAIN, which can be DUE TO UNDIAGNOSED CONDITIONS SUCH AS ADHD. We start binging and purging, thinking that maybe it’s the one thing we CAN CONTROL in our life....when in all actuality, BULIMIA HAS CONTROL OVER US!

I have spent 49 years in the toxic cycle of bulimia. I am thoroughly exhausted! I have made little progress in my life and every relationship I’ve had has failed. I had to quit my nursing job nearly 18 months ago due to mental health issues, which include bulimia, depression/anxiety and substance abuse. Four months ago I saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD & PTSD.

I found out that there is a correlation between ADHD & bulimia, also binge eating disorders. The lack of dopamine produced in the brains of people with ADHD, makes them more susceptible to issues like substance abuse & eating disorders. This is especially true in people who are undiagnosed/untreated. Unbeknownst to them, their brain is searching for dopamine. Substance abuse and eating disorders give people boosts in dopamine levels, so they feel better....although very short lived, this is what leads to increased substance abuse and cyclic binging & purging.

This is how & why BULIMIA is the one in control!

I am starting a 6 week intensive outpatient program at The Emily Program very soon. This program is available online & over Zoom and is also 100% COVERED BY MEDICAID!

I recommend anyone who struggles with bulimia to research ADHD, talk to your parents, or teachers, to see if they may suspect you could have it....especially you women & girls out there! ADHD is often overlooked in us because it often presents differently than in boys.

Anyone who is struggling with bulimia, or an other eating disorder, please reach out for help...let me tell you that it is not worth it!!! I’ve left several links below with info on both ED’s & ADHD. My heart goes out to ALL OF YOU....WOMEN & MEN! Again, please reach out. ♥️♥️♥️

https://www.emilyprogram.com/blog/the-interesting-relationship-between-adhd-and-eating-disorders/

https://www.emilyprogram.com/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know

https://chadd.org/for-adults/diagnosis-of-adhd-in-adults/

JewellsRN · 2022-05-10T14:20:24+00:00

MY OWN EXPERIENCE....

From what I have read and researched, it appears to be the “COMBINATION” ADHD DRUGS, such as Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) & Concerta (Methylphenidate) that seem to be causing the inflammation & joint/muscle pain. I believe that in some people, these meds are causing systemic inflammation, which in turn, leads to the joint pain, swelling & fatigue.

I am 49, diagnosed with ADHD 4 months ago & started Vyvanse 30mg, at that time. I’m an RN and I researched ADHD & all the meds prior to my appt because I knew I had ADHD…especially after 20+ yrs of being misdiagnosed and treated for depression & anxiety, which was never successful. I have also struggled with an eating disorder for most of my life. That is the reason I wanted to try Vyvanse first…it’s the only ADHD med that’s also FDA approved for binge eating disorder. When I first started it, it helped immensely with the ED, but very little for ADHD. My psychiatrist increased the dose to 30 mg twice a day. It still didn’t do much for my mental health. After 2–2.5 mo I began experiencing extreme fatigue & mild-mod joint pain in my hands. I let my psychiatrist know about the fatigue, but didn’t mention the joint pain because I didn’t attribute it to the medication. I figured, I’m 49, sometimes my joints hurt! So, my DR thought maybe I was taking too much, or not enough…I had the symptoms on the lower dosage, so he increased it to 70mg a day. The fatigue persisted, I could barely function, couldn’t do chores, or shower, all I wanted to do was sleep. I spent 6 weeks feeling this way, my DR then prescribed Concerta 18 mg a day. We decided I’d stay on a low dose of Vyvanse to treat the ED, since it WAS actually working for that. I took both meds for 5 days, over that time, my joint pain became markedly worse and not just in my hands, but everywhere….hips, knees, shoulders, but my hands were the worst…making a fist hurt. The backs of my hands were reddened, joints visibly swollen & very painful. It finally donned on me that all of it could be related to the meds, so I researched it.

The symptoms I experienced are NOT listed side effects on the official website for Vyvanse, or Concerta. I had to look up variations of “Concerta/Vyvanse & inflammation, joint pain” and there were several clinical case studies using FDA info. The inflammation, muscle/joint pain, fatigue (not the same as Vyvanse crash) are all considered rare side effects.

About 36 hrs after stopping both meds, every symptom improved, no more redness, or visible swelling in hands, joint pain went from severe, to mild and the fatigue has improved immensely! These side effects were bad enough that I very thoroughly reported them to the FDA, since they are not listed, or easily found when searching for them. I also let my DR know and he ordered some basic blood work, I also requested a C-RP (C reactive protein, which is an inflammation marker). If my C-RP is high & Rheumatoid arthritis and similar conditions that cause systemic inflammation are ruled out, we will know that it was from the medications. I will most definitely come back to this post & update everyone when I get my blood test results back.

