Naturalcuresfan (Texas) on 05/14/2016
Not sure if you'd call it a "cure" as much as a "treatment" that works as long as I am using it. Has completely eliminated a 35 year case of body acne.
C.a.m. (St. Petersburg, Fl) on 05/13/2016
I am not 100% cured yet, I do not expect to be, but this has significantly reduced my breakouts to almost non-existent!
My back acne was to the point of uncomfortable when I would lay down, causing me pain. I have not been formally diagnosed, no idea what type of acne I have. I DO have a tendency towards cystic acne on my face (diagnosed), so I imagine that is likely what's going on throughout my body.
I began a regimen of salicylic acid body wash (2% - multiple brands) and that did not touch it. I also tried peroxide-based cleaners & still no luck. I used rubbing alcohol in my teenage years with some success & decided to give it a try again.
To be safe, I dilute it with witch hazel (50-50 mixture in a spray bottle approximately 4 ounces). I also add about 30 drops of tea tree oil, but you can certainly add more if you can manage the pungent scent & tingling sensations on your skin.
Really, you do not need the witch hazel. I did this for its toning properties & to reduce the drying effects of the alcohol. If you wanted to use distilled water, that would be fine too. I use this mixture morning before I dress & evening after a shower. It MAY sting just a little bit, particularly after the shower when your pores are opened. If that's unbearable to you, don't use the alcohol & stick to the witch hazel (& perhaps try diluting that with distilled water as well, just in case).
This has helped reduce my breakouts so much, I no longer fear wearing backless dresses or being on the beach. I will occasionally get a few here & there, but I no longer have entire patches of acne on my back & the lifespan of the few pimples I do get is reduced to about 2 days with this therapy.
After 3 years of cyclical body acne, I'm happy to say it's manageable. I think with continued therapy of the tea tree oil, it will only get better. I wish you the best of luck!
Cajuncole (Cali, Colombia) on 01/29/2014
Jennifer (United States) on 01/26/2014
Brandon (Jacksonville, Florida) on 12/30/2013
Anon (Anon) on 12/15/2013
Rishabh (Ludhiana, Punjab) on 10/07/2013
I am suffering from problem of acne on my hair scalp for the last 5 years and despite adequate care and antibiotic medicines the problem still persists. I don't know the reason for the same and the problem grow especially during the change of season. I would request yo to kindly help me with the same on prority basis.
Ayman (Liverpool) on 06/11/2013
Braveheart (Vancouver, Bc) on 05/28/2013
Gizmo (Springfield, Mo) on 08/17/2012
When I take a shower, I use a bit of 20 Mule Team Borax (the kind in the laundry detergent aisle) and wash my acne prone areas with this. After I dry off, I spray the sea salt/tea tree oil mixture on my buttocks/thigh area and leave it on there for the rest of the day. I work from home so I was also reapplying the mist 2-3 times a day.
Sea salt will draw out the impurities from your skin so expect your acne to get a bit worse before you see results. After 4 days, there was a remarkable difference! I'm on day 7 and my little zits are all gone and I only have a few red ones left which have greatly reduced in size and redness. It will sting a bit but it is bearable. I've read it takes longer to have clear skin in that particular area so you will need to be patient. I had tried the apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, Witch hazel, exfoliating and borax alone before trying the sea salt and although it helped, I was still not happy.
I expect after another week, I will have perfect skin again! Good luck!
Scarletbee (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 07/28/2012
Edith (Ventura, California) on 07/13/2012
Jennifer (Sunrise, Fl, Usa) on 02/04/2012
Here is a small, but certainly non-inclusive, list of what may be the problem and how to treat the acne problem accordingly.
Your acne might be hormonal if:
- You are female
- You are a young male/female (13-18 years old)
- You are pregnant
- You get breakouts around your menstrual cycle/you are menopausal
- You are taking steroids/growth hormone supplements
- You have a known (or suspected) hormone imbalance, such as a thyroid problem, PCOS, or have other symptoms of a hormone imbalance such as increased bodily hair, irregular periods, hair loss, or difficulty controlling weight.
- You have acne on your face as well as your body
If you have hormonal acne, clearly the way to treat it is to balance the hormones. For me and a lot of other women who suffered from hormonal acne, my skin cleared up considerably after taking birth control pills. Some women also notice their skin clearing considerably after taking hormone-balancing herbal supplements such as maca, raspberry leaf tea, dong quai, or spearmint tea. I have also seen a lot of women claim that drinking detox tea clears their skin considerably!
