I know this should go on the beauty board

Mrs_AF

But humor me. Also, this may be TMI if you are weird about acne.

I had an insurance situation, and for a month I couldn't pay for my medications, including birth control. FI and I were careful, and NO, I'm not KU.

During that time, my skin kind of went crazy. I've had acne problems for 13 years now, but it's never been like this. My face is okay, but the worst part is my back.

My upper back and shoulders are so broken out. I've been wearing tank tops to bed to air out, washed my sheets, and have been scrubbing in the shower to no avail.

Has anyone had this issue before? I made an appointment for a back facial, but haven't heard any testimonials as to whether or not it works.

Thanks.

ExpatPumpkin

I really wish I had the answer for you, because it's a battle I'm fighting too

What I can tell you is that it sounds like your acne is hormonal.  Mine is too.  Unfortunately, while the back facial probably won't hurt, it won't solve the problem because you'll break out again next cycle...

If you get back on the pill it should clear up.  Sorry

laurenclaire1386

Good lord, I've been dealing with it for years. My face stays pretty alright, but my back gets horrible sometimes and I'm super self conscious about it, especially during tank top weather. BC has really really helped, but for skin stuff, I use Neutrogena Acne Clearing Body Scrub. I still get stubborn ones on my shoulders sometimes, but for the most part, this stuff keeps it at bay. GL! Also, although it's horrible for you, sun exposure clears up breakouts on my back really well. I guess it's a drying out thing.

maggyruth

Over scrubbing can cause just as much of a problem as not washing...so be careful about that. And like LC said, sun exposure can help, but again, too much will have the opposite effect.

I know proactiv has bodywash that might be of some use.  If you can swing it, see about getting to a dermatologist.  There may be something they can prescribe that will help systemically. (I'm assuming your insurance issue is cleared up and you are back on your medications.)

katiewhompus

No clue, but I want to know the answer. Ever since last month my skin below my head went insane. Face is ok, but neck and shoulders/back are not happy.

Nebb

When I went off the pill for 6 months my skin EXPLODED (on my face though). I would suggest you treat it the same as normal acne, something with salycic acid (im spelling that wrong) with an exfoliant. Thats what I thinka tleast, I mgiht be wrong.

LauraT25

I have the back/shoulders issue, too, and the Proactiv body was has REALLY helped.  FI uses it too (he also gets 'bacne') and he's seen improvement as well.

Like Lauren, getting some sun usually clears it up a lot for me, too, but I usually don't want it showing when it's really bad.

RachNRich

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_this-should-beauty-board?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8caba7cb-9f89-498c-9513-a58de1178cdcPost:d26c5dde-c9af-4c58-b85a-bb687d25c368">Re: I know this should go on the beauty board</a>:
[QUOTE]When I went off the pill for 6 months my skin EXPLODED (on my face though).<strong> I would suggest you treat it the same as normal acne, something with salycic acid </strong>(im spelling that wrong) with an exfoliant. Thats what I thinka tleast, I mgiht be wrong.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

This.

I also make sure I was my face (and back) with face wash last in the shower...especially if I condition my hair. I've noticed that if I forget to wash my face post-conditioner, my face and back breaks out more often.

Mrs_AF

Thanks! I've been back on the pill for a couple months now, but maybe I just need to get back into the full swing of it. It is definitely hormonal though.

I have been using the Neutrogena scrub, but only use it every other day and use the body wash without the microcrystal things every other day. As long as the back facial helps for a little while, I'll be happy. The wedding is in a month and I really don't want to walk down the aisle with pimples all over my back.

I've tried Proactiv a few years ago, but maybe I should give it a whirl again.

Also, I have heard the same thing about getting some sun. I've been trying to do that to, but only the last couple days.


