A question out to the females: do you have pimples on your back?

I have one on my butt. I dont know why, i am just ignoring it.

It could be acne still

I’ve never even heard of something like this. So it’s something under the skin, but when she picks it off it stays gone and leaves a scar? Seriously, I’ve never heard of this… and it’s never happened to me. Maybe she should ask a dermatologist.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic I don’t think that’s this. See this part from the question: ”They’re not really like pimples (because they’re not porous, or filled with liquid)…”

It may have something to do with hormones. Mine have cleared up substantially as I have gotten older.
Have her clean the sheets more often (maybe two times a week) drink plenty of water, and if it still doesn’t clear up, get a toner with salicylic acid in it (You will probably have to apply it to her back.) Good luck!

I have no idea what they are, but I never had any sort of pimples on my back. That is why, when my father insisted I take a modeling class, I was always the one who had to model the backless outfits.

Your friend’s bumps might be “comedones.” These are small, flesh colored, white, or dark bumps that give skin a rough texture. The bumps are found at the opening of a sebaceous follicle (pore). They are typically called “black heads” or “white heads.”

Or it could be Keratosis pilaris, a genetic follicular condition that occurs when the human body produces excess keratin.

Of course, going to see a dermatologist would be the best way to find out what this is.

Allergic reaction to the deodorized, perfumed detergents she uses to wash her cloths. A doctor pointed that out to me when he saw the pimples on my skin, they stopped after I stopped using perfumed detergents.
Or it could be those nasty scabies.

@Judi hahaha that’s the thing that bugs her, though. she’s like, an uber clean freak, and yet she still has ‘em. And she drinks alot of water. She doesn’t drink pop, she doesn’t drink alcohol, she doesn’t drink any sweetened sugary drinks neither…however…she does drink alot of coffee. Do you think this could this be a contributing factor?

@Garebo hmmm..yeah, maybe you’re right about the detergent and perfume. She does spray alot of perfume. Maybe ill ask her to lay it off for a while n see if it improves

Are you sure the pimple like object can’t be popped?

OH! and i just thought of something else. She actually has a dog (which frequently sleeps with her at night) and a cat (that occasionally will cuddle up with her when she sleeps). Do you think animal dander or something could be a contributing factor?

@Iarumas no, they’re not pimples. theyre not porous, or filled with liquid of any sort. they’re like…these hard little yellow-ish speckles, that are slightly oily if you crush them inbetween your fingers =S

she could be breaking out on her back even if it doesnt look like acne….I know alot of girls that get them on their backs but me personaly, have not ever had anything on my back!

Cystic Acne

@lostinlove it’s really weird though, ‘cause at the beginning, it was around the middle of her back. now we’ve both noticed that it’s progressively moving downwards, and she’s also starting to get pimples (actual pimples) on her chest. she’s 20 right now, so isn’t she already supposed to be past the whole puberty/pimple phase?

@buster i don’t think it’s cystic acne. As I mentioned before, there’s no pus when you pick at them =S They’re just these hardened granules of…something. Although as the website suggests, she does show symptoms of scarring after she picks them out…

It’s called “backne” for the record… :P

I would recommend she see her doctor about this one. It could be her hormones are in flux, thyroid issues, diet, allergies (topical or otherwise) or any number of things. You said there was no puss but there is fluid so some kind of swelling is going on. Better to skip the internet on this one and have her get checked out.

Funny, I was going to ask if they were yellow/green and what happens if you squish them. I’ve had this for years and while I haven’t gone to a dermatologist, I do go to five or six other kinds of specialists as well as a general practitioner on a regular basis. At least three of them have noticed it, asked how long I’ve had it, looked a little closer, and made no further comment. I wouldn’t worry about it too much if I were her (or you), unless she finds it bothersome. And in that case, I’d probably ask a general practitioner for advice first, to see if they think a specialist is really needed.

no.

