Video
Dr Christian:
We’ve been getting hundreds of questions to the Embarrassing Bodies website, and one question that comes up seemingly more than others is home treatments, ‘what can we do at home to help our acne?’ Well, the truth is, an awful lot. Just washing your face in the morning and the evening to help strip away the oils is really important. But nothing too aggressive; don’t wash over the top, otherwise you’re going to dry out your skin and give yourself other problems. The other thing is there are a lot of treatments available over the counter that help to reduce oil, reduce bacteria and remove all the built-up dead cells that block pores, causing you spots in the first place.
The next thing is, when should you visit the doctor? That’s the other question that you guys want to know. I think you need to remember that acne can scar. Bad acne can leave you with holes, pock marks in your face, and those will stay for life. So if you think your acne is severe enough to be doing this, then please, go and see your doctor.
Another very common question, I know that a lot of you do this, is sunbathing and acne. ‘Does sunbathing improve my acne?’ Well, on the surface it covers up your acne, it gives you a tan and so it hides your spots. But actually it’s not a treatment, it doesn’t cure acne, it doesn’t make it better and in fact, all it’ll do in the long term is damage and prematurely age your skin. So, don’t do it.
Another really common question on the site is, what are those little pimples that we get on the back of our arms? Teenage girls get them, boys get them, even adults get them, they’re very very common and they seem to worry you. So, what are they? Well, it’s a condition called keratosis pilaris and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with acne. You can have them and never get a spot on your face at all. The bad news is, there is no known cure. It’s probably related to hormonal changes, which is why teenagers get them so much.
There’s another question that seems to be cropping up an awful lot, and that is what do you do about spotty bottoms? Lots of you seem to get spots on your bum which distress you, how can you get rid of them? Well, it’s not necessarily acne that gives you spots on your bottom. More commonly, it’s because you’re sitting on your bum a lot, so there’s a lot of friction, there’s a lot of rubbing, and you wear tight underwear or you wear tight jeans, which causes you to sweat. And sweat builds up, it blocks pores, bacteria can grow and that’s why you get spots. So, what do you do? You need to wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothing, particularly in hot weather.
Doctor Responses: Acne
Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about acne such as: What are the available treatments? What can you do about spots on your bottom? What are the pimply like spots that appear on your upper arms?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
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I've had acne since i was about 10. tried every spot treatment there is. Sudocrem works the best but there still there
Nodulocystic acne-Medical history : i'm jarrah 29 yr old male with history o papules and pustules over the back and chest since 2 yrs . Aggravation of lesion with eruption of large nodules occurred since 1 yr . The lesion heal with alot of scarring . There no history of significant medical illness . He was treated with oral isotretinoin for 8 month . The condition improved partially with recurrence of lesion on discontinuation . O/E:there are multiple large cysts,nodules,crusteod lesion's as well as scars . The active lesions are predominant over the chest and back , with ledions over the Thighs,axilla,and face . Investigations:CBC,and Biochemistry profile-WNL . And i'm in paris now and some doctor make for me actually involved in amultistep surgical protocol for the rehabilitation of his extremely extended sequaelle of hormon dysregulation with female fat deposit mulitples localisations treatmement as well as afirst IPL treatment test . Help me plaze plaze and if he was some clenc in paris
I'm 20 years old and have had acne since the age of 12... I've visted Dermotologist's, my GP and private hospitals however no one seems to be able to help me. I have tried chemical skin peels which seem to react with my skin and make it worse, I've also tried many antibiotic creams and even roaccutane. It effects my life so much that I even call in sick to work when I go through bad patches. Although I'm getting older it's started to effect my confidence more and more. It's also ruining my relationships. The spots are mainly on my jaw line which become very painful and on my lower cheeks. Unfortunately I do wear a lot of make-up to cover it up, however I do try to use the best makes which contain natural minerals. I also use sunbeds a lot as although I know this may effect me in the long run, it does dry my skin up slightly and make me feel better about it. I would be so grateful if you could help me.
