Spots on my back!

kindlefan

I know this sounds stupid but I think I've got acne on my back and I'm in my 50's! I get loads of spots on my upper back, and with the party season coming I want to do something about them. I've got Quinoderm cream from Boots to put on, but I was wondering if there's anything else that you could recommend? I'm diabetic Type 2 but not sure if that's relevant or not and I don't really want to run to the doctors with this. It seems rather trivial...so I'd rather ask advice online as a first resort.

Is there a suitable concealer I could use as well? Something suitable for 'ahem' mature skin (I'm not wrinkly, just spotty!!) I'm getting a bit self-conscious in my dotage!:D

Thanks for any help!

j.e.j.

It might be worth a visit to the doctors. Acne isn't 'too trivial' for a GP to deal with, don't worry. It might just be to do with hormones and it'll settle down after a while.

Because it's quite a large area to cover and it's awkward to reach it might be worth looking for a party dress with a higher back, perhaps, that covers the spots, rather than trying to apply quinoderm and concealer over it, iyswim?

rosalie-lavender

I am 50 and went through a stage when I got lots of spots on my back. I realised one day that they always crop up after I had put bath oil in my bath. I ditched the bath oil and the spots cleared up. As well as looking for concealers it might be worth considering if something could have triggered then in the same way as bath oil affects me.

I don't think it is too trivial to ask a gp about, another possiblity is that you could ask the practise nurse about them.

apples1

Do you put conditioner on your hair? They are designed to cling to the hair to make it soft and shiney but you will find if you rinse hair in the shower you end up with invisible coating of conditioner on upper back. This clogs pores and causes spots. Make sure you put hair up with big clip or something after washing & conditioning it & wash your back last thing before you get out the shower with a wash designed for faces. Dry back with wet hair still up then put clothes on or dressing gown etc before you take hair down if it's long enough to reach any of the spotty area.

Hope that helps

glowgirl_2

I find loreal hair products give me spots on my skin as do most hair products with a lot of dimethicone (silicone) in them, they cleared up after I changed shampoo/conditioner, if I have a breakout for another reason I use Freederm gel applied morning and night until they go and then as necessary, it doesn't work for everyone but has been a god send to me:)

busiscoming2

Perhaps ask the pharmacist at the chemist, they may be able to help.

VfM4meplse

I agree with the above posts, your spots may be due to the of exposure to an external agent...but I also wonder how well your diabetes is controlled?

kindlefan wrote: »

I've got Quinoderm cream from Boots to put on, but I was wondering if there's anything else that you could recommend?

I agree that self-help is probably the best way forward at this stage, your GP is unlikely to recommend anything oral and many effective creams can be purchased from the pharmacy. Do be aware that Quinoderm can bleach fabrics, so don't apply during the day and at night use old bedding that you can afford to ditch. Although effective at drying out spots, Quiniderm can also make your skin red, dry and itchy.

kindlefan wrote: »

Is there a suitable concealer I could use as well? Something suitable for 'ahem' mature skin (I'm not wrinkly, just spotty!!) I'm getting a bit self-conscious in my dotage!

Apart from the fact you'll struggle to apply concealer by yourself, the skin on your back will not be the same shade as your face so concealing individual spots is going to be tricky. If you really don't want to wear a dress with a high back, I would recommend using a mineral powder instead, such as MAC studio-fix.

guineapig

I am in my fifties and wouldn't get my back out for anyone except hubbby or the doctor! No I am not fat or have wrinkles, but I think the older you get "less is more", in fact the only time I have ever flashed my back is in a swim suit on the beach!

I found that my skin "reacts" to having polyester next to it and comes out in spots/blebs, so I only ever wear it over the top of a pure cotton layer.

The reason for this is that is that polyester doesn't "breathe" like a natural fabric, so you perspire and it results in spots.

I would opt for something classy but more covered, less to fuss over and worry over whilst you are trying to enjoy yourself.

Top it off with some eye catching jewelery and you will look great.

adelight

After you condition your hair wrap it in a towel and wash your back again to stop conditioner blocking any pores. Use one of those shower scrunchies to help exfoliate your back as well.
After a shower/bath rub sudocream over your back. I was getting some spots on my back (from exercising with my back covered by non-cotton clothes and conditioner) and sudocream cleared it up completely in about two weeks, now I just try to wear vest tops more often around the house and use the sudocream once or twice a month. You'll have to wait a while before putting clothes over the cream or put on something you don't mind getting a bit creamy and keep your hair off the cream or it makes your hair all gross and sticky. It's easiest to put your hair up and put on a vest top with a low back.

Skyllo

I had spots on my back as a teenager and still get the odd flare-up (I'm 23 now) and found Quinoderm and other benzyl peroxide creams very effective.

One warning: it will bleach your clothing so make sure you wear an old top to bed and shower before dressing in the morning. I ruined several favourite tops before I realised what was happening.

bedpotato_2

A gentler alternative to peroxide (peroxide is basically just another name for bleach) is tea tree oil. It's just as effective as peroxide, without the nasty burning side effects (or bleaching of clothes!) :eek:

The only downside is the (very strong) smell.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2145499

Use diluted in water or in cream or body wash of your choice.