I have had acne to my back and shoulders as long as I can remember with it getting worse or better over the years.
I have been to Dermatologist before with minimal effectiveness.
I was getting back facials 2x a month, googles an effective treatment. Using 10% benzo wash 2x, differin gel at night, 10% benzo cream in the morning on any active red breakouts. It helped control things about 75%.
However I have hyperpigmentation (dark spots) all over my back and shoulders from past breakouts
I found a dermatologist that takes my issues seriously. Starting a new treatment. With prescription grade retinol, Clindamycin foam, for treatment, and chemical peels to my back. The peels and the retinol are suppose to help with the hyperpigmentation. I'm trying this step first before laser treatment. Due to the fact that I realize the pain and cost.
Updated on 11 Jun 2017:
For the first 3 days the color of my skin was really red in the area the applied the peel. It's starting peel. It's nice because I can actually see where the hyperpigmentation is/was and it peeling off. The skin under it looks completely normal or 75-80% lighters the darkest areas. The middle of my back has not started to peel.
There is no pain but rather just really itchy. I just have to not scratch at it, and pat the skin. I'm very surprised that I'm seeing results. They said people need like 6 peels some times. I only bought 3. So I'm hoping with that plus the Retin-A (Tretinoin) that will do it.
Here is hoping.
Updated on 16 Jul 2017:
One peel. Haven't gone back for the next and using the Retin A every other day.
*note the price I paid was for a series of 3
Big thing I notice is no new pimples at all with the combination of treatment. I have such oil skin to my back and that is gone.
The marks have gotten better. About 50%, my significant other says he thinks it looks better than I do, but I'm urssing he sees it more than I do being he is theone scrubbing my back and applying the creams. I need to schedule my next peel.
The peeling process is itchy and had to remind myself not to pick and pull at the skin. It just comes off in big pieces. Which was kinda gross. When your laying in bed and have to dust off the skin flakes. Lol
Updated on 16 Jul 2017:
I forgot to mention it isn't just scarring but the active acne as well. To my face and back. My face has 100% cleared up.
I didn't not have a peel to my face but with the medicine and the Retin A. 95% of the dark marks have gone, plus I had this weird hyper pigmentation in the middle of my face. It had started happening a few months back. It was only on the center not on the side of my cheeks. That I have seen about a 50% difference it is there but so much lighter. I think the biggest differences I can go outside and not have to you where make up. And the fact that I can wear make up. I was having such a problem with my skin being so oily that wearing make up was a struggle. I had oil blotting sheets are use make up setting spray, and at least every hour I have to re-powder my face because of the oil. Even though it's not 100% gone it's giving me more of a normal life I'm not constantly worried about my pimple or my dark marks on my face. I do not apply the Retin-A to my face daily. I do it every other day, because it causes redness and peeling.
I can see the only bad side about this. Is that I have to stay out of the sun completely, and wear sunscreen. Living in Texas and missing out on all the summer fun can be a pain. However I'm undergoing laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal so either way I can't get in the sun. I guess this year is my year dedicated to self-improvement