Adult male acne on back and shoulders . Pics included

[Need9HoursSleep]

Hi everyone, the last few years my husband has been getting really bad acne on his back and shoulders. Any tips on how to get rid of it. It's like boil spots rather than having normal ones if that makes sense

See his GP, to start. Or a pharmacist.

If it’s relatively new underlying issues may need ruling out.

Is he taking anabolic steroids?

No to steroids!

I've told him gp but he thought it would be weird going to gp over that

I haven't tried this myself but a thread on here a few months ago suggests switching to bar soap (except not Dove which isn't proper soap) rather than shower gel helps a lot.

Particularly medicated type soaps (my knowledge runs out here...)

Definitely a GP issue.

Does he wear clean shirts? He needs to wear a new shirt every day. Shirts either need to be washed with detol or above 60 degrees. If he sleeps naked then he needs to change sheets daily too.

Does he exfoliate? He needs to exfoliate his back it would seem.

Wash every day, use a medicated face wash for spot prone skin on his back, pat dry, don’t rub. Use a prescribed cream on them - he definitely needs to see the gp. Clinique used to do a very good back and chest spray for acne prone skin which customers would come back and say how wonderful it was- might be worth a look (I’m an ex Clinique consultant).

DS has bad acne. Everything we’ve tried from the gp has been too severe. Tried herbal stuff too...hopeless.

Someone recommended this:-
Dermalex Acne Treatment - 30g Dare I say, two weeks in, it’s working very well.

Does he exercise and if so doing what?

Sweat?

@OutyMcOutface yes changes shirt every day

@Fairylea thanks

@SukiTheDog is that available over the counter?

@TheClacksAreDown yes he lifts weights

@LemonysSnicket I do think it could be caused by sweat but he showers and changes clothes daily

Hibiscrub might help. I would see your gp though. Poor chap.

It looks hormonal and therefore I would definitely see the GP. Very little to do with diet/what his wearing etc with that type.

@Need9Hours, yes. I bought a couple of them as it’s discounted at the moment. I might ask the dr if it’s available on prescription as it’s better than anything he gave us, over the last 2 years.

Bless him it looks sore!

It is most likely to do with sweat, what fabric rips does he wear when he works out? Has he changed his routine recently?
My dh had spots (nowhere near as bad as your dh) and we discovered it was when he wore football material type shirts at the gym.

If he isn't comfortable seeing a gp about this, would he feel better a dermatologist? I personally wouldn't try lots of different things without speaking to somebody first, incase things are exasperated. With these being a new symptom he does need them seen.

Keep clean, try and air as much as possible. Please let us know how he gets on.

It looks like cystic acne. Is it very tender and/or itchy? Big, fluid-filled ones which can be sort of moved about under the skin?

TMI pus warning
If so, he has my utmost sympathy. I had it for a number of years and it was awful. The itching when they were 'drying up' was horrendously intense, but id you scratched them or bashed them on something, they would weep. I had to throw clothes away from that. I have not had a back spot for a long time now, but the scarring is pigmented and pretty noticeable still.

Sorry if all this is TMI...it's such an awful condition. I found it useful to eliminate all showering and skin products containing sulphates. Shampoo was a key one for me, as I have long hair, and the cystic acne on my back was more or less in exactly the area where my hair falls when I am washing it! I use sulphate-free shampoos now. I will never know whether it was that that solved the problem, or whether the acne was on its way out anyway. I also had acne on my face (although not usually cystic acne, just the regular kind- don't know if it has a particular name!), and that also improved significantly within a similar timeframe- but I was taking some medication for that, so as you can see, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which factors had the most impact. But definitely worth looking for sulphate-free products, as there are a lot more of them around these days. Basically they just don't foam as much as products containing sulphate.

He definitely needs to see a dermatologist, who will most likely suggest Roaccutane. This is, by all accounts, an absolutely amazing drug, and I know loads of people who have had acne permanently cured by it (or very long-term at any rate). It is a very powerful drug however, and has been known to affect fluids in various bodily orifices so can lead to some unpleasant side effects re dry eyes, dry mouth (and others!)

It also is not recommended for people with a history of any sort of mental health issues. I have had a number of bouts with anxiety and depression, so although I was offered the drug (and sorely tempted), I couldn't risk it.

Sorry for such a long post. I hope he finds some relief.

Just reading some of the previous posts. I'd be really surprised if they are any kind of sweat spots, as I would not expect those to be large or 'boil' like, as described in the OP. If they are boil-like, there is likely fluid in them, and I don't see how sweat could cause that.

Blocked follicles aside, but that would be an awful lot of blocked follicles all of a sudden.

Like pp have said, I would suggest a trip to his GP is the best course of action, from there he/she may refer him to a dermatologist, they will give the best advice & treatment. Good luck