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eowyn1025
Jan 6, 2003, 12:26 AM
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ok, this is has always been an embarrassing point for me but with the number of people on this site, i'm hoping someone can help:
i break out on my shoulders and back. it's not bad enough to take medicine for it but it's annoying. i take showers everyday so it's not that..my doctor says it's somewhat genetic and that it'll go away eventually...well, i'm an adult and it hasn't gone away yet. has anyone had this problem and have you found something that gets rid of it if you have? i'm getting sick of not being able to wear tank tops! i used to go tanning b/c it was the only thing that got rid of it but i stopped b/c it's practically asking for cancer and i don't like the fake bake look. can any of you gals help? (or guys since i know there are always a few of you skulking around the ladies room...)
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katydid
Jan 6, 2003, 1:14 AM
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I have acne on my face and my back. And I'm 31. Taking antibiotics has helped in the past, but I don't want to trash my immune system by constantly taking antibiotics, so I put up with the occasional breakout.
Some things I have found that have helped (but not completely resolved the problem -- I always seem to get one Giant Zit from Hell around my period) are:
-- Soap with salicylic acid in it (same stuff as aspirin, some people call it alpha-hydroxy acid)
-- Regular exfoliating. Some people use a loofah or back brush, I use Burt's Bees Bay Rum Exfoliating Soap because it feels and smells good.
-- Evening primrose oil, as directed on the bottle. Also helps with cramps, which is a plus.
-- Lots and lots of water. The more I drink, the less I break out.
Anyone else got suggestions?
Hope this helps,
Kate
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eowyn1025
Jan 6, 2003, 1:44 AM
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yeah i don't want antibiotics...tried that when it used to be worse and none of them worked...i'm not a big one for meds if i don't have to take them..
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rockwomyn
Jan 6, 2003, 2:20 AM
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You should check with a dermatologist to see if you can get a topical cream that you can apply.
There is also a drug called Nicamide, which is somewhat of an acne vitamin you take once a day, it contains niacin and zinc (i think), but it has been shown to help acne. i was on it for a while but it didn't really help me. i have cystic acne on my face and back myself.
i am 27 and have been seeing a doctor for almost 3.5 years trying to rid myself of acne. i have been pretty much immune to any kind of antibiotics, creams and such so i took the measures of accutane.....i have been on it for almost a month and my skin has cleared dramatically.
i know how you feel....zits just suck...especially when you not 13 anymore.
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bitterlotus
Jan 6, 2003, 4:33 PM
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You might have already tried this but I swear by Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub. It may take about a week to see any results but at around $6, it's worth a try. I should add, disinfect your loofah before every scrub by using a disinfecting soap -- bacteria is not a pretty thing to be rubbing all over your body. Hope that helps!
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alpinelynx
Jan 7, 2003, 3:12 AM
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Hi ladies! gosh, a topic near to my heart (okay, I'm strange) I am a licensed esthetician (skin care specialist) and always like to help out when I can. I want to address a couple of things. I hope I don't get to windy!
a) acne on the back and neck can be caused by many things. The biggest culprit is shampoo and conditioner! A lot of commercially produced shampoos and conditioners contain known comedogens (causes acne). Wax, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are ones that come to mind as to what to look out for. Check the labels.
b) Soap is NOT your friend! The action of soap is to remove the oil on the skin (or clothes or dish) that binds the dirt, thus, cleaning whatever. When this happens, the body senses that there isn't enough oil on the skin (we really do need it as a part of the proper function of the skin) and then produces MORE oil to compensate. Clog-o-RAMA! A non-soap cleanser is a good way to go and there are plenty of good products out there. Natural "soaps", glycerin and my favourite, Aveeno (don't get the one for oily skin, it is REALLY drying).
c) Improper moisturizing can contribute to facial acne. A lot of folks think that if you have oily/acne skin, you shouldn't moisturize. Not true. Using something oil-free and light is the way to go.
d) Special chemicals can be helpful. Salacylic Acid was mentioned and can be good, but can also be drying. It is not an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid though, which are a different group of chemicals. The most effective in the family is glycolic acid and is reasonably affordable. Glycolic acid is the freakin' coolest thing around! Studies have been shown that correct and consistant usage will minimize aging and sun damage. The action of the chemical is such that it increases the skins metabolic rate. I use a 12% glycolic gel every day and its great. 8-10% solutions are best to start with as a stinging sensation can occur.
e) hydration and diet. drink more water! I also take zinc, with has been shown to increase the skins metabolism. Start at 50 mg per day (TAKE IT AT NITE! it could upset your tummy!). you can increase the dose to 100mg per day, but that's high and the tummy upset thing is more likely to happen.
