acne like rash on abdomen

[Jon]

Hi I am a 31yr old male, for quite a number of months now, I have had a rash on my stomache and the sides of my abdomen. The rash consists of a large number of very small pimple like lumps, these lumps often are the same colour as the rest of my skin. They do not itch, or anything, I dont even notice them until I see them in the mirror.

Thinking it may be some form of acne I tried to scrub and soap them over a acouple of weeks, but this has only served to make them red and more noticable even though it dodnt cause them any pain or irritation. Some appear to look like tiny yellow heads, but when I pick them there is no reidue almost as if they are full of air.

any ideas?

thx

Jon.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Jon:

I am not sure what you are describing, though your assumption that they are not acne seems correct.  Perhaps they are cysts or enlarged follicles.  I doubt that they have any particular significance, nor is there much you can do about things like this, annoying though they may be.

Perhaps you should show them to your physician next time you see one.  meantime, leaving them alone seems the best advice I can offer, since trying to squeeze them out is likely to just leave scabs and long-lasting red marks.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[junmari]

my son has what you described and a dermatologist said he has Keratosis pilaris... although this condition sounds like what my son has, all the reading I have done suggest its only on back of arms and leggs. .... and that children tend to "grow" out of it....my son seems to be getting worse as time goes on.
His dermatologist perscribed to him LAC_HYDRIN. It has ammonium lactate equivalent to 12% lactic acid.  I read that you can find lactic acid over the counter...ask you pharmacist about it.
If you find out more about Keratosis pilaris please let me know.

[jjaniero]

Good over-the-counter substitute for Lac-Hydrin is AmLactin.  Same formula but a lot less expensive.