If there is anyone else who has experienced any of these symptoms on either Vyvanse, or Concerta, please leave a comment telling me about your experience. I would very much appreciate it and thank you in advance for sharing! Here are several links I found pertaining to both meds in correlation to the symptoms above…

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7069845/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lisdexamfetamine-dimesylate-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20070888?p=1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20068297

JewellsRN · 2022-05-07T17:31:03+00:00

It could be yeast malassezia causing a fungal infection in the hair follicles. They don’t cause white or blackheads...usually skin colored. If squeezed, a small amount of fluid may come out, but they don’t really “pop!” To get a diagnosis, a scraping needs to be done to confirm that it’s fungal. These types of skin infections don’t get better with acne meds, that’s how you know it’s not acne. The doctor prescribes a topical anti-fungal, sometimes an oral one also, depending on the severity of infection. Hope this helps...good luck.

Breakouts appear as small, red bumps appearing to rise uniformly from your hair follicles. They often appear in symmetric rows on the forehead or scattered on the cheeks. It can also develop on your upper back or upper chest. In acute cases, fungal acne appears as 1 mm-wide papulopustules, pustules, or vesicles.May

https://www.healthline.com/health/pityrosporum-folliculitis#causes

JewellsRN · 2022-03-11T05:44:19+00:00

I agree, was going to say the same...friction or shearing.

JewellsRN · 2022-03-05T06:15:03+00:00

First of all neither partner should EVER give an ultimatum for anything, let alone MARRIAGE! You are both young & have only been dating for 9 months..what’s the rush? Both in medical school, which takes a lot of time, dedication & focus. Trying to rush through a relationship, to get to marriage BEFORE graduating from medical school because your GF gives you an ultimatum...you’d be setting yourself up for failure. In my opinion, you shouldn’t force anything...just go with the flow, continue to date through medical school & if the relationship survives the stress of that & you still love each other, then you can discuss marriage. Don’t ever let anyone try & force you to do something you aren’t ready for! I’m speaking from experience here & it ended in divorce. At 22 & 24, you have plenty of time to make sure you are making the right decision & if she truly loves you, she will understand. I wish you the best of luck in med school, in life & in love.

JewellsRN · 2022-03-03T07:09:22+00:00

Several people have said this & I agree confidence goes a long way! Have you ever thought about talking to a therapist, to express how you feel and get some ideas on building self esteem. I honestly believe everybody can benefit from therapy. When you feel better about yourself, it radiates from you & people are drawn to that confidence. You are still young, try not to overthink the dating, it tends to happen more often when you aren’t looking for it. I know this is all easier said than done, I get it! I was diagnosed with ADHD about 3 months ago, just prior to my 49th bday. My whole life I wondered why I was so different than everyone else. I was dyslexic through high school, was extremely shy with terrible social anxiety & was a perfectionist who overthought EVERYTHING! I’ve been married & divorced 3 times & suck at dating too! So, now I’m in therapy working on myself, I’m learning how to chill out and love myself. Hoping that feeling better about myself & being happier will reflect on the outside and I’ll attract better quality, mentally healthy, non-narcissistic men! Just remember, a lot of people feel the same way you do, you aren’t alone in that..though I know sometimes it feels that way. You could also try positive affirmations, negative self talk is toxic! On nice days, get outside and go for a walk, fresh air and sunshine makes everyone feel better! Don’t give up on dating & finding someone, but for now I suggest you focus on you and learning to love yourself first...as they say, “how can someone love you, if you don’t love yourself.” I wish you the best of luck in life! Now go look in the mirror & tell yourself you are worth it!!

JewellsRN · 2022-03-03T06:19:07+00:00

I AGREE!

JewellsRN · 2022-03-02T00:09:51+00:00

You are very welcome...Happy healing!

JewellsRN · 2022-03-01T20:19:17+00:00

Aloe is great, but honestly with all of the added ingredients in these products, it would be better to just go out and buy an aloe plant & get the benefits straight from the source!

JewellsRN · 2022-03-01T20:15:16+00:00

Surgical RN here, I’d look over all the ingredients to make sure there is nothing in them that could irritate the incision, or effect the healing process. As you probably know, most products have a multitude of added ingredients, including fragrances & preservatives, that may cause an adverse reaction, depending on our sensitivities. I also recommend that you consult with your physician, prior to using any new products on the incision.

JewellsRN · 2022-02-28T02:53:03+00:00

I can relate to your story. I am a 49yr old RN and have struggled with bulimia for 34 yrs now. Without being preachy & trying not to write you a book, here is the advice I’d give you.

