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Fleshy Plugs Under Skin In Pores on Face

there is a spot on my nose that i've rubbed raw washing, trying to get these "things" out of my pores.  these are not whiteheads, nor blackheads.  these are clusters of white or fleshy hard and sticky plugs-- not filled with anything, but they stick straight out from the pores. They are not bumps.  If I rub the area w/ a towel they do not rub off at all.  I tried to remove one with tweezers, and it was very tacky (as in sticky)  and clearly goes deep under the skin.  Part of it broke off but I could still see that the pore was plugged and a day or two later top of the plug was sticking out again. i can't find ANYTHING online that looks like it.  
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Avatar universal
Spent 8am to 7pm researching today. Where did it get me? The same place I was at the start of my research, lost, with multiple “maybes”.

I do not think it’s melassezia, candida, keratin, morgellons, etc.

My problem presents itself as a deep pimple or cystic acne usually on the chin, occasionally on the nose. It’s painful, kind of throbbing, sometimes warm to touch. WETHER OR NOT I mess with it does not matter. At some point the top layer of skin will come off  and I’m left with an open sore and behold...white “plugs” underneath. This sore WILL NOT go away until the plugs are removed! The sore will leak a clear or yellowish liquid sometimes. It can leak for over 24hrs. Sometimes the sore will have a honeycomb scab look to it, but this “scab” comes off with the slightest touch or movement. Like all others, dermatologist did not helped, I was labeled a picker with adult acne. This issue didn’t start until mid 20’s. I have tried many of the things listed and it does not help or offers minor temporary relief.

Here are the medications I take, as well as my routinely used face products:
Spironolactone 150mg
Tretinoin (small dot 3x a week)
Clindamycin (small dot every morning)
Ketoconazole Shampoo (used as face wash a few times a week)
And now Clotrimazole (foot antifungal, as needed during flairs....this does give me an itchy redness little rash if used too much, I has pretty sensitive skin)

I also use ****** Hydrating Face Wash, and La Rouche Posay Mositurizer. I try not to use anything near the affected area when I have an open flare up of the plugs.

I'm curious if we can all find a common factor?
Why do we all have this issue?
When did it start for you?
Do you find stress affects it for better or worst?
I think figuring out any common factors could help.
Has anyone had a cyst removed or broken bone?

Here is a list of top “maybes” from reading:
Discoid Lupus
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Actinic Keratosis

And lastly my entire “maybe” list:
Tinea barbae
Staph epi
Impetigo
Staph infection/folliculitis
MRSA
Demodex
Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis
Parasites
Merkel cell carcinoma
Ring worm
Myiasis
•autoimmune?
HPV skin infection

I am currently sitting with tape on my face. Some property in duct tape brings out warts and this won’t hurt to try.

The first bit of information I ever found can be found at this link as well as photos of my issue. (Page 6 username Shoober)

https://www.acne.org/forums/topic/370396-tiny-white-plugs/page/6/
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Look up polyomavirus
Avatar universal
Spent 8am to 7pm researching today. Where did it get me? The same place I was at the start of my research, lost, with multiple “maybes”.

I do not think it’s melassezia, candida, keratin, morgellons, etc.

My problem presents itself as a deep pimple or cystic acne usually on the chin, occasionally on the nose. It’s painful, kind of throbbing, sometimes warm to touch. WETHER OR NOT I mess with it does not matter. At some point the top layer of skin will come off  and I’m left with an open sore and behold...white “plugs” underneath. This sore WILL NOT go away until the plugs are removed! The sore will leak a clear or yellowish liquid sometimes. It can leak for over 24hrs. Sometimes the sore will have a honeycomb scab look to it, but this “scab” comes off with the slightest touch or movement. Like all others, dermatologist did not helped, I was labeled a picker with adult acne. This issue didn’t start until mid 20’s. I have tried many of the things listed and it does not help or offers minor temporary relief.

Here are the medications I take, as well as my routinely used face products:
Spironolactone 150mg
Tretinoin (small dot 3x a week)
Clindamycin (small dot every morning)
Ketoconazole Shampoo (used as face wash a few times a week)
And now Clotrimazole (foot antifungal, as needed during flairs....this does give me an itchy redness little rash if used too much, I has pretty sensitive skin)

I also use ****** Hydrating Face Wash, and La Rouche Posay Mositurizer. I try not to use anything near the affected area when I have an open flare up of the plugs.

I'm curious if we can all find a common factor?
Why do we all have this issue?
When did it start for you?
Do you find stress affects it for better or worst?
I think figuring out any common factors could help.
Has anyone had a cyst removed or broken bone?

Here is a list of top “maybes” from reading:
Discoid Lupus
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Actinic Keratosis

And lastly my entire “maybe” list:
Tinea barbae
Staph epi
Impetigo
Staph infection/folliculitis
MRSA
Demodex
Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis
Parasites
Merkel cell carcinoma
Ring worm
Myiasis
•autoimmune?
HPV skin infection

I am currently sitting with tape on my face. Some property in duct tape brings out warts and this won’t hurt to try.

