Bad acne (face + back + arms)

[bobspix]

Bros,

I have ran two cycles in my life time. Well 1 cycle of test e and stana, another one 6 weeks of test and anavar and had to stop because of corona. So technically 1.5.

After my first cycle, I had face acne which was moderate according to me. (2 big pimples on face and rest small red blemishes) but it went away after I was done with PCT.

After this 6 week test cycle and all the pct later, I still have bad acne on face like medium red dots all over forehead and both cheeks, have red dot type small pimples on traps and mid back and my tricep area.

I waited for the PCT to pass since in the first cycle it was fixed that way but this time, it's been like this even after 2 months of doing PCT.

Although it doesn't seem to worsen, but the small red dot type pimples are super persistent and even if they don't increase in numbers, having them on traps and tricep area is annoying me.

Can y'all please suggest something for this? I have been moderately acne prone and as I said had no problem post first cycle but this time around it's different.

Please help. Thank you. And sorry for my bad english.

[BG]

Acne is mainly from unstable hormone levels. Drinking plenty of water and less sugar helps me. How do you feel? Do you feel like you fully recovered after pct? Sex drive normal?

As far as remedies, I use rubbing alcohol after showering, I put some alcohol on a cotton pad and just press it down on the affected area, if I do my whole face it gets red and sensitive. Then I use a topical, I respond well to Clindamycin phosphate topical solution 1%. I only use a topical at night. I wash my face (no soap) just warm water in the morning and when I get home from work, later I shower and do the routine I just spoke about.

This is a trial and error type of thing, pay attention to what works and what doesnt. Plus be patient, it take time for things to start working. Less is more.

[SampsonandDelilah]

Witch hazel is a great astringent too if the alcohol is too drying

[bobspix]

Acne is mainly from unstable hormone levels. Drinking plenty of water and less sugar helps me. How do you feel? Do you feel like you fully recovered after pct? Sex drive normal?

As far as remedies, I use rubbing alcohol after showering, I put some alcohol on a cotton pad and just press it down on the affected area, if I do my whole face it gets red and sensitive. Then I use a topical, I respond well to Clindamycin phosphate topical solution 1%. I only use a topical at night. I wash my face (no soap) just warm water in the morning and when I get home from work, later I shower and do the routine I just spoke about.

This is a trial and error type of thing, pay attention to what works and what doesnt. Plus be patient, it take time for things to start working. Less is more.

A face wash that somewhat helped me is benzoyl peroxide 5%. So for face I was just using that. Agreed that my water intake has not been optimal and I guess I don't consume much sugar..

It's so sickening for me to wake up everyday, go for a shower and notice a pimple or two on the traps and triceps. It's so bothering to me maybe because I was accustomed to seeing acne on my face.

So I should drink plenty water, stay clean, avoid sugar, try rubbing alcohol. I will do that and see how it goes. Thanks BG

[bobspix]

Witch hazel is a great astringent too if the alcohol is too drying

Sure would try this too

[Beetlegeuse]

The best thing I've done for my skin is exfoliating every time I bathe. Acne is caused by dead skin cells clogging the follicles and keeping my skin exfoliated reduces the build-up of dead skin cells. I'm on TRT with the topical gel and I bought a cheap nylon shower brush (back-scrubber variety) at Wally World in the hope that the topical would be more effective on freshly-exfoliated skin. I also seemed to be in a cycle of bad acne coming and going on my chest, shoulders and back. But even when the acne was dormant, my entire chest always was covered with fine bumps like every follicle on my skin was puckered a bit. The bumps were so small they weren't visible but they were creepy to the touch. Like goose bumps but too small to be seen.

About the time I started exfoliating I also started boosting my prescribed gel with small doses of UGL Test-C administered sub-Q. When I started the Test-C my acne got as bad as it's been since I was about 14, but since I've been exfoliating regularly (about three years or so), the acne is only mild and barely gets a toe-hold. I regularly use plain-old Dial (brand) anti-bacterial soap, but at the first sign of a flare-up I alternate the Dial with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide-based acne cleanser. Works a charm for me.

[bobspix]

The best thing I've done for my skin is exfoliating every time I bathe. Acne is caused by dead skin cells clogging the follicles and keeping my skin exfoliated reduces the build-up of dead skin cells. I'm on TRT with the topical gel and I bought a cheap nylon shower brush (back-scrubber variety) at Wally World in the hope that the topical would be more effective on freshly-exfoliated skin. I also seemed to be in a cycle of bad acne coming and going on my chest, shoulders and back. But even when the acne was dormant, my entire chest always was covered with fine bumps like every follicle on my skin was puckered a bit. The bumps were so small they weren't visible but they were creepy to the touch. Like goose bumps but too small to be seen.

About the time I started exfoliating I also started boosting my prescribed gel with small doses of UGL Test-C administered sub-Q. When I started the Test-C my acne got as bad as it's been since I was about 14, but since I've been exfoliating regularly (about three years or so), the acne is only mild and barely gets a toe-hold. I regularly use plain-old Dial (brand) anti-bacterial soap, but at the first sign of a flare-up I alternate the Dial with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide-based acne cleanser. Works a charm for me.

Sound promising. Can you please give tips on exfoliating? Like idk how to.

[Beetlegeuse]

Just scrub your skin with the brush. With bar soap you either can lather up your skin and then scrub or run the brush over the bar to collect some soap on it before scrubbing. The acne scubs work best for me if I apply them to the brush first. I'm OCD so I always count, 20 strokes (back and forth = 1) over each patch of skin. If you had a stiffer brush that many strokes might be too rough on the skin to do every day so you might need to adjust for the brush, but I've been doing it like that for around three years and had only good come from it.

In essence you do the same thing every time you scrub vigorously with a wash cloth. The brush just serves to focus the scrubbing over a tiny area.

[magic32]

Although both are hormonally-related, as you cited gear-induced acne looks different from typical acne. That's because it is different. The latter (hormonal fluctuating pustule pimples) can be effectively combatted by drying out the fluid-filled center with various drying compounds, i.e., alcohol, astringent, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, etc., but the former (which has no fluid center) responds best when treated like DHT on the scalp.

One of the best remedies for AAS resulting acne, shacne (shoulders), and bacne (back) is with the medicated shampoo ingredient Ketoconazole. It can purchased in shampoos (usually under the brand name Nizoral) everywhere OTC at 1% strength, and at 2% via prescription. It's mechanism of function more effectively attacks the problem of severe (already dry) gear-related acne.

It's best administered at the start of your shower, or even just prior to it, so that the medication can sit on the surface and work for a few minutes (like hair conditioner) then rinsed away.

Best to you.

[Rainshaker]

Dr Bronners soap with tea tree and then a layer of colloidal silver has completely knocked out mine both on and off cycle.