Chapter 165
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Day and Night Switched
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Day and night flipped upside down.
Nighttime ramen, tteokbokki, ice cream.
Stress from drunken customers on top of it all.
"All of that could be triggers for hives."
"I thought quitting my job would fix it, but it's still going on. Last night, the itching kept me up—I scratched until I cried!"
Min Juyeon shuddered, her shoulders trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.
She'd always had flawless skin, making a huge fuss over the tiniest blemish. No wonder she felt so wronged now that it was a total mess.
"Everyone else handles shift work just fine, so why me...? And of all things, on my skin."
"Everyone's innate resistance and weak spots are different. It's frustrating because it's so visible."
"Yeees."
But getting upset over a specific disease or wondering what she did wrong wouldn't yield answers.
The human body doesn't always react to stimulus A with disease A.
Innate vital energy varies from person to person—some stay healthy despite the same workload, while others fall apart after just one sleepless night.
Of course, shift work... even healthy people struggle long-term because it wrecks sleep rhythms and denies recovery time.
"Your skin barrier is damaged, and it can't recover on its own."
"Sniff, will ointment help?"
She seemed to understand, but still frustrated.
Jeong Inseong patted her back soothingly from the side.
"You need oral meds too. We have to stop the spread and quickly ease the itching."
"Yes, yes. I figured you'd prescribe pills too."
As we talked, her momentary anguish subsided, and Min Juyeon nodded.
"Let's go through it step by step. You said the folliculitis from high school cleared up fast last time? Has it come and gone since, or was it fine until this recent flare-up?"
"It was fine the whole time. Oh, but it first appeared about a month before I started my convenience store part-time. Group projects before finals were super stressful that semester. Back then, I had four or five on my cheeks."
She'd assumed it'd improve quickly like before, with the huanglian jiedu ointment. Planned to get a prescription over break but forgot.
"So you started the night shift like that, and the hives brought on the folliculitis spread?"
"Yes, exactly."
"And you've quit the convenience store night shift now?"
"Yes. I felt so bad... but the owner saw my face and understood right away. I switched to a daytime cafe job!"
Eliminating food and sleep factors was a relief, at least.
I summarized her history chronologically and explained folliculitis.
"Folliculitis, as I mentioned before, is inflammation from mites or bacteria entering hair follicles."
Min Juyeon nodded as if hearing it for the first time.
"People say it 'spreads,' and I phrased it that way too, but it's bacteria proliferating over a wider area. Normally..."
"Did I spread it by scratching? Is that why my nails hurt too?"
"It contributes."
"Uwaaah!"
Min Juyeon wailed.
Even in her distress, she avoided touching her cheeks or jaw, clutching her head instead.
"Right now, folliculitis is worst on both cheeks, with a few spreading to your nape."
"Yes, yes."
"The tiny scattered bumps are hives. Separate from folliculitis—your skin's vascular permeability increases, plasma leaks in, causing swelling. Not inflammation."
"Ah, Inseong told me the symptoms are different."
Hives that flare with specific foods are allergic reactions.
Some from temperature or other triggers.
But persisting for weeks like this is usually idiopathic.
"It's ongoing even after quitting, so pinpointing the cause now isn't that helpful. Let's treat and see how it responds. Itchy too, right?"
"Yes. I scratched because it itched."
She didn't touch directly but mimed scratching with her fingers.
"Folliculitis has some pus, and your whole face is a bit red. Feels warm?"
"Only when it's really itchy."
Skin symptoms are visual, but I checked for other factors.
"Appetite seems fine—digestion okay?"
Skin issues tie to digestion and respiration; poor digestion hinders meds.
"Not bad. Diarrhea a bit from daily tteokbokki and ice cream, but Mom's home cooking is fine."
"Sleeping better since quitting nights?"
"If not for itching, yeah. Once asleep, I stay out."
"Fatigue? Stamina average, by your feel?"
"Yes. Not particularly weak."
Jeong Inseong chimed in.
"She's healthy. Never gets colds."
Pulse and tongue were unremarkable except slightly fast.
"No major issues beyond skin. We'll clear facial damp-heat and stop itching..."
I turned to Jeong Inseong, who'd spoken last.
"Thought about it? What would you prescribe?"