When all else fails, go to a dermatologist who can prescribe alternative treatments for severe acne (tetracycline, retin-A and Accutane. All have side effects and are prescription only.)
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eowyn1025
Jan 7, 2003, 4:05 AM
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wow! thank you so much! just wondering though...you mentioned shampoos and conditioners so let me ask you specifically about mine: i use Herbal Essences. is that one of the bad ones?
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alpinelynx
Jan 7, 2003, 5:05 AM
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hey, no problemo. A bad one? don't know, you'll have to check the ingredients. The nasty chems I listed are the big offenders, but not everyone has the same response.
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mtxstream
Jan 9, 2003, 5:43 PM
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any recommendations on a particular glycolic lotion??? how affordable do they tend to be?
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alpinelynx
Jan 9, 2003, 7:09 PM
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The only name I can come up with off the top of my head is a company called MD formulations. Professional skin care company and the product is great! Unfortunately, its way pricey ($65 for a little jar of cream). I got mine at a beauty salon and I think its a generic. It's a 2 oz bottle of glycolic gel and has lasted monthes. I can look into it or you can call around to the salons in your area (unless its a podunk town like the one I'm in now..). Health food stores also carry various products that range from $10 for a low percent alpha-hydroxy (of which glycolic acid is one) lotion to $45 plus for a glycolic night cream. If you go that route, examine the other ingredients because pore cloggers abound in cheaper products and why waste the money on something that counteracts why you bought it in the first place!
An even MORE cool product is a green papaya enzyme cleanser. Currently I'm on the hunt to find the one I used to get. It actually works by digesting the dead cells and helps to rebuild sun damaged tissue.
good luck!
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soozn
Jan 14, 2003, 10:34 PM
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Sigh, isn't this always a topic close to our hearts....acne was the bane of my existence for far to long! When I was a teen I used to use topical antibiotics too and that didn't work. Eventually I ended up taking accutane. That stuff was harsh, but it totally cleared up the acne on my back. That hasn't come back since, so I'm definitely not getting any shampoo reactions (didn't know that could happen, very interesting!).
Anyhoo, as far as cleansers/moisturizers go, I started using Cetaphil when I was taking accutane and haven't stopped using it since. It is very mild and doesn't strip the moisture from your skin. As well, the moisturizer has no irritating ingredients in it (also no colours or perfumes) so it won't cause an allergic reaction or cause you to break out. (Check out their website http://www.cetaphil.com/).
Hope that helps!
Sue
[ This Message was edited by: soozn on 2003-01-14 14:37 ]
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estherator
Jan 15, 2003, 8:54 PM
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All of those things mentioned above and one more-get a food allergy panel. When I eat foods I am allergic to, (wheat being the worst) it trashes my skin.
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chi_girl
Jan 18, 2003, 8:01 PM
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Eowyn- I hear ya- Acne- geez!
I've been battling a pretty severe case of it for the past couple of years. I was on antibiotics for a while, but got yeast infections all of the time. Accutane just scared me. While I didn't have insurance I tried every natural thing I could (primrose oil, vitamins, natural soaps, oatmeal, water, lavendar steam facials, etc.)- nothing worked. I recently went back to the dermatologist and went on the pill for one, started using a facial bar called Cetaphil- which I love!, and using the prescription creams of Differin and Duac. My skin is clearing up beautifully! I highly recommend Cetaphil (the bar is cheaper) which you can buy over-the-counter. It doesn't dry out your skin.
Like some others said, food is a big thing. I also recently changed my diet- more protein and more importantly- more fat!! Believe it or not, fat is good for you and it helps your skin. Carbs are not good for you if you have acne. And if you love coffee and other stimulants, that may not be helping, as well as sugar. All are not good for acne.My skin was the best ever when I was studying abroad in Italy- and I think part of it was all of the good, organic food I was eating.
One last tip- don't touch your face- that used to be one of my problems- your hands are oily and dirty!
Good luck!
