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Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:48 am  |
All throughout my teens I had terrible acne, both on my face and my body. The facial acne has cleared up considerably since my 20s (I'm 28 now), but the body acne persists and I have never really found a good way to treat it.
More troubling is that I am left with a ton of scarring on my chest and back. Some of it is faded reddish marks, but there's also a ton of little white marks. The skin is also just rough and uneven in texture. In my teens I used to make the mistake of getting tan to try to clear up the zits...I think that might have made things a lot worse.
This condition affects me in a lot of ways. It affects simple things like putting on a bathing suit or a tank top in the summer. It affects my "romantic"* life (*weird, I got a warning when I tried another word there!  )
But I guess my main impetus right now is that I have to be a bridesmaid in 3 months in a strapless gown that reveals my chest and back. I can't ask my friend to change her chosen gown, of course, but I am really feeling ill about this scenario.
My questions are, for you ladies here:
1) What is a good way to treat my active body acne?
2) What is a good way for me to treat my acne scarring?
I'm not expecting miracles but I would love to have the confidence to wear that gown without shame and self-consciousness.
Thanks in advance for your advice/opinions...I sure need them! |
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Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:22 am |
The best way of treating both the acne and the scarring would be from the inside.
I would recomend high Zinc supplements, fish Oil Supplements, Vitamin C and a good B Complex.
You should notice a difference after 2 months.
You poor thing worrying so much about your friends wedding, I would certainly talk to your friend and explain your anxieties, your dilema has probably not even occured to her.
If the dress has already been chosen, maybe wearing a matching shawl/pashmina to the dress would rectify the problem, you wuld feel most comfortable and your friend would still be happy.
I hope this helps and I am sure you will look beautiful regaurdless on the day
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_________________
oily/acne prone - acne scars on chin area/Large Pores in winter. Oily in Summer. Fair, nuetral/cool complexion, burn easily. Early 20s |
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Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:23 am |
| Have you tried using body scrubs/facial scrubs to exfoliate the skin on your body and face? Also, do you still suffer from acne on the body? One of the causes could be because of your laundry detergent. My body doesn't break out as much ever since I switched from the powder detergent to the liquid detergent. The powder detergent doesn't always rinse away, leaving residue on your clothes. |
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Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:15 am |
Thanks for the replies.
Anyone else have any experience or wisdom to share here?
I'd like as many opinions as possible! |
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Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:47 am |
a product you can try (if you haven't already) is clinique's body treatment spray. A friend of mine used it for a couple of months before her own wedding and had great results. It specifically targets acne on the back or anywhere on the body in fact.
oli |
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Mabsy
Moderator
 
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Posts: 9644
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Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:19 am |
My "two birds with one stone" type solution would be to exfoliate in the shower on a regular basis. You could get a body wash with glycolic acid in it (at least 10% strength) and use it with a loofah or one of those exfoliating gloves. Then moisturise well after getting out of the shower. There are also moisturisers with glycolic acid in them (Peter Thomas Roth makes some but I'm sure they're not the only ones) and MD Formulations makes a special clearing spray (with glycolic acid) that is particularly for hard to reach areas (e.g. back) due to the spray packaging.
Another method that can be interleaved with the above is that of dry body brushing. Before you get into the shower use a good natural bristle brush (fairly firm one - Body Shop has some) and brush your entire body working towards the heart. This exfoliates and improves circulation all in one go.
You should definitely see at least some results after doing this for a couple of weeks. And, if you do this regularly, then you should see significant results well in time to wear your bridesmaid dress  |
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45, NW20, combination skin |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:24 am |
Hi, I have an update on this.
The wedding in question here, that I mentioned here a long time ago, is actually in mid-July.
Since I first posted about this I have been using a glycolic product on my back and chest. The chest has improved somewhat, to the point where I'm comfortable wearing more low cut shirts. I will never have unblemished, perfect skin there (I look at some of my friends with envy), but I'm living with that.
My back... in addition to glycolic I've been putting some Retin A there, thinking it would help improve the texture and active acne. It has, a little bit. Before, my back was a mess with near-cystic acne... we're talking probably 20 zits or so at one time. Disgusting and debilitating. Now, it's milder, but still present, and the scars continue to be a problem.
With the wedding around the corner, I need to step this up a notch (I'm actually using the wedding as an impetus to finally seriously address this issue, which has definitely had some effects on my self-esteem for years). So looking for advice.
1. If I go to a "professional" with this problem, what advice to do you think they'll give me? I'm thinking they might advice microderm for my back, which I don't know if I can afford, but has anyone here had that done? Or can anyone comment on whether it's helpful?
2. Any other advice on strong treatments I can use during the next month?
I'm afraid I'm going to resort to tanning, which was always the route I took when I was younger. One thing about tanning is it really dried up the skin on my back and cleared up active acne, as well as making my scars less visible.
