Aa
Random Scarring On Face (Please Help!)
Pretty much, since March, I have had a plethora of odd and disturbing things happening to my skin. I've come across many various posts on different forums (Acne.org and Essential Day Spa) with people who seem to have experienced similar symptoms as I have, but all these threads ended up dying out with no continued discussion. So this is just my experience:
Near the end of March, I noticed random pockmarks and thin indented lines forming all over my face. From April to July, I've gone to 4 dermatologists or so for answers, all of whom have been unable to give me a proper diagnosis. The first thing Google and Acne.org told me was some rare scarring disease called AMVC (atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis), but none but one of the dermatologists I visited had heard of this disease before - the one that had heard of it assured me I didn't have it and that there was debate among dermatologists whether such a disease actually exists. I had a bloodtest done for autoimmune disorders (Lupus, scleroderma, etc.) as well as 2 skin scrapings done for fungal/yeast infection and scabies/parasite testing, all of which came back negative. I also had a body check up (blood and urine tested) beginning of this month and everything came back normal. Normally, this would be good news to any average person, but to me, it just meant there was no explanation for what I had going on. The scarring would happen every week, meaning every week when I looked in the mirror, I would notice a new dent or some damage of a sort. You can imagine how depressed I became due to all this, esp since I am someone who cares about his looks and appearance a lot. It's been tough as hell for me on this journey, but it doesn't end there.
Aside from my face, around that same time in March, I noticed I started forming a bunch of horizontal lines all over my knees. I initially didn't take it too seriously since I'm quite lacking on body care (I don't exfoliate or moisturize regularly). Also, I have always been a runner, but didn't run for most of my time in college. I picked up running regularly again in February or so, so I thought perhaps these lines were associated with runner's lines or whatever marks people online have been labeling such phenomena as....I even thought they were possibly stretch marks. However, one of the dermatologists I went to found these lines to be very peculiar and suggested I go in for allergy testing; another dermatologist I went to said the lines were Langer's lines, particularly lines of tension (and she said they absolutely were not stretch marks). However, I've searched up Langer's lines like mad all over the Internet and have not been able to come across any helpful information - only stuff I've seen is that they are natural lines surgeons use to guide them in surgical procedures. The dermatologist who told me they were Langer's lines said with regular exfoliation and moisturizing, the lines should fade...I've been regularly doing both for about 3 months now and have seen no improvement. I went to a dermatologist at UCLA in July but she wasn't able to figure what these lines were either (this UCLA dermatologist was of no help to my face, either. She was very uncaring and a bit rude, too. So much for my time and money to get there!). Also, In part of my lower leg (knees sometimes, too) and on my arms, I'll sometimes notice random dents either jagged or linear that'll randomly appear out of nowhere, but will completely disappear within 2-3 hours.
To make things worse, in April, I started experiencing random twitching and prickling sensations all over my body. As mentioned, a skin scraping was done to test for scabies or bugs, and I also took Ivermectin just for safety measures, but the sensations have not stopped. I went to an allergist upon the recommendation of one of the dermatologists I visited, who felt everything I was experiencing could be related to some bizarre allergy of a sort. He put me on Zyrtec for 2 weeks, but the symptoms have not gone away. Along with my blood test for autoimmune disorders, I was also tested for B12 deficiency, which is usually a key cause of odd prickling sensations on the skin, but I was negative for this as well.
I turned to a naturopath earlier this month and had to pay a large amount of money to see him, but he wasn't able to help much, either. Many posts I've come across (esp on Acne.org) claim an omega 3 and omega 6 imbalance is to blame for the random facial scarring, and nearly all members in the Acne.org AMVC thread consumed a large amount of Omega 3 in time prior to the start of the random scarring. The naturopath disregarded this but said an imbalance could not cause such problems in the body and that perhaps I had a large build up of metals inside because I told him I consumed a LOT of fish for about 7 months or so straight before my scarring started showing up. He wasn't really able to help and while he has put me on a few things such as bentonite and zeolite for metal detox, I have not seen a stop to my scarring or my twitching and prickling sensations. This naturopath is referring me to a second naturopath very far from my home, but it's an issue because I will have to pay $250 to see this person, and that's just ridiculous, given I have insurance. I'm desperate for help.
