A FOLLICULITIS SOLUTION HAS WORKED FOR ME. I have had Folliculitis Decalvans since 2002. I was shaving my head for a few months, but it didn't seem to help much. Until this month, nothing had worked, not Dapsone, Rifampin, Clindamycin, Tetracycline, Minocycline, Zinc Sulfide, Olux foam, Ketoconazole 2%, Nizoral (Ketoconazole 1%), or Clobex lotion. Not even applying Manuka honey or even a solution of alcohol mixed with Clindamycin has helped. Nothing had worked -- UNTIL THIS MONTH.
Just this month I found a new doctor. Many people consider him the leading worldwide authority on scalp disorders. He has literally written books about his research (see links below). His name is David A. Whiting, M.D., F.A.C.P., P.A., The Hair and Skin Research and Treatment Center, 3600 Gaston Avenue, Wadley Tower #1058, Dallas, TX 75246. His phone number is (214) 820-4247.
I visited Dr. Whiting a few weeks ago. He is very nice man, originally from South Africa but has lived in Dallas for many years. He knew immediately that I had FD after looking at it. He took a biopsy and pictures of my scalp, injected some corticosteroids under the affected area, recommended shampoos Pantene Pro-V Shampoo/Conditioner and Head & Shoulders, and prescribed two medications. To sum up the prescription medications here they are:
AT LEAST FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, MY FOLLICULITIS DECALVANS APPEARS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED ALMOST COMPLETELY!!!!! I AM WRITING THIS TO GIVE HOPE TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT NEED THIS INFORMATION. I HOPE IT CAN HELP YOU AS IT HAS HELPED ME SO FAR.
DR. WHITING'S BOOKS:
http://www.amazon.com/Hair-Growth-Disorders-Ulrike-Blume-Peytavi/dp/354046908...
http://books.google.com/books?id=W-dT_21KZOIC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq...
Here's an update on me. The Bactrim pills and betamethasone lotion seemed to work very well for the first two weeks. Then I got a fever, probably from my family doctor's office when I got the biopsy stitches out of my scalp.
For the first time ever, my entire scalp (not just the top of my head which already had FD) erupted in extremely painful (not mildly itchy) pustules for three days, while I had the fever. So I went back to the doctor and they took a culture of one of the oozing pustules. I'll find out the results Oct. 27.
My FD is back, stronger than ever now. They may add another antibiotic, Levaquin, to the Bactrim if the culture shows what the doctor considers to be a "difficult" bacterial presence.
*SIGH* Meanwhile, I am embarrassed to leave the house, I've quit two jobs in two years, and I've become a hermit. How many jobs will let me wear a hat all day? I graduated with honors from an Ivy League college but now all that seems viable to me is a manual labor job where I can wear a hat all day. I'm so embarrassed and ashamed that I haven't been to church in ages. I don't want to distract anyone behind me and I don't want others to pity me or avoid me, thinking I might have some kind of contagious leprosy or something.
I don't know what to do.