the dreaded b-acne

[bostonboy20]

Alright, so I have alway broken out on my chest and back ever since I was a teen and It really is so annoying. I hate taking my shirt off cause obviously people will think i'm dirty eventhough I shower every day, I use Neutrogena Body Clear bodywash, I try everything to get rid of it, and it does clear up sometimes but then like 3 days later I'll have just like two big red pimples and I'm back to being embarassed by it. Any advice? Any cheap products I could use besides the Neutrogena?

 

[a1b2c3]

ooh, no. i have the same problem. i swim everyday, so the pimples on my face always fried up, but not the ones on my chest/back for some reason.

 

[3nipples]

Try to remember that other people don't notice your pimples as much as you do.

 

[drhladnjak]

You might want to consider trying some different skin care products to see if that makes any difference. When I had bad acne, my doctor recommended I simply use Dove bar soap instead of other fancy (and expensive) cleansers.

Of course, you could also arrange an appointment with a dermatologist about your condition and see what he or she recommends. Just be aware that if you only have a couple of pimples occasionally, they probably won't be able to help you much because there's little that can be done for very mild cases of acne.

 

[MICHIGAN32000]

I've always thought that the neutrogena acne wash was the best for me, but everyone is different. There are two kinds, one with a black label and one with white (I think). The one that isn't black worked much better for me than the other one, even though the stuff inside the bottles looks exactly the same.

If the pimples are deep under the skin and feel like a volcano than I think a hot towel will take some of the pressure off the area. I don't think it needs to be too hot, just warm.

My friend went to a dermatologist and was given accutane, but I don't know if it made that much of a difference. Dermatologists can be busy, and expensive, so I would only do that it's really bothering you.

Try and relax as stress can aggrivate it. I read on web md that it can lead to depression, so try and take it easy as best you can.

Good luck

check out webmd.com and do a search for it.

 

[kallipolis]

Change your diet. Avoid fatty foods. Avoid sugar. Reduce your intake of animal products, and their by products. Eat more fresh fruit. Eat more whole grains. Take more physical exercise, such as daily brisk walks. Learn not to obsess, on any matter. Learn to relax, through not allowing people or circumstances to annoy you.

Teach yourself to be more patient, with life's tribulations. Take time to focus on helping those people, whose needs are greater than your own. Self possessiveness is the cause of so many of our fears. Fear disturbs our well being, and destroys our health.

Focusing on the externals and avoiding the internal causes of your acne, will only lighten your wallet and result in superficial changes to your condition.

 

[bostonboy20]

thanks everyone! yeah maybe my recent outbreaks have been due to stress/obsessing (trying to find a full time job after graduation sucks!) so i'll try these methods and such and hopefully it'll clear up!

 

[luminum]

thanks everyone! yeah maybe my recent outbreaks have been due to stress/obsessing (trying to find a full time job after graduation sucks!) so i'll try these methods and such and hopefully it'll clear up!

Actually, if I break out, I usually find it's when I'm really stressed, not sleeping enough,a nd eatin crappily because of all the stress. So just take a breather and get some good rest while you pull your hair out over this job hunt

 

[bostonboy20]

yeah it's probably sleep too...since I have nothing to do since i have no job...i stay up way to late(aka right now) and that probably also has a lot to do with it too...well i have a job interview tomorrow so wish me luck and hopefully it'll clear things up! haha

 

[jockboy01]

Yeah, a dermatologist is best if it is truly bothering you.

As to tanning, I agree that it helps them disappear. However, it can make it worse later. Tanning basically kills skin cells. And then when they slough off, they can actually clog pores making the acne worse. That said, if you have something that you need to take your shirt off, getting a tan is the fastest way for a temporary cure. The key is temporary as it can (and often does) make things worse.

 

[SuperQueer]

my doctor recommended i use lever 2000 antibacterial liquid soap in the shower. it cleared acne i was having on the back of my arms.

good luck!

 

[justaguy1988]

The only real cure for acne is Acutane but thats just my opinion. There were a few guys in my class that took it and they had bad face and body acne and it cleared them up. It wasn't fun I know because it dries the skin so bad and they were always putting lotion on there faces to keep from being flaky but in my opinion it was worth it in the end not having anymore acne.

I've had terrible back acne for four or five years now. This winter it and my face have finally started to clear up, not perfect but far better then in the past and its simply from puberty ending and acne going away on its own. I hate back acne though. Its so painful and I never can seem to reach the big white heads to pop them.