I know what I'm experiencing may be trivial to some, but it's definitely caused me unimaginable depression. Yes, it's such a superficial thing to be bothered about, but when it's something regarding your face, and worst - something no medical professional has been able to help with, you cannot imagine the distress and anxiety it can cause. And the fact that your face is seemingly deteriorating every week...the horror is unimaginable. The prickling sensations don't help, either. I feel I'm alone and suffering from some unknown disease or something that no one can help me with. Dermatologists have been helpless and I've given up on reaching out to dermatologists. I know for sure after reaching out on EDS that I'm definitely not the only one suffering from this, and that many people are having these issues, but with no help.
Since I can only attach one picture onto here, I will attach one and provide links to other pictures to show my condition. Please believe me when I say that there is more than what the face scar picture shows - I have many small pore-connecting like lines and random pits that have formed all throughout my face.
If anyone has any helpful suggestions or experiences or just anything that will help me, please do help. I've been at a breaking point this past half year. Thanks.
http://s24.postimg.org/mmxapdv45/knee1.jpg (Lines of my knees)
http://s24.postimg.org/k8a0ip491/legdent.jpg (One of those random dents that will show up)
Near the end of March, I noticed random pockmarks and thin indented lines forming all over my face. From April to July, I've gone to 4 dermatologists or so for answers, all of whom have been unable to give me a proper diagnosis. The first thing Google and Acne.org told me was some rare scarring disease called AMVC (atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis), but none but one of the dermatologists I visited had heard of this disease before - the one that had heard of it assured me I didn't have it and that there was debate among dermatologists whether such a disease actually exists. I had a bloodtest done for autoimmune disorders (Lupus, scleroderma, etc.) as well as 2 skin scrapings done for fungal/yeast infection and scabies/parasite testing, all of which came back negative. I also had a body check up (blood and urine tested) beginning of this month and everything came back normal. Normally, this would be good news to any average person, but to me, it just meant there was no explanation for what I had going on. The scarring would happen every week, meaning every week when I looked in the mirror, I would notice a new dent or some damage of a sort. You can imagine how depressed I became due to all this, esp since I am someone who cares about his looks and appearance a lot. It's been tough as hell for me on this journey, but it doesn't end there.
Aside from my face, around that same time in March, I noticed I started forming a bunch of horizontal lines all over my knees. I initially didn't take it too seriously since I'm quite lacking on body care (I don't exfoliate or moisturize regularly). Also, I have always been a runner, but didn't run for most of my time in college. I picked up running regularly again in February or so, so I thought perhaps these lines were associated with runner's lines or whatever marks people online have been labeling such phenomena as....I even thought they were possibly stretch marks. However, one of the dermatologists I went to found these lines to be very peculiar and suggested I go in for allergy testing; another dermatologist I went to said the lines were Langer's lines, particularly lines of tension (and she said they absolutely were not stretch marks). However, I've searched up Langer's lines like mad all over the Internet and have not been able to come across any helpful information - only stuff I've seen is that they are natural lines surgeons use to guide them in surgical procedures. The dermatologist who told me they were Langer's lines said with regular exfoliation and moisturizing, the lines should fade...I've been regularly doing both for about 3 months now and have seen no improvement. I went to a dermatologist at UCLA in July but she wasn't able to figure what these lines were either (this UCLA dermatologist was of no help to my face, either. She was very uncaring and a bit rude, too. So much for my time and money to get there!). Also, In part of my lower leg (knees sometimes, too) and on my arms, I'll sometimes notice random dents either jagged or linear that'll randomly appear out of nowhere, but will completely disappear within 2-3 hours.
To make things worse, in April, I started experiencing random twitching and prickling sensations all over my body. As mentioned, a skin scraping was done to test for scabies or bugs, and I also took Ivermectin just for safety measures, but the sensations have not stopped. I went to an allergist upon the recommendation of one of the dermatologists I visited, who felt everything I was experiencing could be related to some bizarre allergy of a sort. He put me on Zyrtec for 2 weeks, but the symptoms have not gone away. Along with my blood test for autoimmune disorders, I was also tested for B12 deficiency, which is usually a key cause of odd prickling sensations on the skin, but I was negative for this as well.