I really do need help. I have had spots for about 3 years and I'm only 15 and my faces is covered in spots but I don't know why their are not going I use every type of face cleaner such as wipes creams and pads and it just seems after time it just aggrevates my skin more. Please help me it's really starting to get embarrassing
I had the same problem, I went to my doctors and they put me on the contraceptive pill called Dianette. This helped a bit, but it wasn't fully cleared. I went back and they gave me a cream called Duac: Once Daily, you put it on every night, wash your face before and wash it off in the morning. It's really helped and i never get spots anymore. They do come back if you stop putting it on though
I dont have acne anymore, but wen i did, about 10 years ago i used all the creams,lotions, potions, tablets, steroid pills and all sorts to get rid of it... ever since then, when i get spots on my upper lip snd chin area, when i pick them, even when they are ready to pick, i get left with such huge dark prown scarring which seems to last years,,, i have patches of dark brown in those areas now, they dry out and i pick them, and they just get worse and worse... and i have to cover them with foundation/concealer which makes it even worse coz i cant let it air... im stuck in a rut for over ten years now with this problem...its really affecting my life as i dont feel i can go out without make up coverage and have become really conscious, its taking over my life.. i need help pls.
hi am 13 now and i have ALOT a spots on my face compared to all of my friend i wash 3 times a day and have a shower after i do a sport. i have them on the center of my forehead and on my eye brows and on the sides of my face and on my chin , chest and ALOt on my back. people calll me pizza face and other names but i dont know what to do cause i wash 3 times a day and if i sweat i will wash it off as soon as i can. have you got any advise ? plaase help me its embarising..... x
i am 15 and i have some sports ans they wont go away and thek keep comming
Hey, i have spots to or 'acne' but you should stick to a routine and exfoliate at least once a week and moisturise , because if u wash ur face to much it creates more oil and that equals spots :0 if u moisturise and wash ur face, mornin and night then yur face wont create as much oil plus you could go to a doctor amd get medication? Hope i help alittle :$ x
Hey! I have the same issue as you except for the fact that I don't get them on my chest! Ive heard that sun exposure can help them and I am also at the moment using hand sanitizer all over my face and back! It kills 99% of germs and bacteria and so far it is working quite well. One thing i have learnt over the years it not to think that any cream you use will magically make you acne go away...it takes time and effort. Yesterday I went to a pool party i was stressing about my back acne and i realised that other girls had some but not as bad! you are not alone and we all want an easy and cheap answer to :) hope i helped and didnt just ranbel on about nothing :) xx
hi im 14 soon to be 15 i have acne on the face, chest and bad acne on my back. i play alot of sport and i shower within the hour after any training but i shower for easily twenty minutes each day. i'm just wondering could long showers be affecting my skin in a bad way?
Heyy, I am 15 and have acne on my face and arms and the one problem i notice is when my skin is clearer on some days i notice dark marks under the skin on my upper arms and face, like age spots but perhaps cause by acne. Is there any way i can prevent this or help it? :)
hey, i'm 16 and i have had acne since i was 11 now and it got to its worst point when i was about 14 but then the doctor put me on some tablets and i have taken various medication for them sice then. currently i am taking 300mg of trimethoprim 2x a day and this seems to be working but when i wash my face at night i find it agravates my skin and i wake up in the morning covered in fresh new spots, yet when i leave my make up on the night before and wash it off in the shower the next day my spots seem to get better :/ i'm so confused on what i should be doing with my skin. also i have really oliy skin which doen't help either :( help someone please x
I have been taking the trimethoprim for about 6 months now and my skin seemed to get better, but my spots never went down. Oily skin aggravates spots, mine occur around my for-head, creasing of the nose and chin. Don't worry about it, try some Cetaphil it's normally 4 quid for a bottle, but putting that on in the morning and night seem to take spots down, hope this helps :)x
I gave birth in September 2010. My belly button popped out and it has not gone back in properly, it looks abnormal. I also still have my baby bump. I look 5-6 months pregnant still.
