Arimidex AI and ingrown hair (neck) with electric shaver

[hombre]

I've had a panasonic $300 electric shaver for 7 years. After I started Arimidex in April I'm getting frequent 1-2 reddish bumps (not open, pretty large, painful, inflamed) on my neck under chin (I only shave neck, electric) every other week or two. I guess those are ingrown hairs, I guess because I never in my life had an ingrown hair, not from electric, not from blade shaving.

I can't find any explanation, they also stay for a while, for at least 1.5 - 2 weeks, until they go away, I even used antibiotics cream, no help, they are not open wounds. Back in March I got a blade replacement head $50, not cheap, I might try to get another one to confirm it's not caused by a shaving head. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-WE...00HD1ERF8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Is it possible it's an Arimidex side effect ? My E2 still 20. Tiny Arimidex dose (0.125mg twice a week).

Another weird thing I've started getting is cold sores (herpes) after two nights of bad sleep (already had 3 past summer since starting Arimidex), before I maybe had one a year after really bad cold not just after a lack of sleep. I feel like my skin is different on Arimidex. (my pre-TRT sensitive E2 was 8, low for multiple years pre-TRT, skin was great. On TRT my E2 was 40-50, facial skin was good, just back/chest acne)

 

[Vince]

I guess if I was you, I would stop using the AI. Your estrogen levels look good without it (40-50) what cause you to start using an AI?

 

[hombre]

I might talk to Defy about going lower on total T, to 500-600 maybe, to keep E2 in check,
chest acne looks ugly, gets scratched (back and chest acne),
libido is not good maybe because of E2 (I'm low SHBG 19-20, skinny / slim, no metabolic syndrome, just unlucky I guess)

 

[Vince Carter]

I guess if I was you, I would stop using the AI. Your estrogen levels look good without it (40-50) what cause you to start using an AI?

40-50 but he's got body acne...an definitive high E symptom

 

[Vince Carter]

You're really reaching here, ingrown hairs and an AI, too, that's 1/8th of a mg, it's hardly a dose that is 1, going to create side effects, or 2, reduce your E from 40-50 to 20. It's such a low dose it's barely of any consequence, Dr's give it because you really can't hurt yourself with it.

I'd look more at the skin cleansing regimen you're using.

 

[hombre]

that's another thing, how could I be so sensitive to 0.125mg x twice a week, it's not just a random number,
I took E2 sensitive test FOUR times during summer once a month, it always comes back 19.5-20 barely fluctuates

 

[Vince Carter]

everyone is different in how they respond, there are definite outliers but I don't see that it's there, what you're looking for.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I've had a panasonic $300 electric shaver for 7 years. After I started Arimidex in April I'm getting frequent 1-2 reddish bumps (not open, pretty large, painful, inflamed) on my neck under chin (I only shave neck, electric) every other week or two. I guess those are ingrown hairs, I guess because I never in my life had an ingrown hair, not from electric, not from blade shaving.

I can't find any explanation, they also stay for a while, for at least 1.5 - 2 weeks, until they go away, I even used antibiotics cream, no help, they are not open wounds. Back in March I got a blade replacement head $50, not cheap, I might try to get another one to confirm it's not caused by a shaving head. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-WE...00HD1ERF8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Is it possible it's an Arimidex side effect ? My E2 still 20. Tiny Arimidex dose (0.125mg twice a week).

Another weird thing I've started getting is cold sores (herpes) after two nights of bad sleep (already had 3 past summer since starting Arimidex), before I maybe had one a year after really bad cold not just after a lack of sleep. I feel like my skin is different on Arimidex. (my pre-TRT sensitive E2 was 8, low for multiple years pre-TRT, skin was great. On TRT my E2 was 40-50, facial skin was good, just back/chest acne)

Are you on HCG? HCG gives me nodular acne. It’s painful and large bumps. It’s a more extreme form of cystic acne.

 

[hombre]

Hey, just saw your message,
I'm on 300 IU HCG thrice weekly
Not even sure if HCG does anything positive, not seeing big difference

Are you on HCG? HCG gives me nodular acne. It’s painful and large bumps. It’s a more extreme form of cystic acne.

 

[hombre]

we decided with Dr. Saya to drop HCG as an experiment and drop AI. I'm down to 32mg test cyp x 3 x week since mid September, and might go a bit up to compensate for dropping HCG.

 

[Nomad]

I read a study on metformin saying it reduces acne in women with PCOS by lowering their androgens and that testosterone causes thicker skin causing skin to clog pores and follicles more easily. I believe this is the action in which androgens cause acne and estrogen is more responsible for sebum production.

“ The cause of PCOS acne is elevated levels of testosterone. This masculinizing hormone is produced in the bodies of both males and females, especially during the teenage years. In addition to causing hair growth, muscle growth, and aggressive mood, it also thickens and toughens the skin. Testosterone makes the skin grow over pores, trapping oil and bacteria inside.”

 

[hombre]

interesting thing regarding that "beard chin acne" and hair follicules inflammation:

I stopped taking Arimidex (0.125 TIW) mid 2019 after a short trial. And never had beard hair follicles inflammation issues since then. But recently I went on oxandrolone / anavar and same thing is happening (10mg QD split into two doses).

I stopped HCG years ago, and HCG never gave me ever any beard hair follicules inflammation (only back and chest skin texture change, some pimples here and there).

My test cyp dose is only 28mg (0.14ml) TIW.

 

[hombre]

I think I figured it out. Just leaving it here in case someone would be searching for this.

Changes in DHT and/or estrogen can impact skin enough to cause fungal acne, or Malassezia (yeast) folliculitis. Topical ketoconazole (nizoral shampoo, topical finasteride mixtures that are often mixed with ketoconazole) can be used to control Malassezia, proper treatment requires oral antifungal.