25 replies to this topic

[Retrospect1]

Honestly, if they are unable to handle acne and not see you for the person that you really are then they are not worth the time of day to be honest.

In regards to the issue of keeping your shirt on or taking it off during sex then I would do which ever you feel most comfortable with... but talk to your girlfriend about it first. If you express your fears about your body acne to her then you may find that you start to feel slightly more comfortable with the idea of taking your shirt off during sex. Also, showing her your back acne some time before you actually have sex will allow you to both be on the same page of what your acne is really like and you will both feel better about the situation.

How your girlfriend responds is a very good way of judging whether or not she is the right person or not to be with you. If she comes across as sensitive towards your acne and is able to listen fully to your fears and have a good discussion about it then that is a very good sign.

Acne is confidence denting at the best of times. Your girlfriend should be one of those very special people who is there for you 100% no matter how you are feeling about your body acne. Personally, it wouldn't bother me if a guy wanted to keep his shirt on during sex but I would want him to be able to talk about it with me and in the future it would be nice if taking the shirt off was something that could be gradually worked towards as a couple.

If you feel you are unable to discuss acne with your girlfriend then having sex with her might not be the wisest of decisions.

[greginctw]

Haven´t gotten laid since last May! Anyway, the mere thought of a woman (or any human being for that matter) seeing my back is absolutely terrifying. I´m lucky that I live in Germany and there aren´t any beaches nearby.

How is it possible to have acne on the back but not face? I´m 25 and I´ve been on Accutane, so my face is pretty much totally clear. Don´t get me wrong, I am very, very grateful that it´s not reversed and I don´t have acne on face and a clear back, but I still don´t really understand the biology of it. I would think that if your hormones are unbalanced and your oil glands are producing too much sebum, your back and face would be affected to pretty much the same degree.

[HapaMommy]

I would just tell them about our acne. I don't think it's a big deal. Just explain you're self conscious about it and some might be even supportive enough ti let you keep your shirt on. My high school boyfriend had acne (face. back and chest) and it didn't bother me. He told me how only antibiotics get rid of it but he never cared to continue taking them. I had a roommate in college who kept his socks on because he had bad nail fungus. When the girls would ask me I would just saw he was ugly toes or toe nails. They didn't care too much. My point is, if they like you enough it shouldn't bother them. We all have hang ups.

[Bishop66]

Just to clarify, I am a man (45 years old).

How funny, I just so happened to encounter this dilema today (not wanting to take off my shirt) with my girlfriend, with whom I am very comfortable with in the sack.

I just got off an elimination/detox diet and overdosed my system with pasta to see if the eggs/flour/butter/cheese would do anything. I had the worst flare up on my chest and shoulders in a long, long time. (Please, people, don't say that diet has nothing to do with flare ups--for some people, diet is a huge contributing factor.) Anyway, even though I am comfortable with her, I was embarassed to take my shirt off. I jokingly asked if I could keep it on--she would not agree.

I eventually took it off (after much coaxing) but had next to no self confidence. Thankfully, my girlfriend was very supportive, which relieved my anxiety.

It's a tough thing to live with, especially at my age. I have given up all hope at trying to achieve clear skin. I raise the white flag to acne. I submit to you in disgrace.

[LillyMay77]

As a lady I would not mind if the guy keeps his shirt on during sex, but i prefer him to take it off. Its just my preference, but either way it is cool. Just do what makes you feel comfortable.

[harlowefey]

aweee! My boyfriend has the same thing usually in the summer. Because he wears coveralls when he works so he sweats and his back breaks out.

Sometimes I get a few on my chest, so at those times I don't take my shirt off when I'm getting intimate. But i've been with my boyfriend for four years...

I would say take your shirt off!! She'll like you more for it, unless she's a biotch. Well, then she isn't worth your time.

If a girl has senses, and she actually likes you, she will like even your flaws. No one wants Mr. Perfect anyway. Super boring.

And I saw someone say she will most likely have flaws as well that she doesn't feel confident in showing. But if she's got her clothes off, you should take off yours too. Otherwise, she'll think she's just a ... catch and release.

Edited by harlowefey, 10 March 2012 - 07:36 PM.