FINALLY!!!... THE BACK.... HAS COME BACK.... TO..... (lol Rock)

Anyways, the back has 0, yeah ZERO, yeah zip, yeah nada, no active acne/PY. I have demolished it. This isn't to say that the back is crystal clear. It is healing up with scabs and the bad areas are pealing away revealing hope!

All it takes is dedication. I think a lot was my shirts. Since I have no acne on face and only on shoulders and upper back - places where my polos were pressing down too hard, it was a major contributor.

Will keep updated and maybe pics when it looks more appropriate

Today is a great day!

Congrats man. Hope it lasts for you. Pics would be great!

Hey boys, I'm new to the site, have a few questions for you.

bran88-do you take any vitamins/supplements? There are tons of herbal/natural stuff you can take to improve your skin from the inside out with the problem you are seeming to have.

Necro-Did all this start to happen to you when you started bulking up at the gym?
I started going to the gym around the same time my back acne started appearing. I've never had skin problems my whole life up until this past 9 months or so.

When it comes to working out-silly question, but would a quick rinse off in the shower before hand help since we sweat so much when we're working out??

There is a sauna at my gym. The steam feels great. I sit in there after my workout, before I hit the showers, for approx 5-10 mins, maybe less usually. Would you think it is a good or bad thing if I think I've got PF??

I'm definitely going to try some of the body wash that you've mentioned on this post. I got a beautiful tattoo on my right shoulder a little over a year ago, I'm sad to show it off now because my back looks like the way you've described yours.. and I agree-it's so hard when you are actually good looking and proud of your body!!!!

Thanks!

Kate

I've always had mild shoulder acne (like 1 or 2 spots nothing major). Just recently like last 3-4 months it went to hell and turned into some nasty PY/acne. I think it was due to working out then coming back and eating and then sleeping without showering. Also I was wearing tight clothing - although XXL, is still tight on my back since I'm a bodybuilder. I have now changed it up, worn even looser clothing, and starting using all the stuff I am now. It appears to be working so far.

You mentioned in an earlier post that you didn't think your problem was fungal? PF is a fungal disorder (caused by pityrosporum ovale - which is a form of yeast) -

"Pityrosporum ovale is a lipophilic yeast belonging to the normal human cutaneous flora in adults. It is not only a saprophyte but also an opportunistic pathogen associated with: Pityriasis versicolor, Pityrosporum folliculitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and some forms of atopic dermatitis. Pityrosporum folliculitis is a chronic disease characterized by pruritic follicular papules and pustules located primarily on the upper trunk, neck and upper arms. Under the influence of the same predisposing factors as in pityriasis versicolor P. ovale increase in numbers in the hair follicles. The main differential diagnosis is acne vulgaris."

Wondering why you started a thread about how you are treating PF, if you don't think you have a fungal infection?? If yours is bacteria-caused, then it isn't PF - but a different form of folliculitis. Just want to clarify for anyone reading this thread, since there are such strong similarities between how these different skin problems look, but the treatment methods are different. An antibacterial like BPO will work for a bacterial form of folliculitis, but it will generally worsen a fungal form like PF.

Like I said, i'm wondering if anyone can tell me if sitting in the Sauna at the gym after workouts, before the showers would be good for this or bad???

I did that years ago when I thought it would help acne. It didn't do anything but make me sweat a lot and give me dehydration. It is a myth.


I have all the symptoms based on the FAQ thread I read awhile ago.

Anyways, it is back.

Helped friend move to new house and my back is a disaster again. I'm going to bed.

Sorry to hear its back. If its really PF, then the BPO might not be what you need to treat it.

It's getting worse. Here is my front shoulder of where it isn't too bad:

Hmmm... Doesn't really look like the same thing I had. My spots were smaller and less red, and more uniform in size/shape. Is there a reason you think this is folliculitis and not acne? It looks more like an acne breakout to me, at least from what I can see from your pic.

I wonder if you irritated your skin with the topicals? I know that can make breakouts flare up and spread.

That is just the good part of my torso LOL. My back will break a camera . It is only on my torso. My face is flawless as with everything else. My lower back is clear too. It is where I sweat and where nothing seems to work anymore. I just started AHA from Dan's regimen. I hope to exfoliate it off haha.

