How do I manage chest acne after stopping medications?

Question

Hello doctor,

I used to have acne on both my back and my chest; however, now I only have acne remaining on my chest. I have absolutely no idea how to get rid of it. I was taking homeopathic medication continuously for a while, and during that time, my condition cleared up completely. I have since stopped taking the medication, and now I have chest acne.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I am really sorry for what you were going through, and I can completely understand your situation. Your current symptoms are consistent with truncal acne, which commonly affects the chest and back and can recur after stopping treatment. The improvement you noticed earlier while on homeopathic medication was likely coincidental or due to the natural fluctuation of acne, as this condition often has a waxing and waning course.

For management:

Use Benzoyl peroxide body wash (2.5%) and apply it to the chest area two to three times per week. Leave it on the skin for three to four minutes before rinsing, as this helps reduce acne-causing bacteria and inflammation.
Apply Clindamycin 1% lotion twice daily to the affected areas for about three to four weeks to control active lesions.

Make sure to wear loose, breathable clothing, avoid excessive sweating or occlusion, and shower soon after workouts, as these factors can aggravate chest acne.

If lesions are persistent, itchy, or appear very similar in size (monomorphic), consider the possibility of malassezia (fungal) folliculitis, which may require an antifungal wash such as Ketoconazole instead of antibiotics.

In order to confirm that, feel free to share a picture of the affected area from the back while maintaining privacy, so that I can guide you better on whether it is bacterial or fungal. Meanwhile, use the prescribed medication. Also, continue using Benzoyl peroxide wash, as it will help in unclogging the pores and managing body acne.

Avoid picking or scrubbing the area harshly, as this can worsen inflammation and lead to pigmentation.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.