what do you do about back acne?

dpopiz

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
4,454
0
0
I have awful back acne. I'm taking minocycline right now and it works well on my face, but does nothing to my back. my dermatologist suggested that I rub some benzol peroxide wash stuff on every night. so I did for a month or two, but that just made it slightly worse.

I think the problem is that there's almost always a shirt (usually sweaty I might add) rubbing against my back. I don't have anything constantly rubbing at my face, which is probably why it's so much better
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Maybe change your shirt once or twice a day. Or if you want it to be less noticable, wear an undershirt and change it instead. I've never had bacne, so that's really all the advice I can give.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Originally posted by: kuk
Ask your doctor about benzoyl peroxide.

Read his message; he already did.

I've heard Retin-A gel works well.
 

gururu

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
2,402
0
0
get a Rx of tretinoin. Use it for a few months (nightly). You can also try using a non-detergent soap like cetaphil (get the antibacterial one, has triclosan). I think the important thing that keeps back acne going is irritation. If you use cetaphil and tretinoin, you won't irritate the skin, and the your skin will heal faster. You'll notice that once you get the upper hand, you can moderate the amount of tretinoin cream you apply.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Better than face. I'd not worry about it. it will go away by your mid 20s probably.
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: Dr Smooth
Wear a good quality 100% cotton t-shirt?

Thats not going to prevent anything.

The only thing that will for sure cure back acne in most people is accutane.
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
A warning for people thinking about accutane:

If you feel you may have depression, stay far, far, far away from this medication. Trust me on this. Depression + accutane = a very very bad day.

Also, if you like to drink a lot and want to take accutane, the drinking has to go. You will wind up devastating your liver.
 

Koing

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator<br> Health and F
Oct 11, 2000
16,843
2
0
Nothing.

I don't have acne. The changing of the under shirt sounds good and the other stuff here.

How often do you change your bed sheet? Change that more often maybe? When I lived in halls my back got a bit spotty. Changed it more often and wham spotty back was gone :D

Koing
 

sonambulo

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2004
4,777
1
0
Just be glad it's not cystic. Have you tried an anti-(b)acne shower gel? I think Neutrogena makes a pretty mild one.
 

johnjbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2001
4,401
1
0
Originally posted by: sonambulo
Just be glad it's not cystic. Have you tried an anti-(b)acne shower gel? I think Neutrogena makes a pretty mild one.

i tried the neutrogena one... it doesnt do anything

/me watches this thread curiously
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: BigJ
A warning for people thinking about accutane:

If you feel you may have depression, stay far, far, far away from this medication. Trust me on this. Depression + accutane = a very very bad day.

Also, if you like to drink a lot and want to take accutane, the drinking has to go. You will wind up devastating your liver.

Well, sorta. If you have been diagnosed with depression, its perfectly fine to take accutane under your Dr's or Psychiatrist's supervision.
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
One of the simplest things you can do to ensure healthy skin - especially your back - is to wash your bed sheets regularly. When I first moved away from home I think I washed my bed sheets once a month. As a result, the sweaty dirty sheets covering my body ended up giving me lots of pimples on my back. Once I began regular washings of my sheets my skin cleared up and I no longer have a problem with pimples on my back. You would be suprised how seldom people wash their bedsheets.
 

CTrain

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2001
4,940
0
0
Count me as one of those who have bacne.
My skin is pretty clear everywhere else but the back.....very irritating...
 

bernse

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2000
3,229
0
0
Often not much effects back acne. Only once your body is through most of its hormonal changes it will largely clear itself up. This could possibly be until your mid/late 20s.