Sudden outbreak of acne(?) that won't go away

[doggybootcamp]

For the last few weeks I have had an outbreak of spots all over my shoulders and top of my back. This coincided with having major surgery on my shoulder and a nurse told me that it can be an inflammatory response ( since spread to other shoulder too). I also wore a sling for six weeks which could've been rubbing. Surgery was about 9 weeks ago and if anything, the spots are now getting worse- they aren't big, more small ones that don't really hurt but definitely have a head so seem like acne- style.
It could be peri- menopause (44) but I have no other symptoms. I'm otherwise healthy but take iron and B12 due to deficiencies- however my levels are higher than they've been for a long time.
Can anyone advise any products or advice on what might get rid of them? I hate wearing summer clothes in this weather due to this!

Something with snail mucin in, really very good at healing & hydrating.

Have you changed shampoo or anything recently? Is it definitely down to the surgery?

Are they itchy or sore at all? I got something like this and after a lot of experimentation it turned out that it was fungal acne. Went away completely when I used ketoconazole on it. You can get it in some dandruff shampoos (Boots do one and Nizoral) and one of the athletes foot creams is ketoconazole. Daktarin intense or something like that? It felt weird putting athletes foot cream all over my shoulders but cleared it all up in about 5 days and I had suffered with it for 6 weeks! Looked just like acne but was a bit hot/itchy/sore.

I sometimes get it now if I get pressure on my skin eg a bra strap that is too tight or carrying a heavy shoulder bag.

Did you have any dressing on your shoulder or spend an excessive time lying down after surgery? Did you find it hard to bathe? I’m just wondering if you’ve just been a bit sweaty and this has caused acne.

You may have picked up an infection at the hospital, like staphococus. I caught an infection in my face from a swimming pool that was like painful, itchy acne. I had topical antibiotics for a few weeks and it went away.

I haven't changed shampoo or anything and only use sulphate free products.
I don't know if it's linked to the surgery but it only started a few days after it- could be coincidental.
A little cluster appeared tonight within less than an hour, so strange!

Yes to both, I had a few large dressings for 2 weeks but it's all healed ok now. I was in very limited activity for a few weeks too and showering was tricky due to the sling but I did manage it every day. I get the occasional one on my chin but nowhere else...

It doesn't hurt at all!

Could it be shingles? Although it normally would occur on only one side of body. But a little cluster appearing within an hour does sound like it.

Unless you're allergic to dust mites, as I found out last year! Then it can cause a horrible reaction.

Not super common I imagine but just in case - my skin is still recovering haha.

@housemaus ooo didn't realise that, I wonder why? I know those with shellfish allergies should be careful with it though.

Long handled body brush in the shower to exfoliate and remove pore clogging dead skin cells.

After patting dry. Use this

www.qandaskin.com/products/salicylic-acid-smoothing-lotion?variant=40456575418457

Thanks all. I'm sure it's not shingles, ive had it before and it's not like that. They're very small pimple-like so not proper acne- now I'm recovering they're irritating me!

Folliculitus? There are many different causes of this, and they can look similar to acne.

2 things ring a bell.

When I took b12 for few months it flared my acne - not sure why but I found out by elimination - could also be a coincidence.

At 44 my acne was horrific - several in straight lines/circles in a day, truly horrible! Was considering accutane but first went with HRT and it cleared the acne in 2 weeks! It was hormonal acne caused by the peaks/dips in estrogen and progesterone being out of sync.

Thank you, that's really interesting. I've searched on 'my' b12 page on Facebook and lots of people are reporting the same issue , along with identical photos. I just hope it'll clear up as my body adapts, it's only been a couple of months so far so can't really stop! My next injection is not until September so maybe it'll calm a bit between now and then...

Good luck, I hope this resolves the issue for you. Acne at any age is not fun but is worst in your 40s.