[Merry]

When i first got serious about acne on my back, shoulders, neck, chest, and occasionally on the face, I wanted treatment.

I have been using proactiv for about a year and it's worked okay. But last year in September I went to the doctor about an oral acne drug and he prescribed Erythromycin (I used it with proactiv as well). It worked absolutely wonderful! My chest cleared up completely, my face was a bit better, and my back looked better as well. My face was a bit dry for some reason. I figured it was Proactiv, so I stopped using it.

After a while, I wanted 'full' results from Erythromycin, so I went back to the doctor and he prescribed a higher dose. I think it was 250ml for each pill, 2 times a day.

And then, a week later, my chest and back started breaking out like crazy! I started using Proactiv again, and it cleared up a bit, but none of the acne went away like the first time I used the medication.

I got upset at this and moved onto Tetracycline, which hasn't been working for me at all, even with Proactiv.

I want my chest to clear up again ... it's so hard having to make sure my shirts are always pulled up so no one sees. It's very stressful.

But I'm not sure what I should do. Would it be okay to try Erthyromycin again? Should I continue using Tetracycline until the bottle is empty to see the results then (I've bene using it for about a month)?

Here's some additional information about me:
I have fair & oily (maybe dry) skin. I have oily hair. I'm 16 years old. I don't drink a lot of water but I'm trying, and I don't exercise or get out a lot, which I'm also trying to improve.

Help or information would be very appreciated. =(

[Arabess]

It seems to me that this condition is simply hereditary. I would go for help to my general physician or a specialist. I would NOT let acne get to the point of scarring my skin. That can be addressed and is worth the money....especially as a female.

I HATE sounding shallow.....but this is a big deal. You have to feel good about yourself.....and should address this on a medical basis.

I understand what you are going through. Around the time I was 16 (25 now), my skin began to break-out more than normal. The doctor put me on antibiotics, and gave me benzoyl-peroxide. The b-p dried my skin out too much and I believe I was allergic to it. My skin cleared up a bit, but I was never happy with the results.

When I went to college at 18, the break-outs started again, but worse than before. The doctor again put me on anitbiotics. They didn't work. Then they put me on Retin-A. I used Retin-A for over a year, and it seemed that I was also allergic to that because all it did was make my skin red and swollen.

I went off the antibiotics at about 20.

At 21 I decided to start using the birth control pill for acne because I had heard in adds and from other people that it helped. I would have to say that of the things I have tried, the birth control pill has worked the best. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked perfectly, or even near perfectly.

I'm 25 and still break-out on my face and chest.

A doctor recently told me that for women, acne on the face is hormonal. But on the back and chest she recommended using an anti-bacterial soap. So far my chest has cleared up a bit.

What I would advice is to talk to your doctor either about taking the pill for acne or trying something called Acutane. My boyfriend used it when he was 14 and it cleared his skin up. He is now 28 and has beautiful skin. I have known other people who have used it as well and it has worked for them. The side effects sound pretty harsh, but I hear that it is only used for a short period of time. With summer coming up, maybe those 3 months would be all you need.

If this is seriously acne you are having trouble with, and not a pimple here and there, I'd ask your doctor about this.

[Nubianangel]

I'm 27 years old and still dealing with this problem as well. Currently, I am using Proactiv exclusively and it's made a world of difference for my face. *Hate to sound like a cheesy infomercial, sorry * but it's the truth. With the exception of a few blemishes, my face has completely cleared up.

I'm still having issues with my back but I suspect it's because I wear braided hair exstentions and the texture tends to irritate my upper back and shoulders. I use to have chest acne but I now use Dove soap and my chest is clear and glowing. To sum it up, my advice would be to:

Use the Proactiv by itself for awhile, on your face ONLY.
Try using an anti bacterial soap, I recommend Dove for your body.

Good luck!

[tiki]

When I was young I had some acne, not a lot. I got so upset, I gave up and stopped washing my face at night. I only wash it in the shower in the morning. Many of people have told me that my face looks like porcelain. It's not perfect by ANY means, some small scars here and there. Isn't that nasty, stop washing your face and it clears up?!

