Teen DD very spotty back and decolletage

[ANewBrandOfShetlandPony]

She's 14. I feel she's lucky she barely has any spots on her face (at least for now) but her back and upper chest are so spotty, she will cover her whole body even when it's really warm, won't wear anything slightly low cut, certainly no strappy tops, and won't go to the swimming pool with her friends.
Is there anything I can get her that will help clear her skin? She's got sensitive very white skin that scars easily and for some reason mosquitoes love her and she ends up with red marks all over her legs as well.

DD had a consultation with the doctor for hers when 14. He differentiated between her teenage spots and the acne on her back, chest and arms. She has been on lymecycline for a year and it has made a huge difference. He didn't feel the pill was the right route yet as her acne was quite bad and not linked to periods. Her confidence is still a bit wobbly but at least she wears t-shirts now.

@BillyRaywasapreachersson

DD had a consultation with the doctor for hers when 14. He differentiated between her teenage spots and the acne on her back, chest and arms. She has been on lymecycline for a year and it has made a huge difference. He didn't feel the pill was the right route yet as her acne was quite bad and not linked to periods. Her confidence is still a bit wobbly but at least she wears t-shirts now.

Stupid gp.

Long term antibiotics are really damaging and the pill works perfectly

Having had two with acne there's a load of crap spouted about it

As DD has a father with chronic acne into his 40s the GP was keen to do what was needed for a teenager who had not yet started her periods. Of course your medical training may contradict that.

Bless her OP, this was me at her age and covering up in sunshine because I felt not fit to be seen became second nature, which I find sad even now.

Acne isn't really going to respond to topical products if it is severe, even if they may lessen it. I would just take her directly to the GP for antibiotics/antibiotic treatment creams, or have a balanced conversation about the pill as an option before the scarring becomes an issue.

In the interim if she has long hair try to have her keep it off her back and chest and not let conditioners and shampoos drip down in the shower. Tight clothing and sweat in the area may exacerbate things.

Oral Zinc supplements are worth a go (in respect of minimising things not eradicating them) and also working out if she might be intolerant to gluten or dairy.

@BillyRaywasapreachersson

As DD has a father with chronic acne into his 40s the GP was keen to do what was needed for a teenager who had not yet started her periods. Of course your medical training may contradict that.

Well, to be fair you didn't say she hadn't started her periods

Not sure what her dad having acne has to do with it. I had acne and dd2 was prescribed the pill at 15 (she'd had 18 months of periods though). Totally cleared it up.

I don't think long term antibiotic use is good for anyone.

Thank you for your opinions and derailing someone else's thread.

@BillyRaywasapreachersson

Thank you for your opinions and derailing someone else's thread.

Erm not derailing.

Giving my advice as a mum when two out of four dcs had bad acne.

No need to fight ladies. I appreciate everyone's input and then I'll do what I feel it's right. Right now I wonder if I may give Acnecide a go while I wait for a GP appointment? I will ring to book one on Monday but I know it will take at least 2 weeks for a phone consultation. I can get the Acnecide tomorrow.

Ancecide is really good. It does bleach clothes though.

DD has long hair and can get a spotty back from hair conditioner which needs to be rubbed off well.

This used to happen to me a lot till I realised what was happening after reading it somewhere

My DD has also had lymecycline for her acne and her face and it cleared up after 3 months.

She still gets a spotty back which is definitely from hair conditioner

I’d definitely recommend some sort of back spray; Clinique used to do one but they discontinued it. There are lots of others though, available in Boots & Superdrug.

I was the same and I agree with a previous poster - sun really helped clear it up

I still suffer from body acne in my 30s, I use these on my chest clearasil and this on my back/bum
Paulas choice body

Op, if you have to wait a couple weeks for the gp anyway, I would think about the solution I said that worked for me (If you haven’t already done this). A loofah and tea tree body wash, light non oily moisturiser. Within a few weeks I was sorted.
Very cheap, and could try for a couple of weeks if no improvement at least the cheapest and simplest/non medical method ruled out.

When I say using the loofah, just lightly not rubbing the skin red raw, but I think the frequency helps prevent build up and that’s maybe what clears the skin?

Also agree with another poster who said making sure conditioner washed away properly. I think claggy conditioners can block the skin.
I also made sure I kept my hair up off my back and shoulders and I think this helped too.

Hope you get a solution that works, It’s so tricky I remember feeling really embarrassed as a teenager. Good luck

I had this from 12 to 26 and still get the odd spot now. Saw numerous GP’s and tried so many treatments in this time.

Agree with PP that sunlight and air is one of the best options, with a gentle soap and loofah routine.

With age comes confidence, letting your skin see the sun (regardless of how it looks) is the best thing you can do. Appreciate that this is easier said than done for a teenager though.

What really helps me: tea tree cleansing wash and clean washcloth, pjs and t shirt every day. Wash the used ones in bio powder.

Fancy loafa that can’t be thrown in the washing machine after each use made things worse for me (and a whole week of cloths is less washing volume than one towel)

I had this as a teen too and one of my teenage DDs has it now too, her back is really full of blackheads.

The only thing that worked for me was Dianette oral contraceptive pill. I remember being so embarrassed of my back and spots popping and having shirts covered in blood it’s not nice at all.

In the interim if she has long hair try to have her keep it off her back and chest and not let conditioners and shampoos drip down in the shower.

I came here to say exactly this!

I learned (too late) to use a very gentle body wash AFTER shampooing and conditioning (sulphate and SLS free) to rid my neck and chest of horrible spots.

Every so often I get lazy and they start to come back - lesser so now I’m older.

Definitely worth a try as there’s no downside and can be done whilst waiting for medical support.

I personally always found tea-tree to drying - something like a glycolic face wash on her chest and face is another thing to try at relatively low cost.

@Bryonyshcmyony

and please not a loofah

You can buy acnecide without prescription in boots now (benzyol peroxide gel). It is very effective, you could try that for a month and see if it helps. It's with the spot face washes

You can get it as a gel or wash. My teen uses this and it is good.

Use a good sensitive suncream (baby ones are good) as it does make you skin more sun sensitive.

Def not a loofah!!