Hi!
Sorry to hear about your back acne problems (bacne).
Here are some suggestions:
- Given your stated age (16), it might be hormone related.
- You could try Vitamin A in gel cap form from fish liver oils (not the beta carotine form of Vitamin A). I suggest following instructions on the bottle. The brand I recommend is made by Solgar and comes in 10,000 IU softgels.
- No flush niacin with inositol hexacontinate (500 mg) made by Solgar is also a proven treatment.
- Vitamin E
- chelated Zinc (take with meal).
- Try to eliminate as much as possible all processed foods and foods containing glutens.
Note: I have no affiliation whatsoever with Solgar or any other product manufacturer mentioned.
As far as topicals:
- tea tree oil is a natural cleanser and astringent. Some sources suggest beneficial medical properties when applied topically, including antiviral antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. It also has beneficial cosmetic properties.
- witch hazel (might cost less than tea tree oil)
- acne soaps: Neutrogena, Grandpas Wonder pine tar soap (vegetable based) or Cetaphil antibacterial soap.
- benzoyl peroxide
- salicylic acid (found in Stridex and Clearasil products)
- diluted apple cider vinegar.
Note: Start on low doses or applications, depending on skin sensitivity and reaction, increase dose/application frequency. If skin drying occurs, use a hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic moisturizer (jojoba oil, Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion Fragrance Free, or Lac-hydrin Five).
Note 2: Start with one treatment option. If no results, add a second. I strongly advise against using all of this at once.
Note 3: Some minor skin irritation, sensitivity, or redness is common at the beginning of topical acne treatment. If it persists for prolonged period of time, worsens, or becomes too painful, STOP USING IT!
Note 4: If after a few weeks there is no noticeable improvement, see a qualified dermatologist who can prescribe stronger treatments and antibiotics if necessary. The antibiotics would decrease acne causing bacteria, reduce the irritating chemicals produced by white blood cells, and reduce the concentration of free fatty acids in the sebum, also reducing the inflammatory response. Your dermatologist will decide which common antibiotic to prescribe.
You should be able to obtain these over-the-counter (OTC) from any good health store or drug store, if not, try drugstore.com.
Please let me know if any additional information is needed.
Best.