Thanks again!

laurenclaire1386

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_this-should-beauty-board?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8caba7cb-9f89-498c-9513-a58de1178cdcPost:084cb5a4-6871-4cfe-a018-d103cbcda6b9">Re: I know this should go on the beauty board</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I know this should go on the beauty board : This. I also make sure I was my face (and back) with face wash last in the shower...especially if I condition my hair. I've noticed that if I forget to wash my face post-conditioner, my face and back breaks out more often.
Posted by RachNRich[/QUOTE]
This too. Do it last. The oils in the conditioner will definitely clog up your pores.

ExpatPumpkin

The frustrating thing for me is that I can clearly see that it's hormonal now that I'm tracking my cycles:  I have flares when estrogen is high and then it gets better when progesterone levels are higher.  That's why the pill works - it keeps your hormones relatively constant.

Mrs_AF

In Response to Re: I know this should go on the beauty board:
[QUOTE I also make sure I was my face (and back) with face wash last in the shower...especially if I condition my hair. I've noticed that if I forget to wash my face post-conditioner, my face and back breaks out more often.
Posted by RachNRich[/QUOTE]

Holy crap I never thought of that...I will definitely start doing that thanks! I've been trying to treat it like I would my face. In fact I pick at it a lot less than my face. lol

LauraT25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_this-should-beauty-board?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8caba7cb-9f89-498c-9513-a58de1178cdcPost:084cb5a4-6871-4cfe-a018-d103cbcda6b9">Re: I know this should go on the beauty board</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I know this should go on the beauty board : This. I also make sure I was my face (and back) with face wash last in the shower...especially if I condition my hair. I've noticed that if I forget to wash my face post-conditioner, my face and back breaks out more often.
Posted by RachNRich[/QUOTE]

Oh, this, totally.  I usedto do conditioner last and it made my back go crazy, so I now do face and body wash after conditioner.

As for the Proactiv -  the body wash works better for me and FI than the face stuff, actually.  I feel like my face built up a tolerance or something, because it worked really well at first but now my face is only slightly clearer than it was before.  However, it did work well for about two months, and many of my friends had the same experience, so if you started now you should still be fine for your wedding and HM.

ashmy211

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_this-should-beauty-board?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8caba7cb-9f89-498c-9513-a58de1178cdcPost:084cb5a4-6871-4cfe-a018-d103cbcda6b9">Re: I know this should go on the beauty board</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I know this should go on the beauty board : This. I also make sure I was my face (and back) with face wash last in the shower...especially if I condition my hair. I've noticed that if I forget to wash my face post-conditioner, my face and back breaks out more often.
Posted by RachNRich[/QUOTE]

I've never even thought about this but it makes perfect sense... thank you!

fallbride1109

I'm late on this but I wanted to add something.  Of course, the issue here is to resolve the acne and everyone has already given good suggestions on that (although I have to disagree with sun--sorry, can't help myself!) but since your wedding is in just a few weeks, if you are afraid of covering the acne for your wedding, then airbrushing will take care of it.  My daughter has pretty bad acne and was airbrushed for my wedding and her skin looked flawless.  (She has back acne also but was wearing a wrap.)  I don't know if airbrushing is somethng you are planning but it will cover it so it's something you might want to consider if it hasn't resolved.

Incidentally, my daughter's dermatologist suggested Oxy 10 wash and the pads for her back.  I haven't asked her really if it is helping.  And we put her on birth control for her facial acne and it worked wonders--it was really the first thing that made a huge difference after 2 years of trying everything else (she also takes Minocycline). 

lindzi258

Try Coal Face by LUSH it works it is amazing it will get worse before better but totally worth it!!!

Shawnee11507

I had acne on my face really bad after I stopped the pill. Dermatologist put me on Doryx (bacterial antibiotic) for 2 months and I started using Retin-A Micro. Now my face looks great and I hardly even wash it.

My cousin has bacne and she said she gets laser treatments for it.

sep72fendr

Late post... when you shower, do you condition often? Make sure that you condition and rinse thoroughly before you wash your body because any conditioner that is left over will stay on your back if you let it sit on your head while you wash your body, then rinse. yes, that was wordy, but I think it was translateable lol