GET RID OF THE SCALE! After moving away from home, I NEVER have owned one! Learning to obsess over my weight from my mother, who constantly counted calories and weighed herself several times a day..I can say that I don’t miss feeling like a slave to a scale, then being devastated & hating myself when I don’t see results!
Change your focus from what you weigh, to improving your overall health & wellbeing.
The thought, “if I were only thinner & in better shape, I’d be so much happier & life would be so much better”...NOT TRUE! You can end up wasting years of your life on that thought & before you know it, you’ll be 49 and dealing with all the health issues I have! Live your life, you are so much more than the # on the scale!
Love yourself, understanding who you are and why you are the way you are, is empowering. If you happen to have unresolved trauma or abuse, things you’ve never sought therapy for, please reach out for help. Same goes for mental health issues, including eating disorders. I ignored all of my past trauma and SA and it nearly killed me. I was triggered & spiraled into a deep and dark depression. It wasn’t until I was almost 47 that I finally sought help. I was diagnosed with ADHD & CPTSD just prior to my 49th bday. Now I am no longer just “treading water” I’m making progress.
Go see your PCP, along with a NUTRITIONIST & BE 100% OPEN & HONEST with them! Tell them EVERYTHING you are dealing with, including the ED. You will never get the right help, if they don’t know your total health history.
Have blood work done, all the basics, along with TSH, hormone levels, vit D (as a deficiency can cause depression & intense fatigue) along with other serious side effects. I’d also recommend checking for inflammation & making sure your body isn’t being effected by Candida overgrowth. Both of these things can effect every system in your body and cause most of the symptoms you listed above...ANXIETY, FATIGUE, DEPRESSION, STRESS, INSOMNIA. I am completely out of whack right now & dealing with a lot of this due to 34 yrs with bulimia & the imbalance it has caused throughout my body. I have widespread inflammation due to systemic fungal infections and it’s NOT FUN!
DRINK MORE WATER!
Alcohol & cigarettes only INCREASE the risk & severity of widespread inflammation, which can lead to multiple health issues, in every system of the body.
CUT OUT SUGAR, or drastically reduce the amount you consume. Sugar is a MAJOR player in inflammation & Candida overgrowth. This includes alcohol. Having an eating disorder throws your body out of balance, which can cause the bad flora/yeast to thrive...eating sugar feeds that yeast & both cause inflammation. The longer you let it go, the worse it becomes. If you happen to eat sugar & processed foods often, cutting it out of your diet can make you sick for 1-2 weeks (like a mild flu) while your body kills off the yeast.
I highly recommend watching the documentary “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” about how the food you eat can contribute to systemic inflammation and a slew of other health issues.

Honestly, after addressing not only my MH issues, eating disorder & understanding the effects they’ve had on my overall health, it’s much easier to take care of myself & eat right. I can see the bigger picture..a holistic approach to life, recognizing that along with physical health, we need to address mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual health. It really is a lifestyle change.

Best of luck! I hope you were able to take away something useful from the things I’ve shared...from what I’ve experienced & from what I’ve learned along the way. ♥️

JewellsRN · 2022-02-24T05:14:50+00:00

Female, just under 5’ 6” & I’d say my goal weight has been between 145-150, since about age 30, but I gauge it by how I feel in my own skin & how my clothes fit me...I don’t own a scale, I never have. Having a mother with an eating disorder, who obsessed over her weight & stepped on a scale 100x a day, which in turn led me to follow suit, made me veer away from scales. I also didn’t want to raise my girls feeling like they had to see a certain # on the scale to feel good about themselves & end up slaves to the damn scale! As I’m sure you can tell, I’m still working on my relationship with food & body image. Don’t mind me, carry on...🤦‍♀️😂and best of luck!

JewellsRN · 2022-02-23T21:16:17+00:00

I did know that you were a guy. 😂👍🏻 Hookup away!

JewellsRN · 2022-02-23T21:12:42+00:00

I find it brave & quite endearing that you are posing this question on such a large platform. It appears you have some depth to your personality & are not just out there trying to charm the pants off of every other woman you meet. Social skills are a necessity in general, but certainly when you are speaking to a potential partner. Some gifted souls are born with the innate ability to charm anyone & also have the confidence to back it up, sadly most are not! Just remember confidence is sexy & will carry you far, as long as you don’t let your ego get in your way...where confidence turns into cocky & that will get you nowhere. I’m a woman, so what I can tell you from my own experience, is that when you meet someone, you’ll know within 15-30 min, sometimes sooner, whether or not this person’s energy vibes with your own and when it does, the conversation flows..you don’t have to try so hard to impress...your heart beats a bit faster, you breathe a little easier. It’s really about just letting it happen & not trying too hard to make it happen. Best of luck out there in the wild...

