Skin bumps that won't heal?

[C3rberus]

Hi,

I have these round, red skin bumps (photo links below) on the left side of my forehead and both of my cheeks that simply will not heal. I know it is not an acne breakout because that comes and goes while these I've had for almost a year. They're not painful and don't develop puss either. They just won't heal no matter what.

Photo: ibb.co/TwbfvTc

Photo: ibb.co/9Wjw3vd

Does anyone know what these could be and, most importantly, how to get rid of them?

*** I have a very clean and healthy skincare regimen, I use gentle, good quality, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic products, apply mineral SPF 50 religiously, I exfoliate with a gentle Lactic Acid chemical exfoliant and I take really good care of my skin. Plus, I am a ketovore, so I don't eat sugars, processed foods or gluten.

[Saassii]

Are you vigilant on the gluten? My husband gets exactly that type of rash from gluten, even trace amounts hidden in sauces etc. Get vigilant on that entirely. If it's not that, continue with an elimination diet until you locate the trigger. It's very clearly a food source trigger. Xx

[Ell17]

Agree with Saassii. That is gluten rash. You are being exposed to trace amounts somewhere. (Dairy can aggravate it if that is part of your diet, as well.) Just breathing in gluten while someone is cooking with wheat flour or cleaners and fragrances that have a wheat base can cause a flare. Eating isn't the only way for it to enter your body. I am extremely sensitive to the smallest traces. Just one exposure can flare skin for three months. You have to be a detective and start taking inventory of any way you could have been exposed. But, even when you are as careful as you can be, there are still variables that are beyond your control. So, don't be too hard on yourself.😊

As for getting rid of them. Unfortunately, they don't go away until the immune system has calmed (no additional gluten exposures) and stopped attacking the antibodies deposited in your skin (i.e., every place you have a red bump/spot.)

Note: Try skipping the lactic acid exfoliant and see if there is an improvement. (I developed a sensitivity to it and it aggravates my skin, even though most lactic acid is dairy free now.)

Best of luck.😊

[C3rberus in reply to Ell17]

I appreciate your replies and have to admit that's what I thought about initially. However, everything down to the last thing I eat is home cooked (I never eat out) and I make sure no ingredients that go into my food have gluten contamination. Or grain contamination for that matter. Everyone in my house is on the keto diet, so there isn't a speck of wheat or grain flour in the house. I also gave up starches, so there's none of that as well. That's why I doubt gluten is behind this.

I stopped using the lactic acid and BHAs for almost a week now (started using them in the hopes they'll exfoliate and get rid of the bumps) and my skin does seem to be a little better. Also amped up my skincare routine by adding lots of humectant serums and lotions and my skin feels plumper and less inflamed. Although I am more on the oily side, perhaps my skin is dehydrated and lacks water.

[Ell17 in reply to C3rberus]

Give an update if you figure out what triggers it and what helps. I'm curious to know.😊