Torso skin care, blocked pores edition
March 2, 2019 8:02 AM Subscribe
I've got pretty good skin, except for my torso, which has lots and lots of blocked pores. I've tried using a body scrubber but it's not really helping.
I've got good skin except for these blocked pores on my torso, generally my belly and back. My skin doesn't overlap. The pores aren't infected or inflamed, they're just blocked, and it's kind of unsexy to have these little brownish bumps all over.
I can dig out the blockages with a pore tool (or an aggressive fingernail), but that's very tedious and a bit bloody, and it's hard to see most of them because they're on my sides and back. I don't really want to ask my partner to do it because it would probably take, like, days. (And my partner hasn't really shown signs of being keen on that kind of primate grooming behaviour, so it would just be a chore for them.)
I've been using a body scrubber with gentle soap for a month on the area and while it seems to take off any protruding sebum, it still leaves the pores blocked. I'm a little worried about upgrading the abrasiveness e.g. to a loofah.
I'll be mentioning it to my doctor in a couple weeks during the course of a general health interview, but it's not life-threatening, it's just ugly, so I don't expect much resolution there.
In the meantime, what should I be trying?
I've got good skin except for these blocked pores on my torso, generally my belly and back. My skin doesn't overlap. The pores aren't infected or inflamed, they're just blocked, and it's kind of unsexy to have these little brownish bumps all over.
I can dig out the blockages with a pore tool (or an aggressive fingernail), but that's very tedious and a bit bloody, and it's hard to see most of them because they're on my sides and back. I don't really want to ask my partner to do it because it would probably take, like, days. (And my partner hasn't really shown signs of being keen on that kind of primate grooming behaviour, so it would just be a chore for them.)
I've been using a body scrubber with gentle soap for a month on the area and while it seems to take off any protruding sebum, it still leaves the pores blocked. I'm a little worried about upgrading the abrasiveness e.g. to a loofah.
I'll be mentioning it to my doctor in a couple weeks during the course of a general health interview, but it's not life-threatening, it's just ugly, so I don't expect much resolution there.
In the meantime, what should I be trying?
You want chemical exfoliation not physical. AHA or BHA bodywashes are a good way togo. Cera ve do a nice Salicylic one that will help but there are a tonne out there you may have to try a few to find the one you like best, they do take a little while to work as the effects are cumulative so don't expect overnight results. After showering moisturize well with a body lotion, you can get them with AHA & BHA's too.
posted by wwax at 8:45 AM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by wwax at 8:45 AM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Do you need more breathable torso wear? (Like, a new shirt or something?)
posted by PistachioRoux at 9:43 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by PistachioRoux at 9:43 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Salicylic acid! I like regular old Stridex pads for this. Don’t use a physical scrubber and avoid doing any extractions for a while. I usually get results in a couple days, but it might take a week or two.
Moisturizing probably isn’t necessary unless your skin is dry; torso skin tends to be pretty low-maintenance and resilient.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:49 AM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Moisturizing probably isn’t necessary unless your skin is dry; torso skin tends to be pretty low-maintenance and resilient.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:49 AM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
What about your laundry stuff? Do you use detergent with perfumes or dyes? Do you use fabric softener? I had a mysterious, persistent skin rash that turned out to be caused by (supposedly hypoallergenic) fabric softener. Just putting that thought in there, since your torso is in contact with your clothes all day.
posted by tomboko at 9:54 AM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by tomboko at 9:54 AM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Do you use your bodywash *after* shampoo and conditioner? My back looked a lot better when I realised that runoff from my hair was part of the problem.
I also had good luck using a salicylic acid type wash meant for the face.
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:27 PM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
I also had good luck using a salicylic acid type wash meant for the face.
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:27 PM on March 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
It sounds like you have keratosis pilaris, in which case, welcome to my life. It's not harmful or contagious, but it only responds to constant treatment. I use the drugstore brand of Gold Bond Rough & Bumpy Skin, applying very generously, especially in the winter. A slightly better brand that's more expensive is KP Duty; I have only used the lotion, never the scrubs. Your doctor may recommend a prescription-strength lotion such as Lac-Hydrin. I think a weaker formulation is available OTC.
Mild UV radiation, in the form of reasonable sun exposure, will help, but if you, like me, are shy and have nowhere to expose yourself in private, it's hard to get in the pants area. I don't know if there are places that might give you lamp treatments for it, but it would make sense. (As a teenager, I literally gave myself a deep sunburn to try to get rid of the bumps on my arms. I ended up going to urgent care. The bumps won.)
posted by Countess Elena at 6:42 AM on March 4, 2019
Mild UV radiation, in the form of reasonable sun exposure, will help, but if you, like me, are shy and have nowhere to expose yourself in private, it's hard to get in the pants area. I don't know if there are places that might give you lamp treatments for it, but it would make sense. (As a teenager, I literally gave myself a deep sunburn to try to get rid of the bumps on my arms. I ended up going to urgent care. The bumps won.)
posted by Countess Elena at 6:42 AM on March 4, 2019
Response by poster: I bought some 2% salicylic body wash and am trying it now. I'll let you know how it works in a month or two. Thanks for all the suggestions, and the consensus of what to try first.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:32 AM on March 12, 2019
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:32 AM on March 12, 2019
Response by poster: Two months of 2% body wash and most of the clogs are gone, or reduced. Maybe it’s the acid, maybe it’s the rubbing with a puff. Either way, I call it success. Thanks!
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:00 PM on May 5, 2019
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:00 PM on May 5, 2019
Not sure if you're still checking this, but get yourself some Korean bath mitts! You use them with just water, no soap or body wash or anything. If you can take a bath first that helps, but even just using them at the end of your shower works. The skin will just roll off of you. It's so disgusting and satisfying. I get so much dead skin on my torso and these smooth it all away.
posted by apricot at 7:26 AM on June 19, 2019
posted by apricot at 7:26 AM on June 19, 2019
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:07 AM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]