There are different types of acne, not just the traditional blemish known as the “pimple.” That’s probably what @The_Compassionate_Heretic meant.

My husband has red bumps on his arms, and he has been to a dermatologist about it. It’s some hereditary thing and he can take a steroidal cream to take care of it, but it doesn’t bother him (or me) so he just doesn’t. But they’re small bumps- almost rash-like.

I have been breaking out on my back the last couple months, but I’m pretty sure that’s pregnancy. My face is mostly clear, but my poor back is all icky.

If she’s prone to dry skin and doesn’t drink enough water or moisturize her body then what could be a small pimple for other people will sit around on her because the pore isn’t pushing it out, it will harden. Could be that

People can get pimples at any age, even at 20.

I started getting painful pimples on my back in June, and I knew something was off. It’s not often I get those unpopable, painful red things on my back….I knew it had to do with hormones, as that’s usually the simplest cause.
And, turns out I was pregnant. My first symptom was breaking out. Every body is different.
So, any chance she’s pregnant? Pregnant women tend to break out all over, back and chest…nothing is spared. lol

it could be the dreaded bacne, or maybe a hormone imbalane, id go to my gp to clear it up.

The doctor is going to tell you not to squeeze them out though. If there is scaring I would try to take his advice. Then again, when I have something in me like that that I can remove I just can’t stand it. I remove them anyway.

also BioOil is amazing for scars if applied asap and regularly get her to try it as its very cheap and it got rid of my stretch marks and my injection scars! My friend also used it on her face as she had awful acne and it cleaned her scars up too!

I say it’s 9 out of 10 chances just pimples.

Sounds like blocked pores in her back or more commonly known as blackheads. Despite the name, the don’t necessarily have to be black though.

My ex boyfriend used to have exactly the same problem as you’ve described. I would agree and suggest she drinks lots of water as it flushes the system but also perhaps trying to use a loofa when she showers. Tell her not to scrub (too harsh for the skin) but gently buff the skin in circular motions. Often this problem can either be hereditary or hormonal. My ex used to get it on his back but had no other acne on his face. It’s caused by the pores getting blocked up by the natural oil your back produces. Because the oil in the pores eventually “dries up” and hardens, which is wh you get that hard, yellowish lump which comes out when squeezed or scratched. On that note tell your gf NOT TO SCRATCH! They can scar and damage the skin! She shouldn’t use and soapy or foaming, or harsh products on her back- this will just dry out the skin and encourage the production of more oil to replenish what the skin has lost. Similarly, tell her to avoide putting any heavy lotions on her back either eg. sunscreen or moisturizer. This will just add more oil to the skin and block it up even more. I would recommend using a gentle cream cleanser free of soaps or fragrances eg. Cetaphil’s cleansing wash. Although it mat not feel like it is “cleaning the skin” because it’s not foaming or soapy, it’s the best way to go and has a neutral ph. level for the body. Give this a go, or if she’s really concerned about it, she should see a dermatologist. Sounds natural though. Although she’s through puberty, the female body doesn’t always settle unroll the late 20’s or even early 30’s for some women! Sorry for the essay but trying to give you as much info as possible to help diagnose and treat. Good luck! :-)

I definately agree with Courtybean, blackheads are fine to squeeze but be patient and gentle and ease out the stuff, then after all of the pores have been cleared apply an antibacterial spot solution with cotton wool i would recommend clearisil blackhead cleanser in the purple bottle. No moisturizer or oily products avoid baths perhaps because the dirt can often lead to bad skin, also a top tip, when leaaving conditioner in the hair make sure it is not down your back or on your forehead as conditioner contributes to bad skin! There is also the contraceptive pill Dianette to reduce testosterone levels and therefore spots.

I never had pimples on my back except for maybe one here or there very rarely, but I’ve had bumps like that on my arms. Tell her to try using Neutrogena body scrub, I bet it will help.

@ubersiren – Your husband’s problem sounds exactly like the Keratosis pilaris I referenced in my comment above.