[Harry01 (OP)]

I couldn't find the write subject area to post in. I came on here a long time ago asking about what might have been in a jar that had this slimy yellow, presumably organic carbon based stuff and I put a lot of it on my skin and 9 years later I am still trying to get it off. I have been to three hospitals seen several GPs and dermatologists.

I can deduce as much to say that what was in the jar, whatever it was is what went on my skin. I am happy for anyone to entertain whatever theory they have. I am just exhausted with speaking to GPs or dermatologists who are fundamentally not listening and engaging with the causality of this. ChatGPT has suggested it's a biofilm or something microbial in nature. Yes, an AI bot has been the only thing who has refined its responses to the description I have given.

Thank you for listening

[paul cotter]

Since the epidermis continually exfoliates I can't imagine anything applied on the surface to remain for more than a couple of weeks, at most. If it is still there it must have penetrated into the dermis, just like a tattoo has to be delivered by a penetrating needle. I know of nothing that can penetrate like this without doing significant damage in the process apart from small molecules which can be absorbed but which would not localise in that area having been absorbed(medicinal patches). The only thing I can think of is a possible infective agent that was in the substance applied.

[Harry01 (OP)]

@Halc, yes a thick, slimy faintly yellow substance. In hindsight it appeared to have something growing in it, culturing. Like bacteria in agar? I applied it to my skin because I just trusted the source "Amazon". It was meant to be vaseline, so it was in a plastic jar and it wasn't until several months later I realised it was from the marketplace and a third party seller. In hindsight it was already open and had a smear of the stuff on the lid. I did think this unusual, in hindsight all of it was. I wasn't particularly well, so I was likely not in the best frame of mind to trust my instincts. And I applied it on instruction of the doctor as I have a pain disorder and sites of my body are sort of oversensitive.

It was on for a day before I tried to remove it with normal washing. The reaction or it adhering to my skin, or whatever the mechanism taking place, was immediate. In a matter of few minutes. You will see in one of the previous forums I explain that "I have vaseline stuck to my skin" as I simply believed this is what it was and normal when you apply a lot of it. This seems very daft in reflection but this is what happened.

@paul cotter I didn't know anything other than parasites that burrow under the skin. I didn't know anything could adher like this either. ChatGPT describes it as a biofilm. It says that it's microrganisms encased in something that forms a hard highly resistant barrier. It came up with this when I said that the slimy yellow thing formed a barrier to sensation on the skin surface.

What I do know is it is possible as I have tried my damnedest to remove it. Even when I had used less of it before I put loads and loads of it on it actually came off with a shampoo. Yes, you would think I would make the connection but I was mentally unwell, so I am putting all this together in hindsight. It's all caused me huge distress and been a psychological obstacle to recovery.

[Harry01 (OP)]

To clarify: it was not any old shampoo. Most shampoos had no effect whatsoever. It was sheer chance that this shampoo had something in it that removed it. I have also additionally found that T gel shampoo for greasy hair (the old browny orange shampoo that is now discontinued) has an effect, though not enough to remove it, in addition to the T gel therapeutic shampoo. These are some of the things I have tried.

I apologise if some of these sequence of events seem confusing. To be clear: I applied a few applications of the slimy stuff/thing to my skin. These were resistant to coming off but did come off and were treated by a specific shampoo from the body shop (now discontinued). I later applied significantly more and it formed this super resistant barrier and for 5 years I was thinking this was how normal vaseline behaves!

[paul cotter]

As Halc has correctly pointed out a science forum is not an appropriate place to look for medical advice. Much worse in my opinion is seeking answers from chatbots, they will lead you astray.

[paul cotter]

Different shampoos may have different ingredients but they all act in a similar manner. The surfactant is what does the business and while there are different surfactants and concentrations I think they would all be equally effective at solubilising oily substances. The only significant difference would be those that have medicinal ingredients such as selenium sulphide and ketoconazole for dandruff control.

[Harry01 (OP)]

@paul cotter I am afraid that medical advice has not been forthcoming from the people who might provide medical advice (dermatologists/GPs). I have put the idea of a biofilm to them.