"Pardon?"
He startled, asking back.
Not as shocked as with Madam Heo's story, but flustered.
"Quizzing you like this?"
"It's your girlfriend—we figured you'd pondered it."
"Uh, well, I'm only pre-med sophomore, so... Sopung-san? Senior said it's good for itching..."
"Don't they teach herbs in second-year pre-med?"
"No! Biology, chemistry, hanja, basic physiology!"
Ancient history for me—fuzzy now.
Pre-med sophomores wouldn't know? I'd studied herbs solo back then.
...No, careful. Don't think like a professor.
"Sopung-san is first-line for itching for good reason. Not a bad pick."
But no respiratory symptoms like runny nose, nor ginseng-level qi deficiency.
I thought of another overlapping formula first.
"I often use Cheongsangbangpung-tang here. Hyangge and bangpung from Sopung-san for dispersal, geunggyeong, hwanggeum, hwangryeon tackle folliculitis pus, improve circulation, vent peripheral heat."
Jeong Inseong whipped out his phone to note it.
"I'll give instructions—compare with Sopung-san."
"Yes, thank you!"
"Not exact formula... insomnia-level? Add baeksunpi, baekjilryeo. Great for itching. Obscure herbs?"
He nodded, clueless.
Both had skin issues—good study opportunity.
"Kills itching and inflammation?"
Min Juyeon summed perfectly.
"Exactly. Not chronic, might settle in a month, but folliculitis may linger. Check pus and spread in a month for phase two."
"Yes! No scratching, right?"
"Right. Minimize irritation."
No scratching, careful diet too.
"Digestion fine, less snacking—focus on skin. Avoid digestive disruptors?"
"Yes. No more ramen if it heals!"
Skin stress motivated her shout.
***
Min Juyeon impulsively chose night part-time.
Boyfriend Jeong Inseong bought gifts from tutoring, so she wanted to reciprocate.
'Buy him a watch for his birthday? He'd love it.'
First time on job sites, spotted school-adjacent convenience store ad.
Searched night shifts: mostly fine beyond flipped schedule.
Break time, nothing daytime—why not?
Interview: owner said few customers, eat discards free.
Started next day.
That was the root.
Not crowded nights, but college area—tons of bars.
Staggering drunks dazed her.
Dawn lulls bored her silly—hand to leftovers.
Mastered blind ramen taste-tests; some tteokbokki beat restaurants.
Then one day.
"...Why so itchy?"
Cheek redness spread to neck, shoulders.
"What's this? Can it spread like that?"
"Neck looks like hives? Allergy?"
"None..."
Mild itch repeated often.
Dozens folliculitis erupted at once; bad hive nights spent scratching.
"Juyeon, night shifts seem problematic... try something else?"
At boyfriend's gentle advice, she quit.
But folliculitis and hives persisted.
Itching tortured; outings nerve-wracking.
Everyone staring, judging—paranoia.
Primer, concealer, foundation, powder. Covered... but.
'Still looks bad.'
High school: don't cover folliculitis forcibly; makeup powder no good intuitively.
"Should get treated? You look miserable."
Ex-acne sufferer boyfriend empathized deeply.
Her skin porcelain then—how'd this happen?
"Want to fix you, but I know too little..."
She agreed; he took her to prior Korean clinic.
He'd treated acne there; grandma regulars.
"Whoa, grown this big?"
Three floors? More docs?
Min Juyeon shocked.
Thought ordinary before—impressive!
"Gonna work here post-grad?"
Far off, but director promised job; he grinned.
"Study majors harder... can't job-hunt clueless..."
Leaving, Jeong Inseong moped.
Stumped on question—downhearted.
"Four and half years left—chill."
Opposite: her tearful face bloomed.
Meds per advice—itching gone, folliculitis too. Strong hunch.
"See? Nape rough spot—shrunk, right?"
Hunch hit immediately.
Ten days meds: itching near gone; folliculitis shrinking.
No forced restraint—daily stress plummeted.
Another ten days.
"Flared, then sank right away!"
Hives gone.
Stress-itch nights vanished.
Month later: left cheek six, right three-four folliculitis left.
"Directooor!"
Month ago: teary entry.
Now: cheering, flung door wide.
"Oh, much better!"