I turned to a naturopath earlier this month and had to pay a large amount of money to see him, but he wasn't able to help much, either. Many posts I've come across (esp on Acne.org) claim an omega 3 and omega 6 imbalance is to blame for the random facial scarring, and nearly all members in the Acne.org AMVC thread consumed a large amount of Omega 3 in time prior to the start of the random scarring. The naturopath disregarded this but said an imbalance could not cause such problems in the body and that perhaps I had a large build up of metals inside because I told him I consumed a LOT of fish for about 7 months or so straight before my scarring started showing up. He wasn't really able to help and while he has put me on a few things such as bentonite and zeolite for metal detox, I have not seen a stop to my scarring or my twitching and prickling sensations. This naturopath is referring me to a second naturopath very far from my home, but it's an issue because I will have to pay $250 to see this person, and that's just ridiculous, given I have insurance. I'm desperate for help.
I know what I'm experiencing may be trivial to some, but it's definitely caused me unimaginable depression. Yes, it's such a superficial thing to be bothered about, but when it's something regarding your face, and worst - something no medical professional has been able to help with, you cannot imagine the distress and anxiety it can cause. And the fact that your face is seemingly deteriorating every week...the horror is unimaginable. The prickling sensations don't help, either. I feel I'm alone and suffering from some unknown disease or something that no one can help me with. Dermatologists have been helpless and I've given up on reaching out to dermatologists. I know for sure after reaching out on EDS that I'm definitely not the only one suffering from this, and that many people are having these issues, but with no help.
Since I can only attach one picture onto here, I will attach one and provide links to other pictures to show my condition. Please believe me when I say that there is more than what the face scar picture shows - I have many small pore-connecting like lines and random pits that have formed all throughout my face.
If anyone has any helpful suggestions or experiences or just anything that will help me, please do help. I've been at a breaking point this past half year. Thanks.
http://s24.postimg.org/mmxapdv45/knee1.jpg (Lines of my knees)
http://s24.postimg.org/k8a0ip491/legdent.jpg (One of those random dents that will show up)
Hi, I am the OP and decided to log back in after years of not having gone back on this. My scarring continues...it seemed to have stopped from 2014-2017 but in September 2018 flared up again with random linear indentations that were like nasolabial folds. Volume loss out of nowhere, and these lines probably stayed around for a year or so before. I used a red LED wand and eventually the volume loss randomly flattened out to normal texture. But my skin has scarred a lot continuously throughout time. Random divots on my chin and cheeks in places I didn't recently have any kind of acne. It's just been eating away at my soul. I wrote on Reddit at length about my struggles and had a number of people contact me throughout the shithole of 2020 and first quarter of this year, saying they've had the same spontaneous scarring and random volume loss in their facial skin. We all have nowhere to turn to and I fear in my soul that this disease (if we all really have it), will never be fully understood by the dermatology community. It is definitely autoimmune in nature but we do not know what the heck is triggering it.
Has anyone had any kind of luck doing other things? Or heck, contacting doctors? I have spoken with people believing candida is causing it or a poor diet and lifestyle. But no real results.
Has anyone had any kind of luck doing other things? Or heck, contacting doctors? I have spoken with people believing candida is causing it or a poor diet and lifestyle. But no real results.
OMG! I have the same symptoms. No previous acne conditions either. Patterns and lines of what looks like tiny blackheads or holes. I read that deep cystic acne, that doesn't come to the surface, could eventually cause the pore to "collapse" But I'm not convinced that this is my problem. I'm 33 and never had skin issues growing up. Name any procedure and I've probably tried it!
The only thing I haven't had done is an actual biopsy and all dermatologists have advised against it since it will only leave another scar. I'm just wondering if anyone with a similar experience can help.
An organic cause is definitely to be ruled out and biopsy would be of help.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
Thanks maatson, but I'm 100% sure I'm not imagining these things. There are many people online across various forums who have experienced the same things.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions
