Acne, Dry/oily skin, Jock itch, dandruff

Since Junior High school I have always had a really dry scalp that peels off and never allows me to wear dark colors, my scalp feels really oily all the time, but it seems like the scalp is absorbing any of that oil.

Also, i've had really severe back/chest acne, that will peel in large scales, and they can really hurt. Sometimes i'll just get bumps in the middle of my chest that hurt but dont peel, or ones that just grow through the skin and almost look like little tumors, i've seen a dermatologist about that one, and she said its nothing to be concerned about, and i havent gotten those specifically in a while. but my back is FULL of red scars and pimples.

In my groin area, i have a jock itch, that seems to be getting better with the use of anti fungal spray, but i still get these huge bumps between the thigh and pelvic area that sometimes peel and make it really hard to walk.

And lastly, I get these swollen lymph nodes along my jaw line, and sometimes i'll get acne there that hurts.

I really have lost so much hope for myself, I'm afraid to go swimming because of all the redness on my body. I sometimes have to wear bandages in my groin area, and although i can't really wear black shirts for the dandruff, i'm forced to because of the blood that will seep through the white shirt.

Please help!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These painful bumps on the chest and the groin area can be due to boils or infected hair follicles. Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph).

Please keep the area clean and apply some warm compresses and topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.