Question:
I have a skin condition where I have boils,pimples and black heads on places where I
excessive amounts of fat or skin overlaping(under my apron under my arms under my breasts and under my sides. Does anyone have this condition, and does it go away after the weight lose. I also have very dark skin in those areas. These areas and conditions have been very painful and embarrassing. — Barbara D. (posted on April 20, 2002)
April 19, 2002
When I ws heavy, I got a boil occassionally. I often got butt pimples.
Black heads popped up between my legs a lot, (they rubbed together and were
discolored). Today, I don't EVER get boils, an occassion pimple on my butt
and no black heads between my legs. All discoloration has disappeared. My
sister (post op 12/00), used to get these huge boil type things on her arms
and legs. They left a nasty scar and a lot of discoloration. She never
gets them anymore.
— Jeannet
April 19, 2002
I have the dark skin patches.. it's part of my PCOS.. the dr. said it won't
ever go away.. I get pimples etc in those places too.. I am only a month
post-op but let's cross our fingers that they do go away!! GOOD LUCK!!
— Allie A.
April 19, 2002
Barbara, I too have had a chronic condition with those problems you've
listed. Although it has lessoned considerably since my Roux En Y (1 1/2
years ago) I still have flare ups with a boil or two. However, since losing
136 lbs., I was 'mentally' able to say to my doctor - "Okay, it's high
time we dealt with whatever this is" and am now being treated by a
dermatologist with antibiotic therapy. On the plus side, this issue gives
you further documentation in your medical records to substantiate a future
need for 'medically' necessary skin removal. Perhaps once this skin is
removed, it will cease to be a problem.
— Michelle R.
April 20, 2002
I suffered from boils between folds of my skin, between legs/bottom also. I
have scars from the boils, but I have not had anymore flare up since I lost
weight. I am hoping that the heat from this summer does not
"invite" any rashes or blemishes to come back.I do not think I
will ever wear a bathing suit again because my skin is so messed up from
discoloration/scaring, but I would not trade it for the weight any day.
rny Sept. 14, 2001
— Marie A.
April 20, 2002
I have had similar troubles. I consider it good now as it will build a good
case for plastic surgery down the road. I have it all documented when it
happens.
— Joelle B.
April 21, 2002
THE BOILS.. OH THE BOILS.. I have/had a condition called Hydradenitis
Supperativa.. These are the boil like cysts that look like HUGE pimples and
are EXTREMELY PAINFUL, you can get them in your arm pits, vaginal, rear
end, inner thighs close to your crotch.. When they pop, they leave a big
hole in your skin, they drain out with clear/bloody liquid and smell bad
and leave terrible scars etc...
I had surgery to correct the skin under my armpits I had both of my armpits
removed.. TOOK 3 MONTHS TO RECOVER. I was in surgery for 2 hours, they
removed all of the sweat gland area and where the hair grew and sewed the
ends of the incisions and left the rest open, I had to clean and pack
these deep open incisions about 5 inches long 3 inches wide and about 2
inches deep... It took MONTHS to heal.. I was in agony the whole time
because the incisions were open, the doctor left them open to heal from the
inside out as to not create infection or abcesses. It is 1 year and 2
months later and I stll have NO feeling under my armpits and some places
under my arms. No deoderant (clogs poors) I dont get stinky pits anymore
because the sweat glands and the skin were removed. I have had 2 boils
since then as oppossed to my 3 or 4 at a time in both pits ALL THE TIME,
I use HIBICLENS to clean my pits (you can get it at your local drug store)
this is a concentrated surgery type soap that will defenitly keep the funk
to a minimum and keep the microscopic bacteria from growing in your pits
which is 1 way to make these worse. I hope that helps you with your boil
question. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!! if you have questions, email me
[email protected] you can also type in HYDRADENITIS SUPPERATIVA
into a search engine and it will show you more information on this
condition
— Kim S.
April 21, 2002
Oh, and I forgot to tell you... Yes, this condition is exasserbated by
being obese. In fact when you lose all that weight you more than likely
wont get the boils anymore. (that is what my doctor told me anyway, (my
dermatologist)
Kim
— Kim S.
April 21, 2002
4-21-02 Hi! I haven't had surgery yet but I have the same problem. I just
asked my PCP about it two days ago and he said it was
"folliculitis" He prescribed an antibiotic cream to put on it
three times a day. (Erythomycin) Can't tell you if it works because I'll be
starting it tomorrow. My gynecologist had previously told me it was a form
of acne and the only thing I could do was use an antibacterial soap for it.
Check with your doctor about the antibiotics.
— angela D.
April 21, 2002
Hi. Those boils and pimples are due to two main things. One being bacteria
and the other being the fluent environment that they grow in. Basically all
people, heavy or thin, have bacteria all over their skin. The difference
with heavy people is that there are places on your body that are constantly
pressed together, offering the warm, dark, and moist areas that bacteria
just love. So, in turn heavy people get more severe cutaneous infections. I
for one have them constantly on the insides of my thigh and inside of my
armpits. But, I think there is some hope. When I was 60-70lbs thinner, I
remember that I hardly ever had them. So, yes being of a more normal weight
will help. Good Luck!
— Tara J.
May 26, 2002
I too had the surgery under my arms---twice under the same arm. It wasn't
terrible at all either time and I haven't had a boil there since. I don't
have all the feeling in my upper arm though. It was worth the surgery,
although it left me with a nasty scar.
— Kay S.
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