Thanks for reading my novel. Would love to hear advice. |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:33 am |
| Hi Maura! Actually, I'm VERY familiar with your problem. I've always struggled with facial acne, however, I thankfully have always been able to avoid body acne. My sister, however, has been struggling with it for many years now, ever since she was a teenager.Like the others said, using a glycolic acid or salicylic acid wash in the shower will help, as will getting a body acne spray (Avon/Mark, Murad, and Clinique all make one). However, those can only do so much. What stopped the acne of my sister's chest and back it its track was using a clay mask on those areas a few times a week. I know, it sounds weird because those damn clay masks never help the acne on my face (or my sister's face), but they dried up the oil on her chest and back and drained all of the impurities and it improved more than we ever thought it would! So, definitely stick with the first two steps, but then see if you can't find someone to help apply a clay mask a few times a week. As for the actual wedding day itself, use some fake tanner to cover up lingering scars, see if you can't get a nice shawl or pashmina, and enjoy yourself, you deserve it! |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:47 am |
THis may sound silly, but I used to get moderate backne, and it cleared up when I started using Philosophy 3-in-1 shower gel. Now, this product has no acne-fighting ingredients, and maybe I just outgrew the backne, but it's also possible that the shower gel regulated the oil production on my back. Just a thought!
Also, have you ever looked into Proactiv's line of body care? They have things specifically for body acne... |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:42 am |
| My back acne cleared when I started to use Hyaluronic acid supplement and I put baking powder on my back for a minute or two when I shower or bath. I almost have no acne at all, some times one or two small zits. |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:30 am |
| For your scarring, I would suggest Mederma. It's pretty expensive and you have to apply it 3-4 times a day, but it's amazing to me! It works fastest on newer scars, but will significantly improve any. After you take a shower, just rub a small amount all over the area and repeat a few more times a day. Make sure you blend it evenly, because it will lighten your skin a little, but it really does wonders for scars. |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:55 am |
| try Md formulation personal peel system, that will control the acne and reduce them as well.. |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:27 am |
I would suggest taking some supplements high in GLAS like Evening Primrose oil as it will help balance the oils and fats in your body as well as help stimulate cell regeration. As a topical for scars rosehip oil works fantastic. I used to have mild to sometimes moderate acne on my face as well (mostly hormonal or stress induced) and nothing worked for me but rosehip oil and supplemets like the evening primrose and a vitamin B complex plus zinc. It helped lighten the scars and redmarks, as well as moisturized and rebalanced my skin and it helped the itchy dry feeling you get when the acne begins to heal which causes you to scratch then scab then pick then scar. (An insane cycle) Truly, rosehip oil was a godsend and I recommend it for almost every skin condition as it really is that wonderful.
As for the dress. It was kind of insensitive of your friend to pick something so revealing for you if she knew how you felt. But, as it's too late now I agree with all the other suggestions about a silk wrap or pashmina. Helps you to cover yourself up so you feel more confident, pleases your friend, and may help bring some individuality to yourself as a bridesmaid to give the dress some extra oompf. I'm not a fan of having all the bridesmaid dress alike like clones. I like it when there is some diversity to the outfits. I prefer it when everyone sticks to the same palette of colours but changes the style to suit their body type. I mean, the same dress can't possibly suit everyone unless they have the same body. Ok but I digress, I'm just ranting now.
But please do try the rosehip oil. I strongly suggest getting an organic one. Depending on where you live you may even be able to buy some from your health food store, but I highly suggest the Primavera line. They have the most outstanding line of essential oils in the world. |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:00 am |
If you want to cover up acne on your body on your friend's wedding day, you should go to a make-up counter like MAC and get them to put body foundation and cover up your flaws on your body. My friend did this on her prom night and it really covered up the marks on her body.
Have you tried being on any birth control pills to help your acne? I've heard birth control pills really helping some ppl that have mild acne. Good luck to you |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:33 am |
I am a firm believer that going on BCP should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Acne, in my opinion, isn't a good enough reason to pump all those hormones into your body. Before anyone gets uppity, this is coming from someone who was told to go on BCP for health reasons. I went off and decided to change my diet/lifestyle - to solve the root of the problem.
It's pretty sick that as I was swigging gallons of Coca-cola and eating pounds of sugar, that I would even dare to take BCP to supress the problems caused by drinking utter crap. It's amazing what people will do to rationalize the foods they think they want to eat. 
My suggestions regarding back acne is to always wash your back after using conditioner. This alone made a huge difference in breaking out on my back.
Cut down on refined foods - especially the "white devils" refined sugar, salt and flour. The dietary golden rule is just that: a french fry once in awhile is fine, greasy food everyday is not.
Take a chlorophyll (sp?) supplement to purify your system.
Use clay masks on your back and apply a mixture of witch hazel/lavender/tea tree/ylang-ylang.
Good luck and remember, our bodies already have everything we need to heal them... you just need to use your brain to help them do so safely |
_________________
Mid 20s. Oily/Combo skin. Fighting wrinkle and blemishes. |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:31 pm |
| i use salicylic acid (that is too strong for my face) for my back. it works wonders. cystic type acnes usually are gone in a week, and also reduces the appearance of scars. |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:28 pm |
Roadtonowhere, might I ask, can you recommend a particular salicylic product? I am more into drugstore brands these days due to $$ concerns, but hell, I'd try anything.
Also, everyone, how do you solve to problem of trying to get at those hard-to-reach areas of the back? I've just been using a washcloth and performing acrobatics, but I think I should buy one of those things with a wooden handle... |
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:02 pm |
I use this thing called zapper. it is made by sanitas. I got it from the derm office coz he taklked me into it (duh!!!!!). but yeah, I believe this product is pretty cheap. around $18 for 0.33 oz.
it has this roll on ball (kinda looks like roll on deodprant) it is small, but it lasts a while coz you dont really need to put a lot of it. it stings when i put it on and i have pretty tough back skin. but hey... it works, i wouldnt complain.
for the ahrd to reach area, it is a problem for me too. bt DH is always willing to help me.
cheers |
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