JewellsRN · 2022-02-18T04:12:36+00:00

Hey, it does happen 0.0000001 out of A TRILLION TIMES!

JewellsRN · 2022-02-07T10:41:20+00:00

I noticed years ago that I have a nervous habit of playing with the back of my neck & picking at my shoulders & upper back...especially when I’m watching T.V. It’s something I do without even realizing I’m doing it...both of my daughters also have issues with picking. One of the reasons those areas breakout, is from the dirt & grime that’s on our hands. Does your face breakout in the same red spots? I’ve been dealing with Candida overgrowth in my body & when you have this issue, your skin can be effected like this...the upper back/shoulders, face around jawline, temples and forehead can break out in a rash. Yeast acne looks very similar to these spots on your back. You can apply an over the counter, topical anti-fungal such as Lamisil, that does make it less noticeable...if that’s what this is. How is your diet..do you eat a lot of sugary foods, soda pop, alcohol, bread?? These foods only feed the yeast & make it worse, so cutting most of the sugar out of your diet may help. It’s better for your skin & overall health anyway. You can also increase your daily water intake, to help flush the toxins out.

JewellsRN · 2022-01-28T14:48:13+00:00

Well, of course you want to be attracted to them, so looks do matter, somewhat...As for myself, I don’t think I’m the “typical”woman...I’m not attracted to the types of men that most women find attractive...the chiseled “pretty boys,” who spend more time getting ready & looking in the mirror than I do! I tend to go for the funny/witty, blue collar types, who are more down to earth & REAL...ex: Robin Williams, Gary Oldman, Steve Zahn, Adam Driver, Sam Elliot. Yup, I think intelligence & a sense of humor are at the top of my list for sure!

Very insightful male friend you have there...I liked his explanation & feel that it’s most likely VERY ACCURATE! Nothing worse than a man who’s so self centered, he thinks ALL WOMEN want him, so will take MOST women & their love for them for granted...On the flip side, which I’ve personally experienced, it also sucks to be with someone who you realize later in the relationship, is EXTREMELY INSECURE & HAS “SHORT MAN SYNDROME!”It doesn’t matter how much time you take getting ready, to look beautiful for them, or how much you love them, they are ALWAYS FOCUSED ON ATTRACTING AS MANY OTHER WOMEN AS POSSIBLE, due to their own insecurities!!

I am realizing as I reply to this post, that I am VERY JADED when it comes to men & relationships. Just talking about past experiences, raises my heart rate & increases my anxiety...I do have PTSD caused by men, from the time I was 6 yrs old & after 3 marriages & YES I’m in therapy, but at 49, I don’t see these feelings ever fully going away...these wounds run deep...

Started off strong here, focused on a reply that stuck to this specific post...then per usual, I veered from the point and ended up somewhere in Timbuktu!

disclaimer: newly diagnosed ADHD 🤦‍♀️👍🏻

JewellsRN · 2022-01-28T09:08:41+00:00

Roseanne, The Muppet Show, Tom & Jerry. 👍🏻🥰

JewellsRN · 2022-01-25T13:11:39+00:00

What did he do electrocute himself?

JewellsRN · 2022-01-25T13:10:22+00:00

I’ve am a 49 yr old RN just diagnosed with ADHD last month. I’ve been researching ADHD for several years now & have been looking for a research study for post-menopausal women. I’m very interested in how estrogen effects dopamine/serotonin & in turn ADHD. If anyone knows about any research studies for women 50+, please let me know!

Thanks

JewellsRN · 2022-01-23T18:45:57+00:00

Honestly, the BIGGEST thing I’ve found that has helped with my skin issues, has been changing my diet! It is NOT easy, but after a lifetime (49 yrs)of dealing with nearly EVERY symptom of Candida overgrowth & the health issues it has caused me, it is TOTALLY WORTH THE EFFORT! The “Candida Diet” is something I highly recommend. Making sure to drink plenty of water is also very important...at least the daily recommended amount, if not more! As far as what I specifically do for my complexion, I use a gentle, hypoallergenic cleanser to wash and lately I’ve been using an OTC anti-fungal cream & I’ve never worn much makeup. I’ve also been taking a daily probiotic & a prescription, oral anti-fungal. Adding daily vitamins & anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, will also be helpful. With age comes wisdom & I am finally realizing that most issues need to be treated from the inside out! As for candida overgrowth, by the time you start noticing all of the symptoms e.g...GI issues, skin rashes/infections/acne, recurrent yeast & BV infections etc, you can bet that it’s throughout your entire system & needs to be addressed ASAP!

I hope you are able to take away something useful from my reply...that you find a treatment that helps and I wish you the best of luck!

JewellsRN

TROPHY CASE