 

[rwuguy]

Actually had the same problem and then suddenly it just stopped when I turned 23. Its going to sound random and I swear by it, but eating yogurt actually clears it up. It is a holistic way of healing with an ingredient in the yogurt cleaning ur intestines. From what I read and was told, every organ is somehow related to a part of your body/skin. The intestines happen to be the back.

I'm no doctor, but I know it worked for me. Nothing major, one little container a day and you'll start seeing results. Also I started using a product called "Dermologica" that really helped. Its a little pricy and can only get it at certain spas buts its well worth it. Check out their website.

 

[bostonboy20]

thanks everyone!

i've always heard the tanning thing...but i've never tried it...but yeah obvi it's a temporary solution...i really just want it to stop...haha...like my face was bad during junior high and high school...but that has cleared up a whole lot...i have to occasional break out but nothing to serious...the back and chest are my only big problems right now...so i'm gonna take all these solutions into consideration and try them out...! thanks again!

 

[aaronp]

if the acne is sever dont be to afraid or ashamed to see a doctor to get a dermatologist referral. trust me. that was me. i had REALLY bad back ance because of overly sensative skin. I wanted to long and now my back is scarred from the acne. go see a doctor, there are plenty of pills and creams to take, cetaphil is amazing just for a topical wash.
acutane is amazing if the acne is bad and will clear up just about anything.
if it comes to that, dont be afraid of the side effects, most of it is just precations, i was on it for months.

 

[weasley]

I remember I used to pour products on my face to make the hateful acnes go away and they never did. I then gave proactiv a try, it worked a lot better than other brands I tried. It's not a miracle remedy, but my acne did clear out after a while. The sun can speed up the cycle so it might seems to help at first, but the sunlight can irritate the skin to cause outbreaks. Also you want to control your hormones, develop a healthy diet and make sure you get enough sleep can prevent your hormones go to town to cause outbreaks.

 

[DavidNY]

You should JUST GO see a dermatologist!

I began to have acne when I was around 12 or 13. By 14 it was obviously not a very nice thing so I began taking advice from anyone and everyone (except for a dermatologist).

I've sat with orange peels on my face, later a disgusting solution of milk and some flour of some sort, of course the obvious toothpaste, at some point yogurt, other odd herbal powders that mixed into disgusting pastes...

I was too embarassed to go to a dermatologist and too stubborn to do the one other thing that would've helped, which is to have changed my diet. A poster has mentioned a pretty extensive list of things to have and things to try staying away from. Unless your doctor tells you your condition is so specific and only warrants some particular medicine, also follow that posters advice. Of course, find out more info from elsewhere but the diet guidelines mentioned are spot on in my opinion.

 

[turtle_5731]

GO SEE A DOCTOR! That's really the best thing you can do. I had it really bad on my back too, I tried all sorts of different soaps and ointments that did not help me very much. I finally saw my doctor about it, he gave me some medication for it and now its a lot better, still not perfect but its getting a lot better with every pacing day.

Also he said that most ointments wont really help much with my back, so he didn't recomend any to me.

 

[Andross]

Tanning did it for me. I go to the sun studio regularly now (once every two weeks) and have no acne on my back anymore. It also helps with making friends... people are attracted to a healthy tan, even if it's in winter

 

[wraithsa]

Acne is a complex condition despite the fact that is one of the most common dermatological conditions doctors are consulted for. Its primary basis is hormonal with stimulation of the sweet glands in the skin which provide an ideal enviroment for P. Acnes ( a bacterium linked with condition) to grow. Acute flare ups are based on a variety of things but can include one emotional state and stress level. Food however is NOT a culprit as the studies have born out in many meta analyses so i am afriad comments like

Change your diet. Avoid fatty foods. Avoid sugar. Reduce your intake of animal products, and their by products. Eat more fresh fruit. Eat more whole grains. .

are msdirected and ill informed. Therapies include local agents targeted at cleansing and exfoliation (wheather chemical or physical) ; reducing bacterial proliferation of P.Acnes (topical anitbiotics and UV radiation in the form of "tanning") and decreasing sweet gland fluid production (topical tretinones). Systemic treatemtn is based on the same principles and are generally used in combo with local agents.

The best advice given so far is if it bugs u and is that much of a problem consult ur local doctor about what course of therapy is best suited to your grade of acne.