Acne treatments.
Same here, no acne anywhere except I used to get it horribly on my back: Backne (LOL). You bust your butt and diet to get big and shredded yet have zits all over your back (sucks whether for the beach or for the contest stage). It took accutane for me. Derms usually escalate treatments until they find some combo that works b/f they resort to accutane.
If you do need use Accutane, I really recommend a period when your accutane treatment crosses over a period of no AS use and/or post cycle flare up, this way you will can really shrink those subacious glands down to nothing and get the long-term/permanent effects accutane treatment can get you. Think of it as an investment like some pros do with gyno surgery.
1) Anti-bacterial soap.
2) Benzyl Peroxide ("BP") 10% (max. OTC strength), use generic brands to save $, don't have to go with the name brands like Clearasil, etc. Also, BP acts as a bleach on clothing so don't use good (colored) clothes, sheets, pillow cases, etc. Stick to whites or disposable clothes. In summertime you can sweat the BP onto good clothes, couches, etc.
3) Salicylic Acid ("SA") (get max OTC concentration, up to 3 aplications per day if you can). Generic brands available, get the big generic bottle instead of buying individual Stridex pads.
4) B-5 (can take 8+ grams per/day to work on some people, didn't do jack for me but worth a shot)
1-4 in combination are your OTC treatments. Wash face with warm water to open pores before applying SA, apply SA liberally letting it sit on skin (not scrub it on) b/c you want the SA to stay on skin/soak into pores so the acid can literally break up oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, blackheads, etc. which block pores. BP should be rubbed gently onto affected areas as opposed to dabbed on, BP is limited by how BP makes contact with affected area so gently rub it in there to maximize exposure with afected areas.
5) Antibiotic oral (minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, etc. are the more fat soluable anti-biotics, best suited for anti-acne) 200mgs up to 600mgs/day b/f diminishing returns. AM/PM dosing with meal. Just b/c an antibiotic is strong (e.g. Cipro) does't mean its the best for acne.
6) Topical anti-biotic (usually minocycline) combo with benzyl peroxide prescription strength topical (forgot product brand name). (Again, watch the good clothes).
5 & 6 usually prescribed together. Also use 1,3 & 4 from the OTC list.
7) Topical vitamin A derivative products, e.g. Retin-A
7 used when 5 topical doesn't cut it. Derms usually still combo w/ oral antibiotics.
8) Accutane. (.5-2mgs per kg/bodyweight 4-10months) Most studies say that minimum range of 1mg per kg/bodyweight for 6-7 months are the treatments which give most instances of significant long-term shrinking of the subacious glands which can last months to up to 2 years after treatment. However, some people cannot take the sides of high doses to get the long lasting/more permanenent effect. Accutane can take up to 3 months to begin clearing (that is unusually long, normally 1-2 months to see results). Accutane can make the acne worse before it gets better which is why you should stick to it as long as you can. Dosage seems to be more condusive to long-term cure than length, e.g. better to go 1mg p/kg for 6 months than .5mg p/kg for 10 months.
Anti-biotics and accutane affect liver. Take liver protectants, no oral AS or boozing.
Products above can dry out your skin, use a "non-comedogenic" moisturizer so the moisturerizer can help your skin without adding to the acne problem. E.g., if moisturizer has oils in it, you get more zits cuz you just put pore clogging oil onto your face. Make sure it says non-comedogenic for anything you're putting on skin.
Myth to scub the skin clean, never scrub the skin, you'll only irritate it and cause more problems, always gently pat dry.
Myth: type of foods you eat cause acne (oily foods), so you can stay on that atkins diet if you want. When you do eat, wash hands and area around mouth, cuz the oils from food willl get on your face and on your hands (and then you touch your skin).
Wash skin initially with warm water to open/clean out pores, then use cold water at end to close pores/keep out dirt germs.
Oral vitmains for skin, especially extra vitamin E. DON'T take vitamin A if taking Accutane b/c accutane is vitamin a derivative and you can get vitamin A posiing from to mch vitamin A in body. When your multi-vitamin has vitamin a, get one with "beta-carotene" (natural form) derived vitamin A cuz that type doesn't add/convert to vitamin A (e.g. vitamin a acetate form - synthetic form) which builds up to form potential vitamin a poisoning.
Limit harshest direct sunlight (e.g. summertime: 11am-2pm) and use sunblock/sunglasses when on anti-biotics/accutane b/c they make your skin and eyes photo-sensative.
Accutane can hinder night vision a little, so be extra careful driving at night.
Pimples (not whiteheads) are inflammations, ice prior to applying BP helps.
Potentials?: Oatmeal soap, q-tip egg white onto big pimples, witchhazel to clean skin, garlic supplement (natural anti-inflammitory/anti-biotic).
Sorry for the poor spelling/grammer and rambling its late. Note, I can take 1.5+ grams of test a week (and also deal with post cycle, when I would get bad flare ups) and manage it to zero zits with OTC stuff now. If you need to do accutane do it at as high a dose as you can for as long as you can, if you are on AS or even continue an accutane treatment off cycle/even if you just totally cleared up. Use the opportunity to really blast those subacious glands.