For all acne sufferers, you need to be on a CLEAN DIET. I travel to France several times a year and I notice that while many American girls have acne, I have rarely seen a French girl with even a blemish. Seeing the way that French girls eat, I am not surprised - the French eat mostly natural foods free of nasty American chemicals and preservatives. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. Also, wash fruits and veggies THOROUGHLY before eating, because American pesticides contain estrogen compounds. Another French habit I noticed - and that I think Americans need to do more of - is drink more water and less sodas. 8 glasses of water will help clear your skin and give it a healthy glow.
Your acne might be due to retention hyperkeratosis (failure of the skin to exfoliate itself) if:
- Your acne responds well to exfoliation/chemical peels/Retin-A
- You have a lot of clogged pores and blackheads
- Your acne gets worse after periods of sweating (such as going to the gym)
For me, clogged pores are the cause of my body acne problems. My skin responded beautifully to using Aqua Glycolic body wash with a Japanese bath towel in the shower. Just put a little dab of body wash on every morning and scrub away (if your skin is blemished, do not overscrub - it will aggravate your acne). Be patient with this treatment - body acne takes longer to go away than facial acne - it took me 2 months to get perfectly clear body skin. ALWAYS take a shower after sweating or if you have some kind of product on your skin - like sunscreen - that can clog your pores. Also, if you have a tendency to have clogged pores, watch what shampoos and conditioners you use. When you rinse your hair, take care that the lather does not touch your body. If you live in a humid/hot environment, wear cottons or other breathable fabrics, and do not wear tight-fitting clothes.
Your acne might be product-related if:
- You don't take measures to prevent shampoo/conditioner residue from hitting your back/buttocks/chest or area(s) where there is body acne
- Your shampoo/conditioner contains pore-clogging ingredients or SLS
- You are using a product to control your body acne and your body acne has flared up worse after using it
- You also have acne on your scalp/suspect you may be allergic to a shampoo/conditioner you are using
If you suspect you might have product-related acne, switch your products. If the acne clears up, the product might be the problem.
Your acne might be fungus (pityrosporum folliculitis) related if:
- You are a man (although this condition occurs with women too - but is more common with men)
- You have a rashey kind of body acne, with chronic, red, itchy pustules on the back and chest, or sometimes on the neck, shoulders, upper arms and face
- Your body acne occurs mostly in the summer, after you sweat with tight-fitting clothes on, during sports activities, or are hot/sweaty
- You have come in contact with someone else with a fungal infection
This is the kind of body acne my fiance, and a lot of other guys, suffer from. This kind of acne benefits from using an anti-fungal shampoo (Nizoral or Head and Shoulders), coconut oil, or an anti-fungal cream on the affected area. Do not wear tight-fitting clothes when working out - wear something breathable instead.
Band-aids (quick fixes) to heal existing acne in the meantime:
- Tea Tree Oil/Alcohol solution - the best to kill acne bacteria/dry out existing acne
- Benzoyl Peroxide 5% - very good at killing bacteria/drying out acne - but beware, it will stain clothing.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - a lot of people rave about this cure, but it hasn't worked for me. I recommend the brand with "the mother".
Good luck everyone, hope that this helps someone with this frustrating problem!
Sophie (Dayton, Ohio, Usa) on 02/01/2012
Mary (Dallas, Tx, Usa) on 02/01/2012
Mint julep mask is very good for this.
Another tip: ladies, change your bra daily, I noticed I was getting breakouts in the area where my bra straps were - on the shoulder blades. I believe the sweat and dirt buildup on the straps contributes to the problem.
Make sure you are not constipated either, it will exacerbate the problem.
Laura (Franklin, Tn) on 10/24/2011
Maria (Syracuse, Ny) on 09/08/2011
Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne Vanessa (Clovis, Ca) on 07/29/2011
I can't drink ACV with water, it's horrible! So I've been just taking a measuring spoon 1 tablespoon of the ACV one in the morning and one at night and having a glass of water in my other hand and gulp the ACV first then quickly drink glass of water right after.
I've also been using ACV on a cotton ball each night as a toner on my face chest and back and sleep on it and shower in the morning. It has worked wonders. I will use this tool for the rest of my life! :)
Misty (Somewhere, Indiana, Usa) on 07/16/2011
Warning: I advise using this method only on non-sensitive areas. If you experience painful burning, this may not be the right method for you. The area will be a little red, especially if you use a larger piece of cotton than is your pimple.
Toriterese (Madison, Wi ) on 08/25/2010
