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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.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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how do you combat black heads?





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i have tried creams etc. and they seem to really dry my skin out and i come out in a red rash, i did have some tablets which were issued to me by the army as i am currently serving in germany, i just wondered if there are any tablets anyone may recommend that you may be able to buy online or in a local store?? thankyou





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Guys. I hjad really really severe nodulocystic acne all over my face before christmas 2009, i was being tret with lymacycline capsule and adapalene gel, whihc was having no affect. The docter refered me to a dermatologisto and whilst i was waiting (for 4months)i was put on benzoyl peroxide - it really did work cleared up 90% of it. Although i was still getting the occasional painful cyst.I saw a dermatoligist on feb 1st 2010 and since i still have acne all over my back and arms - the dermatoligist consented to the prescription of generic accutane (isotretinoin). I started accutane on 1st march and since i havent developed a single new cyst. I did suffer from the initial breakout, around the 8th march - but it wasnt nearly as bad as it was in november and december. For me accutane has been a magic wonder drug and the acne is getting better each day (and its only day 15). Side affects so far include: dry lips and skin obs; sleeping disturbances; feeling sick; dizziness. I really rwecommend this drug or for those with only facial acne the topical forms either: Retin A - tretinoin or Isotrex/isotrexin - isotretinoin/ isotretinoin with erythromycin. Although i think topical tretinoin is more effective than topical isotretinoin.





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I have blister like spots on my buttocks which are increasing everyday. They are a little sore but not itchy. The arrival of these spots has coincided with a very sore chapped anus. I do not feel unwell in any other way so am baffled by this?!?!?





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Hi I'm 19 years old had trouble with spots since 13 years old iv taken all kinds of creams and tablets doctors have prescribed for me i get them on my back, chest, neck and face. When I get them on my chest there really bad, there always massive spots leaving really big craters in my skin and scaring everywhere else I hate it because when its summer I'm not confident enough to take my top off due to this.





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hey, yeah, I've had the same problem. i went to the doctors and got some special roll on cream, called dalacin and I got some soap called cydal from boots, it's helped me quite a bit, maybe you can try that?:) x

Hi. I suffered from Acne since I was teenager. I am now 31 and got scar because of the condition. I do eat well and look after my skin by using the moisture cream every day, but the skin seems doesn't better. I do feel unconfident when I go outside especially where there are lots of lights. Is any treatment I can have?





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hi, i am 30 years old female. I am noticing and enormously increase of the black spots particulary on my breast and neck. I never had them when was a little girl. They are really doing me a heading. They are not itching but coming up ever so quickly. Being to the doc as i thought they were moles but he suggested they are not. What can i do?





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i am 36 and have a problem with blackheads on the top of my cheeks





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Hi, i am 19 years old and have always had a good skin only getting the one odd spot suring period time. my friend has regular chemical peels down by a nurse to help her skin as she has bad congestion around her mouth area. i went on holiday in october and when i came bk i had alot of tiny spots under the skin i thought it was a good idear to get one of these peels (glycolic acid) the nurse used 30% on my skin. i completely regret this decision as my skin has never been the same! i have bad pustules over my cheeks that come to a head and go away but always return i had this peel done at the start of december and my skin has gradulay gotten worse as times went on and i have bad scaring as a result of sqeezing the puss out. i have been to doctors alot and was on diantte but this made me severely depressed so now have been taken oxytetracycline for a month i understand this will take time to work. my skin is soo dry i dont understand how i am getting spots when it is so dry. i just want to know if this peel has caused my skin to be this way i really wish i hadnt ever got it i have a picture of my skin before hand and it was fine and my skin is soo thin and delicate now, i just hope these antibiotics work and get rid of any bacteria and will my skin grow back to how it was? i know that may seem like a stupid question but i mean will i ever get the thickness back or have i totlay ruined this? is there any special cream or anything that will help rebuild my skin without blocking pores and causing severe breakouts ? please help i am really down about this :(





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i got itchy spots all over my body! they just appeared out of nowhere. dunno what it is :S





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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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