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Embarrassing Bodies, 2:05am Tuesday 7th February 2012 on Channel 4. Catch up for free on 4oD »

Conditions

Acne

Acne vulgaris on the back

When talking about how we switch on to the opposite sex during puberty, comedian Eddie Izzard once said: “You think, ‘I want to get off with people, so I’d better look my best. Then Mother Nature says, ‘No! You will look the worst you’ll ever look in your life!’”

The common skin condition, acne, is often to blame, with around 80% of teenagers afflicted with some degree of acne between the ages of 13 and 18 years (although, a minority of cases may also start in adulthood). Commonly occurring on the face, arms, back and chest, acne occurs in puberty because of changes to hormone levels, which cause the sebaceous glands to produce increased amounts of sebum that blocks the hair follicles and causes spots ranging from blackheads to painful red nodules. Acne can often correct itself, but there are also a number of over-the-counter and prescription treatments available.

If you think your child is going through early puberty, check our guide for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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I'm 17 and have been suffering with spots/ance since the age of 11, ive been on numerous types off creams/face washes and tablets/antibiotics, and they dont seem to help at all, ive changed my diet by cutting out all chocolate ect, and have a perfect healthy diet, this also doesnt seem to be helping, i need help it ruining my confidence in my self. someone help me, my doctors dont seem to help!





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hello, I'm 13 and over the course of about 2 weeks, 3 large spots have came at the top of my left breast,all in a row. This had never happened to me in that area so I foolishly tried to squeeze the first two when they first showed up and I've been left with shiny browny pinky scabs and they're quite noticable and I feel very self conscious about them. The remaining spot has a bright red ring around this yellowy scab and I'm worrying where to go with it next so it doesnt scar like the other two. How can I reduce the scarring this early on? Does anybody else have these/or had these problems before? Is it anything else apart from puberty and acne?





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hi, am 34and i got lots of spots on my arms and face. I clean 4 time a day my face and 3 time my body, i was on antibiotics for 6 monts, i took acutane 2 monts, ultraviolet ligt, i try to eliminate from food any lipids and i still don't use sugar . What can i do?





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Hi I'm 15 and I exfoiliate every day and use spot cream.I hav lots of whiteheads around my chin and below my nose and I feel that I hav to squeeze them as they are very bad looking.I have used aloe vera,clearisel spot cream,sudocrem,steam,clean and clear exfoiliating cream etc on them but they just won't go away and when I do sqeeze them they just come back and every day I wake up there is new ones. And I now have 3 or 4 scars on my face from squeezing them.I am very worried so could somebody please help me and tell me what I Should do to get rid of my scars and whiteheads and prevent them from coming back, thanks





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Hi im 18 and have been getting acne since the age of 13 especialy on my forehead , then on my shoulders, back , upper arms , now they just started appearing on my bum and a few behind my thighs , i feel so insecure about my body because im left with alot of acne scars mostly on my shoulder,back ,and behind what should i do to make them dissapear and prevent them from growing again?





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hi im 26 years old i have had acne since i was 13 It's coming on my neck my back seems to be disappearing slowly, but anytime i'm on my period the sports come more and is scared or painful. please help me. when it comes to sex with my partner i tend to hide my body, so they don't see my sports





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hi im a 40 yr old man and i 've been spotty for 20 yrs. mostly around the sides of my mouth and chin, sometimes arond my eyes too.some weeks it gets really bad. it gets red with white spots then spreads around the immediate area. it will dry and flake/scab.clear up for a few days then flare up again. i've tried all the over the counter products but nothing works. i cant look ppl in the eye when talking to them because i'm really concious of it and its knocked my confidence greatly. any suggestions?





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I am exactly the same. Want to go for a facial but won't go without make-up :( i'm 21 and have had them since i was 12-13

i havent got severe acne, but mild. it appears on the cheeks ( side of face aswell) and forehead, it use to come on my chest and back but thats faded. ive used every single spot treatment in a shop you can think of! im so in secure, i wanna go doctors about it but i cant go out without make up! so they wont be able to see the problem? im so fed up of wearing make up all the time and i get so depressed seeing myself with all the blemishes and scars :( what should i do!?





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tea tree oil - dab some on spots everyday and eventually they disapear, it reduces redness aswell! Dont know if it clears the blackheads though!





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hi im 13 & ive had acne since i was about 9 years old. i get bullied from it, its making me stress. i hate it. ive tryed all sorts of medication from the doctors & none have worked, do you know what could help?





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Hi same here i it had since i was 12 years old and now im 15,I been bullied since i got this and i used alot of treatment Things but it dosnt work. What shall we do ??





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Acne is a chronic skin condition that affects most people at some point during their life. It causes spots to develop on the skin, usually on the face, back and chest. The symptoms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe. Read More »

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