My regimen, mostly SA

I have had acne for years, and the worst part is my back/shoulder area. It has kept me from wearing anything strapless. I am supposed to be in a wedding in two months as a bridesmaid- and guess what? Shoulders and back must be exposed. I am terrified.

I have gone through periods where I get really serious about my acne and want to get rid of it for good, and then get discouraged and stop trying as hard. Finding this site has inspired me to try again. I have to admit however that I have recently been going to a tanning bed. Yes, this is terrible for your skin and body. This is the first time in my life I have gone consistently, and it has been for one month. I plan to stop at the end of this month since I am finally all one color (goodbye farmer's tan!).

And this is what I have been doing about my acne for the past week.

AM:
Clean and Clear Acne Control Cleanser (it has Benzoyl Peroxide in it) on face and back.
Apply Murad Clarifying Body Spray to back. (0.5% SA) <-- I got this before finding this site and reading more about acne; once the bottle is done I may not get more, it's ridiculously expensive!
Apply Clean and Clear Acne Control Moisturizer to face (0.5% SA)
Apply Olay moisturizer for sensitive skin to particularly dry areas of face.

PM:
Clean and Clear Acne Control Cleanser on face and back.
Apply Noxzema Anti-Blemish Pads to back (2% SA)
Apply Clean and Clear Acne Control Moisturizer to face (0.5%SA) in higher quantity than before.

*If* I get home early enough in the day, I will go ahead and reapply SA using the Noxzema Anti-Blemish pads to my back/shoulders.

*If* I have a particularly nasty one looking like it might be starting to come in, I will zap it with a 10% BP cream, which seems to work fairly well.

I am using SA because I have ruined WAY too many clothes with BP and it's bleaching havoc it wreaks with them.

I used a trial kit from Philosophy last weekend to 'peel' my face and treat it. Lo and behold, I broke out with 3 or 4 horrible zits in two days time. I don't know if I'll ever try that again. But for the most part since starting this regimen, the small bumps on my face have cleared.

As for my back, I took a picture near the first day of treatment. I am continuing to take a picture every two days to see if there is improvement. I have also ordered, after reading reviews, Dan's AHA+ and Jojoba oil to try. I hate how when I moisturize, I still flake- it seems the oil is the answer. And I hope the AHA+ can help with some of the old red places on my back. I have also ordered his SA+ and will definitely provide feedback on it. Will update as I change my regimen and if things seem to be clearing for me.

Future plans also include going back onto birth control, Ortho Tri Cyclen specifically. I am not convinced about Spironolactone, though... maybe one step at a time for the long term hormonal control.

Yet another noob...

Hello everyone.

I found this website a little while ago when I was searching for reviews on Murad's Clarifying Body Spray.. then I wound up looking around and exploring all the good information this site seems to have.

I have struggled with acne since I was about 12, and I still have issues with it at 23. While younger, I used to see a Dermatologist. We tried everything, from antibiotics to various ointments and creams. Not much luck.

Then, he suggested Accutane.

I immediately said no. I explained that one of my friends from Daycare had recently died from a liver function complication while on Accutane and I did not want to be on it. His response? It's extremely rare that that happens. How do I feel about my decision now? I wouldn't change it- I've heard entirely too many horror stories about that drug and given my background in biology and the sciences, you couldn't pay me enough money to put my body through that! I am even hesitant about using an antibiotic daily for my acne because of the side effects and resistances that can potentially result.

The skin on my face is now for the most part tolerable- I get the occasional whitehead every now and then along with some smaller bumps along my jaw, but usually nothing too bad as long as I make sure to cleanse twice a day. I recently started putting on the acne control moisturizer by Clean and Clear which is 0.5% Salicylic Acid. When I do wear foundation, I use the Neutrogena SkinClearing oil-free makeup with 0.5% Salicylic Acid.

However, it's a different story with my back. I have not always been as adamant about treating my back. I have just gotten used to the fact I don't wear anything that ever shows my back for fear of what people might say. I would say it's moderate acne, but it's over 3/4 of the surface. Mostly just reddened places with maybe 3-5 whiteheads at any one point in time, and an occasional cyst. The reason I gave up being so adamant was that it seemed like nothing worked. I am now using a Benzoyl peroxide cleanser morning and night, then rubbing in Salicylic acid morning and night as well. I am hesitant to use the BP ointment on my back since it does tend to bleach anything and everything it touches. Yes, you can wear a white undershirt, but this isn't always so easy.

Is it worth trying Dan's SA treatment that is in Beta, or is he planning to pull it and not make any more?
Does anyone have suggestions as to other things I should be doing? Admittedly, I am a bridesmaid in a wedding in two months and a little at loss for what to do about my back short of telling the bride I can't be in the wedding!