Spotty back

[Jackieweaverishere]

Hi, any tips to help a 13 yr old with a spotty upper back?

What have they tried?

Nothing! It's not very bad at the moment, nothing looks infected but I don't know what's out there nowadays.

Freederm used to really helpine clear/prevent it getting bad. Also cotton t shirts and pyjamas, making sure I didnt they too sweaty and exfoliation x

Thanks, I'll get some freederm.

Are they using conditioner in the shower? I find using conditioner makes my back spotty. Haven’t used it in years and I’m all clear

Cetaphil is great

Warning long post!!
I have suffered from body acne form early teens made worse by the contraceptive implant I’ve had put in, never could get on top of it until this last couple months! This is what I do to combat it…
Life style changes:
Shower every evening regardless of how tired I am.
Change bed sheets every week
Change into clean cotton top to go to bed
Shower immediately after working out (or getting sweaty)
Washes and creams:
Personally I shower at night but if he’s a morning person just use the morning method, I use these washes.
Morning:
CeraVe smoothing cleanser with Salicylic acid.
After use CeraVe moisturising cream made sure it has SPF as this helps protect and prevent.
At night:
CeraVe foaming wash with niacinamide (leave this on for 5 minutes in the shower and use after washing hair as shampoo and conditioner can clog pores)
After shower I use retinol moisturiser (this is more for acne scars but it has helped me)

There is also the CeraVe SA smooth cream, this has helped calm rough patches and get rid of those tiny little spots that never come to a head but get all red and inflamed anyway 🙄 but I only use this a few times a week as I find it very heavy and sticky so not a daily things for me.

CeraVe range is currently in boots on 3 for 2 it is a little expensive but honestly the only things that’s worked for me so far and I’ve tired LOTS of products!

Be aware they could go through a ‘breakout’ period when starting to use these products as their skins not use to them so could get worse before it gets better this is known as a ‘purge’.

Sorry it’s a long post but I know what it’s like to suffer and hope this helps!!

Australian skin care tea tree skin wash
Boots back spray

Lots of great advice already. If you're not doing it already, wash the bedding at 60 degrees to kill of any bacteria on the sheets.

Dead Sea mud mask. The one I've got is unfragranced. But he'll only use it if I apply it. I smear it all over his upper back and neck, and then we sit on the side of the bath and chat until it dries. Have to sit on the bath because crumbs fall off when he moves as it dries. Then I leave the bathroom and he showers it off, using a back-scrubber but no soap.

Very effective. Looks better immediately, and continues improving over the next couple of days. He does it a couple of times during the winter, but rarely needs it in the summer.

I'm a big believer in minimal detergent and soap on our bodies . They can be very drying, and I do not find that they help skin breakouts.

Use soap, not shower gel. Make sure he rinses it well.
Cotton next to his skin, for tops and bedding.

Thanks everyone, lots of tips and products to try. The likelihood of her putting on any daily creams or different washes without me standing over her is remote but I can try some of the other suggestions. She really doesn't care but I feel that spots can get so bad it's worth keeping on top of it. Interesting how everyone said 'he'!

@Dilbertian which one please?

I’ve started washing my back with carbon theory soap after conditioner and not letting my hair sit on my back with the conditioner on. It’s made a big difference.

Interesting how everyone said 'he'!

Because only my boys suffered from this, not my girls! And it was the same when I was a teenager, only my brothers and not my sister or me. As a result I have always assumed that it's a boy thing. I guess we've been lucky.

I don't remember, Doidontimmm. It's in the fridge and I'm in bed. I'll look tomorrow.

@Jackieweaverishere

Thanks everyone, lots of tips and products to try. The likelihood of her putting on any daily creams or different washes without me standing over her is remote but I can try some of the other suggestions. She really doesn't care but I feel that spots can get so bad it's worth keeping on top of it. Interesting how everyone said 'he'!

If she doesn’t care please please be careful not to make it a big thing. My soul was absolutely crushed when a relative pointed out the acne on my face to try and be helpful with solutions when it hadn't ever bothered me before.

I had terrible back acne when I was younger; eventually fully cleared up with a prescription gel from the GP! So keep that in mind as an option if the stuff recommended upthread doesn't work.

(Also, I am female! Plenty of women do get this.)

@Doidontimmm it's an Ahava mud mask.

Ds just caught me looking at the packet and asked me to apply it for him! So nice that he's asking, rather than being told it's necessary.

Thanks @Dilbertian