How can I clear up my skin on my shoulders / back?

[Lockheart]

I finally have a nice event post-covid to go to in a few weeks. Will be wearing a strappy dress with a low back.

The last couple of years I've had dreadful spots on my back and shoulders (ironically the skin on my face, which was a nightmare as a teenager, is now beautifully clear).

The last few months I've been using exfoliating gloves and a special wash, which has helped a lot, but I still get some smaller spots and my skin tone has uneven colour where there are still dark marks and some redness.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can improve this for three week's time? I know it's not likely to be eliminated but just an improvement would be nice! Thanks.

You can use vitamin c serums on the area to fade the red scars. Really you need to speak to your dr about prescription treatments to knock them on the head.

You don’t need prescription treatments, benzoyl peroxide will get rid of it but your skin will be red and sore for a few weeks at first. You can get acnecide 5% gel which is a cream you can put on from boots or you can get panoxyl 10% wash which is only available in the US but you can get it from ukinusa website. It works but you have to be consistent with it and it will take a while. Don’t give up! Check out alanna arbucci on YouTube she has a video talking about how she got rid of her chest and back acne with benzoyl peroxide.

Niacinamide sorted out my back spots. The Ordinary one. Now I use a niacinamide spray by Revolution just to keep it clear.

Benzoyl peroxide doesn’t work for everyone though and the bleaching of bedding and towels can be a nuisance.

I use this salicylic acid spray, but I don't remember paying this much for it! www.lookfantastic.com/murad-clarifying-body-spray-130ml/10375484.html

Are you in your early thirties? I had exactly the same thing. Good news: it clears up.

I shouldn’t tell you this, because skin cancer, but as a short term fix a few sunbed sessions make a difference. Only a short term fix, though! If you don’t fancy that, consider a spray tan to blur the contrast between the different shades of skin.

Longer term, I know that you are already taking action but if you have hair past shoulder length I suggest that after applying and rinsing out conditioner in the shower, you wash your shoulders, back and chest again with soap.

I am in my early thirties! I'm glad to hear it will clear up eventually, but due to my skin type (very pale and freckly) I will be avoiding the sunbeds - I avoid sitting in the sun at length in any event.

Thank you for the suggestions of sprays and serums, I'll have a look.

@cannaethink

Niacinamide sorted out my back spots. The Ordinary one. Now I use a niacinamide spray by Revolution just to keep it clear.

I agree that niacinamide is very good for this sort of thing. Dermalogica do a range for teenagers called 'Clear Start' which I'd recommend - not overly expensive either. I would start washing and toning your back as you would your face.

It might not be back acne. I thought I had it for years until someone suggested it could be folliculitis. I used the dandruff shampoo Nizoral on my back and shoulders to clear it up. It only took 3 days so you'll soon know if that's not it.

Following. I've started with spots on my back only the past couple weeks, not changed anything so no idea why!

Oh and I would use my usual BHA on it but I can't bloody reach

La roche posay do a spray exactly for this I think it’s part of the effaclar range. Or get some cheap exfoliating toner like pha from the inkey list

You need to stop with the exfoliating it makes it worse I promise you. Acne wash or bar soap only no shower gel. And yy to making sure there's not conditioner sitting on your skin.

Pp right about dandruff shampoo - we use head and shoulders in out house for the same reason it's pretty effective

This is all great advice, but how to reach the back to apply :-s

I cut right down on dairy which solved it for me. One tip I learned is if you just have one pimple ruining a low back dress use concealer and then turn it into a beauty spot with an eye pencil - don't smudge it though!

@Keepitonthedownlow

This is all great advice, but how to reach the back to apply :-s

Anyone experienced in applying fake tan will manage just fine

Oh the thing that worked for me was getting rid of silicone in my shampoo and conditioner, I think even washing my shoulders after I had washed out conditioner wasn’t enough to remove the silicone. I should’ve realised as I know I get spots on my face if I use silicone based primer for more than a couple of days in a row.

Quite often it's from hair conditioner as it's so sticky so make sure you wash and rub it off well

Yes. I gave up on conditioner (the one I used was silicon based) and noticed clearer skin.

I don't use conditioner on my hair (I haven't yet found one that doesn't turn my hair greasy in less than 24 hours!) so it won't be that.

And the exfoliating gloves combined with the bioderm wash I bought months ago really have made it much better. I rarely get breakouts of spots now but I have been left with discolouration etc which is what I'm hoping to treat :)