Necro,
I'm new to the boards and I realized how much I don't know about skin and stuff. I've never been to a dermo but I think someone like you could really benefit from a visit to one... simply because you mentioned a) its possible this is due to your body building and b) you dont have acne anywhere else, your face is totally clear?! This makes no sense because when you workout you sweat all over silly.. there's gotta be a good reason.
A dermo can also tell you FOR SURE if it's PF or acne...??
Just a thought. Your pic looks kinda like my back, but I have less then 10 all over the entire area, so not as many... Its not fun that I dont let my man give me back rubs because I'm embarassed about it...

Derms are expensive. I will think about it in the next couple of weeks. I got to deal with other expenses right now. Also that pic was the good part of my upper torso. My upper back is a mess and probably 3x more dense with stuff. I'm so mad because I work out and get built and can't even take my shirt off at the beach.

I am supposed to be in Hawaii in May and I am already preparing to get a full body surf suit when I go to the beach. I will be laughed at by everyone.

Getting the lesions tested by a derm might help you refine a treatment plan for your skin. Its hard to come up with a way to treat it if you don't know what it is. Body acne, bacterial folliculitis, and fungal folliculitis all have different treatment options - so it would be good to know what you are dealing with.

You are probably having a harder time clearing your back because of the friction of your clothing rubbing on it - its one of the reasons its harder to clear body breakouts than facial. Also, the skin on your body is thicker and harder for products to penetrate.

Do you wear cotton clothing when you work out? Wearing something that breathes, and making sure you shower and change clothes as soon as possible after working out is important. Keeping your skin dry is really important - especially for a folliculitis problem. You might try using Gold Bond Powder on your skin - especially at times when your skin is sweating. It smells a bit medicinal, but it keeps your skin dry and also has some antifungal properties.

Do you use any fabric softener on your clothes, towels or bedding? If you do, that could be contributing to the problem. You want to use a fragrance free laundry detergent (like Cheer Free, All Free, etc.) and no liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets.

One other thought - since you have started working out a lot, have you added any body building supplements, protein shakes, etc.? Those can sometimes worsen breakouts.

When I get more money I will try to see a Derm. I don't think my insurance covers it.

Yeah my clothing is rubbing all over. I remember back in the day when I wore baggy clothes and wide leg jeans, I never had body acne - just facial. Now my clothes are tighter and my face is clear and my back is a mess. I already wear XXL. Going any bigger would look ridiculous LOL.

I think it is cotton. It says cotton but I don't know if the dye in the clothes is doing something. I shower when I get back from the gym. I don't like showering in the gym itself. All those guys make me scared haha.

I stopped using fabric softner long ago. All my clothes are all stiff now haha.

Yeah I take tons of stuff for bodybuilding. But changing that is not an option. I don't feel I should have this stuff just because I am a bodybuilder.

Update:

I've decided to do one regimen on one shoulder and another on my other. That way I can see results faster (analyzing like a true engineer lol)

Left shoulder/back:

-Neutrogena Body Wash rub with hand only
-Dan's AHA cream

Right shoulder/back:

-Neutrogena Body Wash rub with hand only
-Neutrogena BP

Scalp:

-Nizoral leave in for 5 minutes, rinse

Face:

-Nothing LOL

I shall find a cure 2x as fast!

Are you still tanning? I started tanning this weekend and I've noticed my back is healing already.
Plus I'm doing the water only/caveman regimen if you've heard anything about it at all from these forums.. Kinda just water and wash as I normally would, acting like I dont have the acne and not treating it with anything.. it's doing ok.. no new breakouts to report.

I tan year around because I'm a bodybuilder. I don't do any water only regimen. I only have this stuff on my back not my face so I am hitting it with heavy chemicals.

So do you use tanning beds and how long per session or how often do you tan??
Did you notice an improvement at all at first or anything?

I average once a week for 10 minutes. Unlike most there I am not there to see how tan I can get. I do it mostly for rejuvenation/exfoliation of skin and to help clear blemishes.