Back Acne

[Maverick]

My friend has really bad acne on his back and some hair and he has had it for 5 or 6 years, anyway he refuses to take any pills, is there any other suggestions you guys have to clear up his acne on his back ? It is pretty bad

Im not sure if it is actual acne or acne scars ? what is the difference between the two ?

Is there laser options ? (to clear the skin) chemical peels ? back facials ? Tanning booths ? creams ? soaps ? Different material for his t shirts ? a back loofah to shower with ?

he wants to get laser hair removal for his back also..... will this help clear his back up ?

He asks me to post this to see if anyone can help him, he is getting really depressed about it.

can dermatologists actually help if he is not willing to take oral meds ? (accutane, tetro etc...) He never takes any pills EVER !!!!!!

Karma to all that try to help with intelligent suggestions !!!

 

[smaller]

An acne scar can be a small indent or small raised area of skin. This can be fixed by cosmetic surgery - my cousin had this done - either through laser or grafting.

I suggest, from my experience, to keep your back clean. Wash it with a backbrush and some glycerine soap - not too hard at first because too much abrasion is not good. Even cover the brush with a face cloth and wash with that.

Use a sauna to keep your pores clean, just don't lean against the wall.

Vit E & A are good for your skin and has worked for me in the past. Vit A also comes in a cream form that's effective.

See a nautralpath doctor for some herbal remedies. Chiropractic care has also been sited to help in some cases - however, it's not the normal route.

This is anecdotal for the most part. Sorry I can't site some research. I hope it helps.

 

[dirty~d~]

Hopefully some of this will be helpful. (I am by no means a doctor, but I have struggled with acne long enough to know what works for me and what doesn't.)

Removing the hair from his back won't completely eliminate the problem (the pores will still be there). It will, however, cut down on surfaces for pollutants to stick to.

For tanning I would suggest to him to use the stand up booth as opposed to laying on his back (for obvious reasons). Getting subtle doses of Vitamin D is good for the skin (one or two sessions a week max), but over doing it will make the acne worse.

WEAR CLEAN SHIRTS! Guys are notorious for wearing a shirt multiple times before washing it. If he has acne prone skin he can't do this and get away with it. Tight shirts should worn to a minimum... they'll rub on the skin and irritate the pores.

Washing sheets and other fabrics that come in contact with the skin with hypo-allergenic detergents (color free/fragrance free) could help cut down on the irritation to the skin.

Using a soft sponge or back brush with a mild soap or facial wash to clean the skin will help to prevent irritation of the existing acne. Clearasil makes a body wash, but whether or not it works I couldn't tell you. Be sure to try and keep the skin moist (dry skin breaks out just as easily as oily skin). Even if the skin is on the oily side, using an oil free moisturizer will help reduce the amount of oil the skin needs to produce to prevent drying.

Don't over wash the area... again, could cause reverse affects.

If he can afford it... going to a spa and getting a mud pack treatment once or twice a month will help flush the pores (plus it's relaxing).

The sauna suggestion is a good idea... as long as it is a DRY sauna. Steam bathes are not such a good idea. The moisture can carry bacteria. (No, a steam bath can not get hot enough to kill air born bacteria and still be comfortable for a person to sit in.)

He doesn't have to take oral meds to keep his acne at bay. I STRONGLY suggest finding ANY other means to prevent it before trying Accutane. The side effects can be way worse than the results. If he has a good dermo then they will understand that oral meds are not an option and will work with him to find a topical solution.

As far as surgery to remove existing scars I wouldn't know what to say. I've heard stories in favor of and against it.

Tell him not to be depressed about it. If he stays on top of keeping the skin clean and healthy he'll be ok. He needs to remember that there is NO CURE for acne... only constant treatment. Good luck!