Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => Testosterone => Topic started by: Sam Alexei on December 18, 2015, 10:21:17 PM

Title: Back acne from T
Post by: Sam Alexei on December 18, 2015, 10:21:17 PM
Hey guys!

I'm a little over 9 months on T. My face acne has cleared out, but I still have it bad on my back, and have no idea how to fix it. I know the binder doesn't help, and I'm having top surgery this Summer, but are there any fixes in the meantime?

I occasionally use anti-bacterial soap on my back, but that's about it.
What worked for you guys?
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: CursedFireDean on December 18, 2015, 11:17:31 PM
I've still got lots of problems with it but I found what works best for me is having various types of antibacterial or acne washes and rotating them. If I use just one it goes away then eventually comes back because it adjusts to the soap, but using different soaps doesn't have as much of that effect. Still trying to find a great fix though
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: FTMax on December 19, 2015, 05:58:41 PM
I actually didn't have any body acne until I was post-op. It started with a little on my chest, and then my back and shoulders blew up. I shower once a day and make sure I get everything. I think for me it may have something to do with how much I sweat, so I might try experimenting with powders to see if that helps at all.

Would love to hear from anyone that's gotten it under control or toned down.
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: HeyTrace19 on December 19, 2015, 06:03:11 PM
I had it on my back for about the first 2 years on T.  Using St Ives Apricot Scrub on a daily basis helped to keep it more mild, and then it just started to clear up completely around the 2 year mark.  Has not been a problem since. 
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: AeroZeppelin92 on December 20, 2015, 06:45:04 AM
I've had back acne since I started T. Not terrible, but I never had zits anywhere preT. It's been a year and five months and it has yet to go away, even after top surgery. I'm just going to bide my time and hope it goes away within a couple years.
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: Peep on December 20, 2015, 01:25:02 PM
Try cutting down sugar and dairy + drinking more water too
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: FTMax on December 21, 2015, 08:43:02 AM
Quote from: Peep on December 20, 2015, 01:25:02 PM
Try cutting down sugar and dairy + drinking more water too

Diet changes seem to be hit or miss. My sugar intake is super low, I'm lactose intolerant so no dairy, and I drink around 100oz of water a day. No greasy food, no chocolate.

I think some people are just pre-disposed to it hormonally.
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: Peep on December 21, 2015, 08:48:22 AM
Quote from: FTMax on December 21, 2015, 08:43:02 AM
Diet changes seem to be hit or miss. My sugar intake is super low, I'm lactose intolerant so no dairy, and I drink around 100oz of water a day. No greasy food, no chocolate.

I think some people are just pre-disposed to it hormonally.

Yeah hormones definitely do play a big part, but diet's always worth a shot...
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: jlaframboise on December 22, 2015, 03:37:31 PM
Agree with the others.. It might just be a testosterone thing. Apricot scrub on my shoulders and back everyday did help though. Plus one of those long handled shower brush thingymajigs. Looking into prescription acne meds is worth a shot too
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: Ryan55 on December 22, 2015, 06:56:59 PM
my doctor gave me this prescription body wash for the back acne, it works well, it drys it up, I have def seen an improvement since using it
Title: Re: Back acne from T
Post by: Pax Fidelis on January 03, 2016, 11:19:23 PM
The only thing I have that's kept it managable (and by that I mean reducing it and unfortunately not clearing it completely) is a combination of cocoa butter tea tree oil soap when I shower and oxy pads twice a day.

http://www.crate61.com/product_p/cts137.htm

I've even tried other tea tree soaps and it doesn't work the same.