Get some viamin d (sun) on your face. It'll work wonders. Let your face breath and go without makeup when you can. One of my fave things to do is to go without make up and throw on my fave basbell cap. My boyfriend thinks I'm sexy. =)~

[beth1.8T]

hey your skin type sounds the same as mine, i am 17 though. but just last summer i started with my face breaking out and my back has always been pretty bad, not to mention my chest sometimes. but i went to the dermatologist.

i received Benzyclin, its a creame for the face back chest, wherever, and it worked wonders. for a moisturizer..use anything Aveeno, its dermatologist recommeded and it works great! and i was also on the pill Menocycline. but i always had "backne" and now its gone.

also when you buy make up or even suntan lotion get NON COMEDOGENIC it wont clog your pores and will prevent against excess oil. itll say it right on the label or the back. CG makes a 'clean make up' that wont clog the pores if u need it for ur face.

hope that helps

[innocent]

Same problem here too.

I have been on so many prescriptions and none of them have completely worked.

And the antibiotics have just yellowed my teeth, so I stoped taking them.

I started usuing Neutrogena Oil Free Acne wash on my Body as well as my face.

I also use a bar soap that I got at Wal-mart called PanOxyl Bar and it has peroxide in it.

Then I use Clean & Clear Astringent on my Back and

then I appy the Clean and Clear PesaGel 10 all over ( this stuff works so well) Even better than any prescription I have ever had

and trust me I did not think that any of this would work at first but it has done wonders for my face, chest and shoulders, and my back even though I have a few left but hopeful I will be able to get rid of all of it.

bottom line..no one person has the same type of skin..therefore, all the advice is great, but what works for one individual may or may not work for the next. Anyone with a problem is best to see a professional, rather than expect results from doing something someone else did here on a post.
However, accutane will reduce the output of sebum to the skin's surface from the inside out. I personally have tried everything, and accutane is the only thing that works.
Acne is a horrible thing to have to deal with, good luck to everyone

[abfchgirlx]

For three years I saught for help through a profesional (dermatologist) for acne. She did nothing for me, nor could any of the medicine do anything for me. Like proactive, and all the other pills she prescribed.

As her last final attempt, she sent me to a gyno and told me to get orthotry. It helped some what, but barely at all. I would still have a few pimples here and there. Then while I currently moved away, I had seen another doctor. This doctor prescribed me yasmin.

Yasmin has a male hormone in it, which decreases the gland in your back from producing too many hormones which causes the break out. Now I can say that my face is suitably clear, and when I break out, it's only related to stress, not drinking enough water, or it's that time of the month.

I'd try the pill. I'm on the pill just for acne, not for birth control.

[jw32802]

I bought something from this girl on ebay and its the onlystuff that has cleared me up, PLUS i use glycolic acid and a buff puff when washing. I will send you th e link if you like!

[Iamhappy]

Does acne ever appear in the right places?

Was the doctor you saw a dermatologist?

[smartwater]

I've been using ProActiv for a little more than two months now and it seems to be helping pretty well. I'm almost fifteen, so I guess I can't have a completely clear face yet. Those raging hormones.

But what I was curious about is this: ProActiv seems to make my face pretty oily, especially my T-zone and parts of my cheeks. It also dries out parts of my face, but it's the oil I'm most unhappy with. I've tried their "Daily Oil control", but that does *nothing*.

Any suggestions?

Thank you so much, and I wish clear beautiful skin to all of you.

[Merry]

Originally posted by smartwater
I've been using ProActiv for a little more than two months now and it seems to be helping pretty well. I'm almost fifteen, so I guess I can't have a completely clear face yet. Those raging hormones.

But what I was curious about is this: ProActiv seems to make my face pretty oily, especially my T-zone and parts of my cheeks. It also dries out parts of my face, but it's the oil I'm most unhappy with. I've tried their "Daily Oil control", but that does *nothing*.

Any suggestions?

Thank you so much, and I wish clear beautiful skin to all of you.

My face doesn't usually come out oily, but dry - yes. Don't use their Daily Oil Control... I know it just made my face dry up even more.

I don't really have any suggestions but this: wherever the dry places are, scrub pretty hard with a clean wash cloth with warm to hot water. And remember after you scrub the dry places, don't apply water to your face.

This method actually works for me, but it doesn't go away completely (your skin should dry up again in 1-2 days), probably because I don't drink a lot of water... or something (can't really think of anything else).

Hope that helps.

[youngandhopeful]

I have just come off a course of acne drugs. I too had acne on my chest face and shoulders. I went to the dermatoligist and she put me on a course of ROACUTANE, it has lots of side effects but most very rarely effect people. You do however get dry skin so you have to mousturise everyday and dry lips so get sumthing for that. but after 4 months (standard time for tablets) my spots were gone and it should last either for ever or a good 4-5 years,

I dont no wether this interests you but i had good luck with them maybe you will to

[tiki]

BIRTH CONTROL WILL WORK WONDERS FOR ACNE!!! Plus eases the flow of your period too!