This is most likely gram negative bacterial acne. It could be fungal acne, but from the look of it it is most likely gram negative bacterial acne - you have the classic signs of gram negative bacterial acne.

Fungal acne is caused by taking antibiotics and some othe meds. Gram negative bacterial acne is caused by taking the "cycline" antibiotics or clindamycin.

Can you advise me of the following - I can then provide information that will control your condition.

Have you taken antibiotics (or used topical antibiotics on you face) in the last few years ? If so, which ones ?

Do you have one or more of the following - dandruff, a white tongue, toenail fungus, sinus problems, gut problems, flaking skin, red, itchy or painful rashes, unexplained tiredness or headaches or "brain fog" ?

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Marquiso

You probably have gram negative bacterial acne or possibly fungal acne. The condition needs to be treated correctly. Treating these conditions as ordinary acne will make them WORSE.

Get back to me for further information, if you wish.

Aussie scientist

Thank you for the reply! So I cant relate to any of the followings you listed. However, 1 year ago I do remember takingtetracycline for a month. I was prescribed tetracycline from my doctor to treat thevery problem that i mentioned (whitehead around the mouth)

449629

Thanks for your reply. You very likely have gram negative bacterial acne (sometimes called gram negative follicultis), not fungal acne, and certainly not ordinary acne.

Gram negative fungal acne is CAUSED by taking tetracycline, because tetracycline kills gram positive bacteria which allows the gram negative bacteria to proliferate and cause the type of acne that you have. You may have started with ordinary acne an then it became gram negative acne when you took the tetracycline.

The gram negative bacteria live in one's nose, which is why you have acne in the places where you do.

Polymixin, which is sold as neosporin or polysporin cream or ointment, will control SOME types of gram negative bacterial acne but not all types. You should be able to buy polymixin cream/ointment without a prescription (depending on which country you are in), so buy some of that if you can get it, and apply it to the areas with acne. Also put a little bit in the lower part of your nose with a q tip/cotton bud.

Do NOT put the polymixin cream right up your nose - you don't want it going down into your lungs.

Always wash you hands after blowing or touching your nose.

Let me know how you go with the polymixin cream. Depending on which country you are in, I can provide information about other creams/ointments which will control the gra negative bacterial acne, if the polymixin does not control it.

Do NOT use treatments for ordinary acne, as these will make the "acne" worse.

And do NOT take antibiotics - you may ultimately need to take an antibiotic that is targeted for gram negative bacteria, but try topical treatments first. Topical treatments are safe, but oral antibiotics are very dangerous.

All oral antibiotics are VERY dangerous, and they should only if taken if one has a life threatening bacterial infection, and the correct antibiotic for the infection must be taken - otherwise the infection will get worse.

Let me know how you go with the polysporin cream/ointment. And let me know which country you are in.

WowThis is enlightening! Yes I'm starting to recall the time when I started getting these whiteheads ( gram negative follicultis ) and it was after my first dermatologistvisit. Although I am not completely sure what he prescribed me, i'm pretty sure It was some kind of antibiotic to treat my normal high schoolacne. Ever since then I started developing these ( so sad ) BTW I live in USA California. Also Is there a way to treat this and bring back the gram positive bacteria with the foods that I eat ? and does this have an relations with leaky gut ? Thank you so much for your replies, its unbelievablyhelpful to me !

4496

It all comes together !!

You don't necesarily want to bring back the gram positive bacteria on your skin as some of these cause ordinary acne BUT yes, do take PRObiotics. They will help restore your gut health.

I think leaky gut is partly a myth (not entirely) BUT gut problems from taking antibiotics are TOTALLY TRUE and very common.

Do you have gut problems ?

You can buy Polysporin in the US without a prescription. See if applying that helps control the acne. If it does not, then there are ways of safely treating the gram negative bacteria that Polysporin will not control.

Hopefully, the Polysporin will fix your acne problems...

@Aussie Scientist

Is it this ? https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/polysporin-first-aid-antibiotic-ointment/ID=prod352399-product But isnt this for minor cuts and scrapes ? and how should I apply this ? dot it on the whitehead ? Thank you! Oh btw I read thatdoctors prescribeisotretinoin to treat gram negativefollicultis , whats ur take on that ? isotretinoin is accutane right ?

4496

Yes, doctors do prescribe isotretinoin to treat gram negative follicultis, and yes tretinoin is accutane. However, I would ONLY use oral accutane as a last resort, because it is dangerous, because it can (possibly) cause fungal acne and because it will not usually control gram negative bacteria acne in the long term.

Polysporin is the correct topical ointment to use. Polysporin contains polymixin which kills SOME gram negtive bacteria (not all species, though). One should ALWAYS use a topical treatment BEFORE using an oral treatment and ONLY use oral treatments as a last resort, because topical treatments are safe and oral treatments are dangerous.

If the Polysporin does not control your condition, then there are other topical alternatives......

On 7/9/2019 at 4:16 PM, Aussie Scientist said:

Marquiso

You probably have gram negative bacterial acne or possibly fungal acne. The condition needs to be treated correctly. Treating these conditions as ordinary acne will make them WORSE.

Get back to me for further information, if you wish.

hello can you help my case out ? thank you

@aussie-scientist hi,

I live in perth Australia, i have similar condition. I haven't taken any oral antibiotics for longer than a week in past 7 years. I took some doxycycline about 7 years ago for 3 months or so but i dont think that could be the reason behind it. I used to get a few postules every now and then but last couple of weeks it has become more severe.

Do you know any other ointment for this that i can purchase otc?

@aussie-scientist

Hii , I just would like to ask u. I have the same problem with whiteheads around my mouth chin and around the nose and have some of the following simptomos u mentioned -dandruff, a white tongue, toenail fungus, sinus problems, gut problems, flaking skin, red, itchy or painful rashes, unexplained tiredness or headaches or "brain fog.

Can u please tell me what does this mean?

Thank you very much

@blinki084 did you ever find an answer? Because I too have some of those symptoms

Hi, does this look like gram negative bacteria? I have a lot of scaring from years of cystic acne all throughout my teens and twenties, but Im almost 30 now and these whiteheads all around my mouth are new. They pop up every day repeatedly. Every morning I wake up with new ones and by the end of the day others have appeared. Its an endless cycle!
I also have dandruff all through my scalp and have never been able to control it, major brain fog, tiredness, and sinus/allergy issues.
I had my fourth baby 6 months ago and my skin was clear for a while, about up until I was 4 months postpartum when my skin started breaking out badly. Only around my mouth, never anywhere else! I am currently breastfeeding.
How to know if its hormonal vs gram negative bacterial?