Spotty back won’t clear!

[Beachtowel2]

As a teen/into my twenties I had bad skin all over - although I don’t think it was ever actually acne. I’m now in my thirties and my face is fine other than the odd hormonal spot but my back is still spotty and I’m not sure what to do about it! It’s not big cystic spots and not in line with my cycle so I don’t think hormonal. They are mostly quite small and come to a head quickly I’m inclined to this it’s bacterial?

I wash my body after my hair with an AHA body wash, use a gentle scrub, gentle moisturiser, salicylic spray, change t shirts/pjs/bras, change sweaty clothes asap, clean towels regularly, keep nails cut short etc.

Anyone been through similar? I was thinking of trying Acnecide and start doing LED treatments once a month but I’m just not sure if that will work!

Can the doctor not give you a topical treatment. I used to get something called zineryt that I dabbed on and it cleared individual spots.

Some brands do a tea tree spray. Clinique used to do one, which I still miss 😫. Both Boots and Superdrug do them.

One tip I read was to wash your hair first in the shower, then use soap/shower gel as there will be no shampoo residue left on the skin.

Use a benzoyl peroxide wash/cream like Acnecide from boots.

Or you could try head and shoulders shampoo, apparently it can be good for all kinds of spots.

It sounds like you are doing the right things.

You can speak to your doctor (or see a medical aesthetics practitioner who is experienced in skincare) and they will be able to prescribe you some topical (And possibly oral) medicines that will help.

e.g Treclin, differin, skinoren

continue with the AhA wash. But BHA will also be needed.

nizorel shampoo

Doctors. Prescription charges are less than led treatments.

It doesn’t matter what the cause is, you've got bacterial infection.

I had this for years, whole back, shoulders, chest and top of arms.

It’s not popular but a sun bed was the only thing that cleared mine when it was active, only for a base tan not anything that would have anyone asking if id been on holiday. I’d literally go in for three minutes twice in a week then four minutes once or twice the following week and they’d be gone for months. It’s the only thing that worked until I grew out of it, I’d tried Acnecide, antibiotics for ages, Differin, otc acne products.

Thanks all!

I did go through a phase of going on sun beds for my skin in my uni days 😅 I’m a pale Scot so it’s probably best for me to stay away from them now!

I should go to the Dr but it’s taking 4-6 weeks just to get a phone appointment just now and to complicate things I’m moving 4 hours away in the next few months.

It’s def bacterial (I think actually more folliculitis than acne) so I think for now I’ll go with benzoyl peroxide gel. If it’s showing no improvement after 6 weeks I’ll consider oral medication. I’ve found an online pharmacy that look to be able to prescribe everything.

Would it be too much to use skinoren/azaleic acid alongside BP on alternating nights? 😬