Outbreaks on chest...

[Kelen]

I'm 19, and for the last 5 years there has hardly been a day go by that I don't have at least a few red spots on my chest. That in its self doesn't really bother me, although I am very self conscious, so I often wear collar neck shirts 90% of the time. My skin can change from looking basically clear to in a few hours a red and white mess.

For years I've sort of hidden the white heads like that, so no one really knows - but recently when for the first time I started getting a few lower around the ribcage area I became fed up with the whole thing, I was just sick and tired of these unpredictable pimples, and now they're spreading!

I told my dad and it took a few times complaining until he even realised that I've in fact had the problem for years because at first he was blaming it on things like "my time of the month". Even in knowing that it's a constant thing he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal and instead tells me: "no else will notice them", "it's not pratical to want to try any kind of prescriptive drugs" and that "it's more like a rash", which I think it more like a nice wording for "out break".

He doesn't seem to care that for the last several years I've had to base the clothes I buy and what I wear in a day on how my body might or might no look - it was a hard process finding a bathing suit, I'll tell you - which is extremely frustrating because my chests appearance seems to fluctuate like it's based on my pule rate at times or something always changing like that; fine when I get up, worse later on, fine again at bed time...? Or in the complete reverse order. Other times the pimples last for a week really badly. Other times I don't have a bad case for a month.

I do know that there are far more sever cases of acne posted here and that mine is only like this on my chest & mid slightly on my upper shoulder blade area, my face often remains fairly decent... but that doesn't change the fact that it's bothered me for years.

With that in its self do you think it's worth trying a prescription? Do you have any other suggestions? Or maybe think it's not a big deal like my father? I've never really told anyone before, besides my dad who doesn't seem to care.

Thanks.

[sophitia]

It sounds a LOT like what I've been going through...since I was 12 & I'm in my mid-30's now. Just last week I noticed that the pimples on my chest were so horrible that I was crying because I thought I was ugly. And not only did a get a bad outbreak on the chest but also on my neck & upper back & upper arms. Meanwhile my face wasn't that bad. I had no idea what was causing it. Was it hormones? was it food? was it the Duac prescription I started a week previously? Well...I stopped using Duac & just went back to using Oxy 10. I started using it twice as day & seriously, my skin is so much improved this week. I really do sympathise what you're going through, I often wear shirts that pretty much cover most of my chest & back when going out & when I'm at home I don't feel so self-conscious.

I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do since there are so many different opinions out there. One will say stop eating chocolate, stop drinking milk, stop eating cheese. One will say eat whatever you want. One will say try Accutane. One will say don't bother. You may want to try all of the above.

I know it doesn't sound very helpful, but this piece of advice might give you a hint of comfort- we are our own worst critics. Those stupid pimple commercials you see on tv would like you to believe that only clear-skinned beautiful people have the best lot in life. Well, it's not...true! The truth is, most people we see on a daily basis really aren't sitting in the privacy of their homes thinking about OUR skin troubles. They're probably thinking about theirs & hope we don't notice their bad skin.

[username1]

I'm dealing with the same thing right now and looking for a solution, 20 yr old guy and my chest just keeps getting more red spots. Its made my chest itchy and very sensitive. It went away after a course of accutane last year but now for some reason its back. My guess is teh Clear and Smooth bp that I started using has caused it. If anyone has had success clearing this up please shed some knowledge.

Also has anyone found that hydrocortisone cream causes breakouts, its so itchy I'm thinking of applying it a few times.