[ This Message was edited by: chi_girl on 2003-01-18 12:04 ]
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estherator
Jan 19, 2003, 10:00 PM
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Good point-I forgot about the fat thing-olive oil, salmon and tuna, especially!!!
[ This Message was edited by: estherator on 2003-01-21 16:19 ]
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granite_grrl
Jan 29, 2003, 3:09 PM
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Back to the shampoo thing. I tried to find the ingerdients on my shampoo, it's not on the lable. Are there any specific off the shelf shampoos that would fall into the "don't have lots of bad stuff" catagory?? Or, is there a place where I can get ingredient lists?
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rockwomyn
Jan 29, 2003, 6:02 PM
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Check with your local good food coop....i know Aubrey Organics carries products that does not have the icky stuff in it.
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shastess
Feb 11, 2003, 7:24 PM
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There is a body wash with acne fighting medicine specifically designed for acne that occurs places other than your face, It's called Phisoderm and I think there's like 3 different types, it's not very expensive and easy to find. Just replacing your regular body wash with this should help. And St. Ive's Apricot scrub "medicated" is a great product to and really natural. Plus drink lots and lots and lots of water.
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akaijen
Feb 23, 2003, 3:21 PM
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alpinelynx,
I checked my shampoo label and two of the main ingredients are: alkyl sulfate and lauryl glucoside. These sound like the bad things you were talking about, but not quite. Are they pretty much the same bad things?
thanks!
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lapistolle
Feb 24, 2003, 9:04 PM
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hey there,
try
www.sageskincare.com
these ladies are great--the company is run by an aesthetician. Great products, helpful staff, articles and comedogenic ingredient listing on her site. I highly recommend this company. Products are not cheap but are generously sized and last forever.
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gretchino
Feb 27, 2003, 3:32 PM
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Yikes I have this problem too! For the nastly little groupies I call them that pop up on the back sides of my arms and shoulders, Tea Tree Oil get rid of them pretty quickly...
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truedecker
Feb 28, 2003, 1:44 AM
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i know this subject all too well ... i never had a pimple till i turned 20 ... all of a sudden my soft and clear skin started to break out with cystic acne ... i went to a dermatologist for about 6 months ... having the cysts injected with cortisone until i started to scar ... i went on Accutane ... a very serious medication with awful side effects which all went away (check it out online) for 5 months ... it worked but it completely changed my skin ... i went from oily breakout prone adult acne to dry skin with occasional breakouts (hormonal) ... i dont recommend it unless you have tried all other remedies (i am against antibiotics as they have terrrible side effects for girls as i am sure you girls are aware) ... but try Dermalogica AcneBac cleanser ... a good moisturizer ... vitamins (including zinc) and plenty of water ... and stress and hormones do play a significant role ... good luck!!! amy
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climbingqt
Mar 3, 2003, 11:43 PM
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hey there - just replying about your breaking out on your back?
a friend of mine mentioned, that you're suppose to wash your hair before most other things, that way, you can rinse off all the product and stuff, that runs down your back, and may contribute to these breakouts! It's worth a shot - also, i highly recommend exfoliating :D
i hope this is some use to ya'll
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porkerdorker
Mar 29, 2003, 12:09 AM
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i just want to thank everyone for all of their wonderful suggestions! I too had clear skin until i hit 22. I have worse acne now than i did when i was 13-16! I am going to try some of the suggestions!! I'll try anything once. I have extrememly sensitve skin and even using a "bad" product once will leave a lasting impression for a month or so! I hope that all of us can "clear up" with all of the great suggestions!
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turtlewomyn
Mar 31, 2003, 2:34 PM
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I used to have big problems with acne (face, back, chest) but a few years ago I got Pro-Active and that worked really well. You see their ads on TV. However, it is expensive ($45 for two months, however, the cleanser never last two months, and the toner and lotion to put onto individual pimples last much longer). I think the active ingredient is the alpha-hydroxy or salicylic acid. If it gets on your clothes or towels it bleaches them and ruins them. I don't use it any more because I have pretty much grown out of the acne (I am 28 ), although I will break out due to stress from time to time.
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gretchino
Apr 1, 2003, 4:14 PM
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Turtlewomyn ~ I've used that stuff too. It did clear my skin right up, but like you said it was EXPENSIVE :shock: ! And now that you mention it, it did bleach the piss out of my towels...forgot about that!
It worked though...really well.
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