“Why is my skin still breaking out when I’m literally scrubbing every day?”
That was my recurring question while standing under scalding-hot showers, lathering my body with antibacterial soaps, exfoliating gloves, and medicated body washes like I was prepping for surgery—not a workday.
Still, nothing helped.
In fact… things got worse. More red dots. More irritation. More shame.
That’s when I realized something hard:
I wasn’t dirty. I was damaging myself.
❌ The Wrong Fight: Scrubbing a Fire Instead of Putting It Out
Let’s back up.
I first noticed the bumps on the back of my thighs. Then my arms. Then, worst of all, my butt.
They looked like acne, but they didn’t act like acne. They weren’t cysts or whiteheads.
Just… tiny red bumps.
Some hurt. Some didn’t. But all of them made me feel gross.
I assumed it was because I wasn’t clean enough.
So I doubled down:
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Switched to antibacterial soaps
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Showered twice a day
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Used an exfoliating glove morning and night
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Bought body scrubs with tea tree oil, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide—you name it
And that’s when the burning started.
The itching.
The full-body discomfort that made it feel like I was wearing an outfit made of fiberglass.
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📚 Folliculitis Isn’t Dirt. It’s Inflammation.
If you don’t know what folliculitis is, here’s the short version:
It’s when your hair follicles get inflamed—sometimes due to bacteria, fungus, friction, sweat, shaving, or skin trauma.
In my case, it was most likely a mix of friction from tight clothing, sweating from workouts, and the literal war I waged against my own skin barrier in the name of cleanliness.
What I didn’t know back then:
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Overcleansing strips your skin’s natural defenses
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Scrubbing can irritate already inflamed follicles
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Antibacterial soaps can disrupt your microbiome and make things worse
It’s like trying to fix a paper cut by using sandpaper and bleach.
😔 The Emotional Toll No One Talks About
Let’s be honest: skin conditions carry shame.
Not just discomfort. Shame.
Especially when it shows up in “embarrassing” places.
Especially when you’re dating, changing in gym locker rooms, or going to the beach.
I felt gross—like my body was doing something wrong, and I had to punish it into submission.
And that’s the part no doctor tells you.
I didn’t need antibiotics or another $30 cleanser.
I needed to stop trying to clean my way to self-worth.
✨ What Finally Helped (And What Didn’t)
Here’s what actually helped once I stopped the overcleansing cycle:
✅ What Worked:
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Swapping to a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser (no fragrance, no harsh surfactants)
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Showering less, not more (once daily or every other day if not sweating)
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Wearing loose, breathable clothing, especially post-workout
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Applying a basic moisturizer after showering to restore the skin barrier
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Using a warm compress instead of popping or scrubbing
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Occasional use of diluted apple cider vinegar soaks (anti-inflammatory and rebalances pH)
❌ What Didn’t Work:
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Scrubs, loofahs, exfoliating mitts
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Antibacterial soaps (Dial, Hibiclens)
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Benzoyl peroxide body washes (too drying)
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Tea tree oil (burned like hell)
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Medicated creams used without a prescription or diagnosis
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Obsessive body-checking and mirror shame spirals
🧠 The Real Lesson: You’re Not “Dirty.” You’re Human.
Folliculitis isn’t your fault.
It’s not because you’re unhygienic.
It’s not because you missed a spot in the shower.
It’s a sign your skin is overwhelmed, not under-cared for.
Sometimes healing looks like doing less, not more.
Sometimes the strongest act of self-care is saying:
“I don’t have to scrub myself raw to be worthy.”
🪞Final Thought
If your body is flaring up, it’s not betraying you—it’s begging for gentleness.
Put down the loofah.
Switch out the industrial-grade soap.
Listen to your skin like it’s a friend, not a threat.
You’re not alone. You’re not dirty.
And healing is more possible than you think.
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