The first bit of information I ever found can be found at this link as well as photos of my issue. (Page 6 username Shoober)

https://www.acne.org/forums/topic/370396-tiny-white-plugs/page/6/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Spent 8am to 7pm researching today. Where did it get me? The same place I was at the start of my research, lost, with multiple “maybes”.

I do not think it’s melassezia, candida, keratin, morgellons, etc.

My problem presents itself as a deep pimple or cystic acne usually on the chin, occasionally on the nose. It’s painful, kind of throbbing, sometimes warm to touch. WETHER OR NOT I mess with it does not matter. At some point the top layer of skin will come off  and I’m left with an open sore and behold...white “plugs” underneath. This sore WILL NOT go away until the plugs are removed! The sore will leak a clear or yellowish liquid sometimes. It can leak for over 24hrs. Sometimes the sore will have a honeycomb scab look to it, but this “scab” comes off with the slightest touch or movement. Like all others, dermatologist did not helped, I was labeled a picker with adult acne. This issue didn’t start until mid 20’s. I have tried many of the things listed and it does not help or offers minor temporary relief.

Here are the medications I take, as well as my routinely used face products:
Spironolactone 150mg
Tretinoin (small dot 3x a week)
Clindamycin (small dot every morning)
Ketoconazole Shampoo (used as face wash a few times a week)
And now Clotrimazole (foot antifungal, as needed during flairs....this does give me an itchy redness little rash if used too much, I has pretty sensitive skin)

I also use ****** Hydrating Face Wash, and La Rouche Posay Mositurizer. I try not to use anything near the affected area when I have an open flare up of the plugs.

I'm curious if we can all find a common factor?
Why do we all have this issue?
When did it start for you?
Do you find stress affects it for better or worst?
I think figuring out any common factors could help.
Has anyone had a cyst removed or broken bone?

Here is a list of top “maybes” from reading:
Discoid Lupus
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Actinic Keratosis

And lastly my entire “maybe” list:
Tinea barbae
Staph epi
Impetigo
Staph infection/folliculitis
MRSA
Demodex
Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis
Parasites
Merkel cell carcinoma
Ring worm
Myiasis
•autoimmune?
HPV skin infection

I am currently sitting with tape on my face. Some property in duct tape brings out warts and this won’t hurt to try.

The first bit of information I ever found can be found at this link as well as photos of my issue. (Page 6 username Shoober)

https://www.acne.org/forums/topic/370396-tiny-white-plugs/page/6/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I started having this  same problem in my early twenties (I’m now 35) and through the process of elimination I discovered that these breakouts are triggered when I have dairy products with the exception of butter (because it is a fat). I believe that it is the proteins in the dairy causing the problem. I recently took an exlax stimulant to treat a stomach issue but did not realize that it had whey protein in it. I was soo angry. Going on 5 weeks and the last plug is out (I believe). Hope this helps someone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
havent had one of these in a few years then BAM this week I get what feels like a cystic acne pimple on my nose. Its red sore to the touch. I leave it a lone for a few days trying to dry it out with benzoyl peroxide it looks like its coming to a head (i see white) I squeeze it and white puss comes out but it still feels sore so I know there is still something there. The next day I squeeze again more puss comes out. it feels like its done but the next morning I wake up its sore again and then I see the white plug. All around the plug the top layer of skin is peeled off and the skin seems to close over it if I leave it alone. I squeezed it once more not hard but enough the plug started to peak out of my skin. I could have pulled it out but I have enough deep pitted scars on my nose so i decided to leave it alone. Im ging to leave it alone and keep it dry. Continuing my routine of  benzoyl peroxide and retin a and adding  alittle tea tree oil to the plug. Ive had a couple in the past I left a lone and they went away I just had to keep them dry its tempting to pick them though because they heal much faster when the plug is removed. I'll update make an update soon.

Also i found this forum where people have been describing the same issue
https://www.acne.org/forums/topic/370396-tiny-white-plugs/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Steps to Remove Hard Callus w/ Fleshy Plugs under in Pores:
1. Soak the area in warm water; usually a nice long hot bath does well...
2. Tear off and remove the Callus surface to expose the deeper flesh area which often times the plug head can be seen...
3. Soak area in Hydrogen-peroxide this will cause the effected Callus area to turn to a soft dead skin white color and easier to remove from the body...
4. Apply Crushed Aspirin to the open wound & cover w/ Band-Aid...

Please note that I also used 2% Mupirocin Ointment for some time with slight results for my long term lesion; results really took place after the application of Aspirin to the open wound...

I repeated this Twice a day for about 3 weeks until all the Hard Callus area was gone and the wound felt and appears to be healing like a normal wound on my body does...
Helpful - 0
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