It's not an oily substance - that couldn't stay on the skin for 9 years, as you say. If you use chatGPT like any other information source and you are sceptical of it when it says stuff that doesn't make sense and you look up further in addition, or say "I still don't know" you haven't blundered in your analysis. The idea of a biofilm makes sense: 'Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms embedded in a self produced matrix, which often appear slimy and sticky. The fact that the substance adhered to your skin and formed a resistant barrier aligns with how biofilms behave, as they latch onto surfaces and resist removal.'

If you can't think of anything else that latches onto the skin? Something has, I know this much. And it feels that I am the one who is having to present to them (dermatologists) what it might be. The last consultant said "what do you want me to do?". And once the bacterial and fungal swabs were negative decided that nothing was there but this simply isn't true.

Thank you for your input. 

[paul cotter]

I fully get where you are coming from with medics not offering any answer(I too have been down that road-multiple weird symptoms that went on for years following what seemed to be a simple upper respiratory viral infection). Even though the medics are no help I am still very much against using chatbots for medical information. I have to admit I have never used these chatbots and I have no intention of ever doing so- I have seen a lot of rubbish produced and I have also noticed they seem to be highly suggestible. If I want info on any subject I will seek out a recognised textbook or up to date peer reviewed articles. I am aware of biofilms but I don't know much, still I can't imagine such a film resisting a simple scrubbing off. In addition any organism capable of living on the surface of one's skin would surely be open to culture in a microbiology lab. There is not a lot of nutrients on the skin surface and if an organism can live there it's nutritional requirements cannot be that demanding. Most important question: in what way does the affected skin differ from normal skin?

[Petrochemicals]

Exzema or similar.  I have used tincture of iodine on skin complaints before, I believe a parasite of some sort that lived in hair follicle.

[Harry01 (OP)]

@paul cotter you are absolutely right that it can occasionally just make stuff up and be suggestible to language that I use. sometimes though, it can be quite helpful. You are right to be cautious of its limitations but I am only using whatever means I can to get my own answers and hope that with a better understanding and language to describe it, some specialist might listen to my explanation and engage with it.

I am prejudiced in the fact that I think that there lack of ability to engage is due to certain assumptions they are making that are wrong. This is why I frame the question as "what could" stay on the skin. If not x then y. But it is not nothing or the skin's normal biome.

the affected skin is encased in this highly resistant yellow slimy thing. It blocks sensation to the skin surface. I have naturally tried breaking it down with soap hot water and even things like my nails and a nail brush. It's indeed highly resistant. It's tough stuff.

[Harry01 (OP)]

Sorry I didn't respond about it being analysed in microbiology. Yes, of course. I am sure it could. All I know is the bacterial swab and fungal swab came back negative. But if it adheres strongly to the skin and is reluctant to come off then maybe I am just not getting very much of it in the swab? I know it's tiny tiny amounts but maybe there is some limitation to this test?

I do appreciate you engaging with this.

[paul cotter]

Slimy skin does not match any pathology that I know of, most problems, such as eczema as Petro has mentioned, involve dry or scaly or crusty lesions. I have no idea, sorry I could not be of more help. 

[Harry01 (OP)]

@paul cotter. Yes, I looked up a lot of stuff. It doesn't appear to affect the skin itself. It just clings to it and is resistant to coming off and it was in that jar. It's in landfill somewhere. If it isn't a biofilm it's something biological. If it helps it also has an odour along with it's slimy texture despite good hygiene. And it literally sticks to things like toilet roll.

[Harry01 (OP)]

Saw dermatologist and they were no help unfortunately. They explain how the skin sheds itself and treat it as if that thing has long gone. It's actually funny, as this is an assumption they made. Of course the skin is generally very good at removing things but maybe it re-adheres to the skin and why it's not removed in the shedding process. It's microbial, it sticks to things.

They offered no treatments but didn't see any problem with me using T gel, so I am just going to carry on using this along with my nails. This thing still demands an explanation and funnily enough if it was on their skin they would be forced to reexamine their assumptions. Nature is full of weird adaptions and I am sure you agree with me. Can I put it to someone in research? The evidence is there and there must be ways to study this in a lab