Black heads on my prosthesis!

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HantaYo
HantaYo Member Posts: 280
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Namaste!

I have had my prosthesis since July.  They are aoemena, can be worn directly against the chest wall with a reg bra or in a prosthesis bra. I wear them both ways.  Earlier this month I flew from 800 ft above sea level to 7000 elevation.  When removing them that first evening I noted that one of them was covered with black dots (on the front side), looked just like a teenager's face that hasn't had their pores cleansed adequately.  The black dots would not rub or wash off.  The next day I noticed that the other one had now acquired the black heads.  I thought I had done something wrong somehow with them but I had been very good letting them cool down and cleansing the backs when appropriate and being sure they were dry before I put them into their little zippered keepers.

I was all prepared to call the prosthesis place for replacements when I got home.  When we flew back after a week we got in late and I didn't pay attention to them when I took them off.  The next morning they were black head free.

Has anyone else come across this interesting but puzzling black head break out?

Karla

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited September 2010

    Hi Karla, I have the same brand of prosthetic as you and have flown while wearing them but have never had that problem.  The fact that the 'blackheads' disappeared on your return journey suggests that it may be related to the pressurisation inside the plane.   Strange one, I would be interested to find out the answer also.

    Peace, strength, love n hugs.  chrissyb

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  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited September 2010

    I hate to say this but...  any chance the "black heads" were microdots of black mold? If you had any skin or cotton cells caught in the fissures that exist in plastic, it might make a very small microdot. Not all types of mold wash off since plastic has fissures it can get down into and if it was then in a dark environment (zippered bag) it would allow it to continue or grow.  It would make sense if they disappeared the time you didn't get them wet but had adverse conditions for them.  I'm just wondering not an expert but trying to think of anything else that might explain this weird phenomena.

    glad it disappeared for you but I agree, it would be nice to know what caused it.

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  • doingbetter
    doingbetter Member Posts: 117
    edited September 2010

    This is actually quite common when flying and staying at a higher elevation.  The first time it happened to me a number of years ago, we had flown from NY to the CO Rockies and I thought it was mold or something else bad.  As soon as we got back, I went back to the place I had bought the prosthesis from and was told that those are actually some type of air bubbles and should  disappear after a while and most of them did.  I find it more common when going from a lower elevation to higher as oppoed to just air travel alone.  For example, when we travel from here to FL, I don't notice the bubbles.  But whenever we go skiing in the Rockies it happens.  The written insert with last forms I purchased (ABC, I think) specifically say that this can happen and not to be concerned.

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  • karen_in_nj
    karen_in_nj Member Posts: 59
    edited September 2010

    Yup, I had the same thing happen when I flew from New Jersey (sea level) to Colorado (8000 feet) last year. The bubbles (which did look just like blackheads!) were there for my entire trip, but went away when we got back home.

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  • KathleenR
    KathleenR Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2010

    Yes, it happened to me as well after flying home from vacation.

    I thought it looked like mold/mildew. Was quite upset with myself ....... thought i hadn't taken proper care in the heat/humidity of my florida vacation.

    It did go away in a couple days.

    I have the amoena essential light & the literature mentions "air bubbles" that could take up to a week to resolve.

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  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited September 2010

    Wow! Air bubbles! Who would have "thunk" it.  Thanks for replying because I was curious.  I'll have to notice what happens to my prosthesis next time I fly.

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  • HantaYo
    HantaYo Member Posts: 280
    edited September 2010

    Namaste!

    Thanks to all for your answers.  Mystery Solved!.

    Karla

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  • behindblueyes
    behindblueyes Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2010

    I have a problem a bit different from yours.  I have had Amoena protheses in the past and had a problem with the inside material seperating from the outer plastic, causing air bubbles and creating a crackling sound whenever I moved (similar to crunching up a candy wrapper or chips bag !  Very unnerving)  Well, I thought it was a fluke since only one of the two did this.   I got a replacement protheses along with a new pair, but this time the brand is Personal Choice.  I again had one of them do the same thing.  I rotated the one (having 3 the same now) and darned if another one did it too !!  So, now 2 of the 3 are air bubbled , crackling boobies !!   Anyone ever had this similar problem?  I am menopausal (hot flashes for 6 yrs now)  I thought maybe my body was cooking the darn things...but that wouldn't make sense since only one at time is doing it.   sorry to babble...just frustrated.  oh...no flying was involved with this happening !!

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  • eileen1955
    eileen1955 Member Posts: 365
    edited November 2010

    In view of recent reports of TSA heightened security (specifically regarding breast prostheses) I am re-thinking my choice of the Amoena Essential Light 2S forms.   I was fitted for them last week so they can be returned.     I certainly don't want "blackheads" appearing on the prostheses when I fly at a high altitude.                       so much to consider about this purchase of prosthetics afer bilateral surgery.           I went to a specialized fitter.  Two lovely women were chatty and made me comfortable.          I asked for lightweight (due to osteoporosis), gel-backed (for my uneven chest wall).        I think they are too heavy for me (size 8; I was a 36DD)   I can feel the skeletal bones of my spine after just wearing them a few hrs for 2 days.        too much to think about just 6 wks post-dble mastectomy!           I really hijacked this post and apologize. should have started a new one; but the "blackheads" started to make me reconsider the choice. 

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