Folliculitis

[Danneaux]

Would suggest turmeric pills...I've tried it and it seems to have helped when I've suffered from said condition

Fred!

This is wonderful! I will look into this Monday morning. I presume this is a product my local natural products/holistic medicine/vitamins store would likely carry, and they are closed until then.

Your suggestion has great appeal, and most especially because it proved helpful to you. Meantime, I will look at some of the studies to learn more.

Thanks so much, Fred; very much appreciated, indeed!

All the best,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

So, here's the update:

Saw the doctor, and he thinks what I have is the same as "hot-tub folliculitis", caused by clothes trapping sweat and bacteria against the skin, where on long day-rides, it all festers in hair follicles irritated by vibration and friction. Same advice as before: Shower frequently (check, right after ride), launder cycling clothes frequently (check and ditto), and keep the area well-exfoliated and free of hair (uh, check). Antibiotic ointments on the spots. (uh...gonna try something else, Doc). He says the turmeric likely won't cause any problems in reasonable doses and cited one poorly-controlled, low-sample study that indicated a possible link to kidney stone formation in those with a propensity for stones. I'm not taking any meds except my daily thyroid pill and no problem with interaction there. I'll be taking a standardized extract (95% Curcuminoids)450mg 3x daily. Not giving medical advice, just giving it a trial myself. I figure in three weeks I may know something as a result.

So, here's the plan, starting today:

- Change laundry soaps to another phosphate-free brand with no fragrance or additives. Extra rinse cycle.
- Rotate jerseys so they have a good chance to air after washing and before re-use in case any chlorine or soapy additives are remaining.
- Lay-in a new supply of Bikini Zone to use on my chest and to take with me for re-application mid-trip, since it seemed to work better than anything else.
- Start a trial of the turmeric supplements to see if that will help.

I can always switch back to a wool-blend jersey or to looser cycling clothes, but the current lycra stuff is so functional, I'd like to find another solution first. I've got about two months before my next big tour and a lot of long day rides in-between, so this will give me a chance to see if the new routine works. Yes, I'm doing a lot at once so I won't which thing helped. The thing is, I'm under some time constraints and it would be nice to get this rash cleaned up soonest, so I'm pulling all stops and tossing scientific method out the window. If I see improvements, I can always add things back one at a time. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I'll report back with results.

Best,

Dan.

[macspud]

Dan,
I have heard great reports about the P73 blend of Oil of Wild Oregano being a wonder treatment for Folliculitis. A good source is "North American Herb and Spice"
It is well worth looking into.
Regards,
Iain.

[Danneaux]

I have heard great reports about the P73 blend of Oil of Wild Oregano being a wonder treatment for Folliculitis...

Wonderful, Iain; I will check this out in the local stores first thing tomorrow. I have already had a look at various sources on the 'Net, and it does indeed look very encouraging. Still doing the turmeric supplements as well.

I would like to avoid antibiotics if at all possible, and have had occasional good luck with alternative treatments in the past. It has been so helpful to receive replies from the kind folks on this Forum; very much appreciated!

All the best,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

Update: It has now been five days since I started on the turmeric suggested by Fred A-M, changed laundry soaps, changed jerseys mid-ride, and tried the BikiniZone (on chest mid-ride as well.

Of course, I don't know which has contributed most, but the good news is, the rash is looking drier, feels less "scratchy", and the pustules are smaller in number -- despite piling on the distance. Nothing this season beyond 250km, but I am hopeful this will bode well for longer days. All told, I'd say it is about what I would have expected of the usual antibiotic treatment by about week 2.5...and this all with *no* antibiotics. Yay!

The turmeric does seem to cause some indigestion, but I have addressed this by taking it mid-meal. I'll eat most anything, and also enjoy hot, spicy foods (Szechuan Chinese, Mexican, Indian, etc. and I have a real fondness for peppers including habaneros), so it has worked well to sandwich the turmeric mid-meal. I have not yet pursued Iain's suggestion of P73 Oil of Wile Oregano, but intend to. Given my time frame and the nagging folliculitis, it seemed best to hit it with what I had on-hand or could get right away, and then add more treatments later as I can find them if these prove less than ideal.

Since I can't count on at-home laundry or washing intervals while on-tour in the wilderness, something like the "magic bullet" of a P73 with a maintenance dose of turmeric might be an ideal solution. We'll see. My big worry on the next trip will be preventing "playa foot" by keeping my feet covered and out of the corrosive dust as much as possible. See: http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/playa_foot.html I've got some dust masks to prevent "playa lung", so I'm covered -- literally! -- there.

More followup reports as time goes by...

Best,

Dan.

Thanks again to all for your kind offers of help and assistance!

Best,

Dan.