Hi members, I am hoping to hear some personal experiences about combating skin problems when using testosterone. I have always been naturally muscular and had never considered testosterone for body building. I have some serious back problems/injuries and have been on pain management (opioid therapy) for nearly a year. Part way into it the pain was under control but my appetite, sex drive, and energy levels plummeted. Come to find out after a blood test my testosterone was at 160 (I understand normal range to be 500-1200) so I was prescribed testosterone injections.
At first it was .75 CC every 10 days which was not helping. I was told by my Doc to bump it up ‘until I felt better. At the highest levels, 1.75 CC per week I was feeling great, and my muscle mass was noticeably better even with moderate exercise and diet. I overheated quickly while at yoga classes, which was irritating but tolerable. What was NOT tolerable was the horrible, cystic acne I was getting on my cheeks, shoulders, upper and lower back. I reduced my testosterone to .75 CC every week (after a later test revealed my levels were double the normal range at over 1200) and have some benefit, barely, but skin problems persist!!!!!
What I have done: I shower or take a bath at least 2X per day, I have been on and off antibiotics both oral and topical, I use anti-acne soaps and creams, wear looser clothing whenever possible, and put bandaids soaked with tea tree oil on them on infected areas overnight. I try and drink more water but admittedly probably could drink more. I exfoliate with epsom salts 1-2x per week. My diet is fairly good, I don’t eat more than I need. People tell me I look great, but I am very self-conscious about the acne and it can be very painful. I have always been prone to this kind of thing but never at this level.
Is there anything else I can do that I am not doing? I am barely at therapeutic levels with the testosterone as it is. What do other members do here to manage skin problems? (Oh BYW I was a sometimes smoker and QUIT altogether 1.5 months ago!!!)
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