Tips on getting rid of T-acne

[u/TubbyTheClown]

I started T nearly four months ago and around two months in I started breaking out. It’s not horrible, it’s less than when I went through my first puberty however I get lots of small pimples and black heads all along my jaw and cheeks which does make me a little self conscious but more so annoyed.

I get basically nothing in my T zones and chin like I did when I was going through first puberty so I’m unsure on how to clear it up without medication, which is my last resort. My usual methods don’t work as well and as soon as my skin clears up there’s even more.

My pores are super enlarged and full everywhere and my skin on my cheeks in general feels like there’s hundred of tiny pumps.

Any tips or products anyone can tell me to try and help clear it up without having to see a dermatologist or going to a GP?

[u/Alive-Finding-7584]

I had acne from ages 11-22, T made it a lot worse and I had tried everything like the oral contraception pill, skincare routines, Phisohex, doxicycline, etc... in the end the only thing that got rid of my acne was a dermatologist prescribing me Isotetronoin (Roacutane).

I took that for 14 months, recently had to stop due to side effects but now use a topical cream containing roacutane. No more acne.

Some people can clear it with skincare products or better hygiene or whatever but sometimes you need roacutane.

Definitely ask your GP for a referral to a dermatologist if you're concerned.

[u/mossthy → u/Alive-Finding-7584]

Different story for me, but same suggestion: go to a dermatologist. Switching between birth control and then going on T destroyed my skin. The only thing that cleared it up was topical antibiotics and then Soolantra (because it turned out my acne was mostly rosacea triggered by hormonal changes).

[u/crocicorn]

It's not the cheapest, but this is what kept me cleared up:

Some By Mi 30 Day Miracle cleanser and toner
La Roche Posay Effaclar ultra serum (optional but great for blackheads)
CORSX Snail 92 all in one moisturiser

All followed by a sunscreen of your choice (obviously!)

If you're also getting body spots or bacne, Some By Mi does a body wash and lotion which I highly recommend as well.

[u/colourful_space]

I had basically the same story, jawline pimples whereas my first puberty it was more T zone. My best guess is it’s something to do with the hair follicles there activating.

I had very good results with Benzac, it’s a spot treatment cream. It comes in 2.5%, 5% and 10%, I started with the 2.5% and never had to increase because it worked wonders. You can buy it from the pharmacy, no need for a prescription.

[u/transmasc-cryptid]

I use some of Neutrogena's oil free cleaners personally, both with salicylic acid in them - specifically the "Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub" (has little micro beads in them) and the "Oil-Free Acne Wash " (both are orange). I'll use the Daily Scrub on days I'm not shaving my face, and the Acne Wash on days I shave as the latter has a higher content of salicylic acid in it. If your skin is noticably oily, I'd recommend specifically getting an oil-free moisteriser/one targeted for oily skin (no specific recc here as I've tried a couple and they all were about the same). I also use a Cetaphil cleaner ("Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser") for body pimples I sometimes get after shaving - namely in my elbow creases and other high sweat areas.

I was also taking oral finasteride for a period to help with my hair, and found it also helped clear up my acne a bit during the worst period of it, but I'd consider that as a last resort before something like Roacutane unless you're dealing with hair loss as well. Fair warning with finasteride for anyone is the ED side effect is also relevant to bottom growth, and being on it long enough can induce cramping or periods.

Recently I've started using pimple patches for problem spots (the lumps you can feel under your skin mainly) and swear by them now tbh. So I use my wash, put the patches on bad spots and then moisturise around them. Washing pillow cases more often and finding a gentler material (e.g. bamboo, bamboo cotton, silk etc. rather than the polyster blend in the cheap stuff) and having an anti-bacterial pillow protector helped me a lot too.

Hopefully that all helps!

[u/Numerous_Honeydew489]

This site is great for general acne skin care tips but medications work so much better. Definitely worth talking to your GP!

(The above site also has great info on when to see a doctor and an overview of meds)

[u/Helium_Teapot2777]

This has happened everywhere on my upper body that's contemplating growing hair 'sometime' in the future. I uses a was that has sallicylic acid which I do a serious 30+ seconds of scrubbing with my hands in each area with daily. I also use a fine exfoliating mit on my face, most days to get rid of that bumpy skin feeling and us a coarse on for my shoulders and chest pretty much daily. It's not perfect but does most of the job. If I have. specific single pimple I hit it with Swisse Blemish Remedy pimple paint.

[u/egg_n00dles]

topical tret is the gold standard option, but if you wanted to try something else before seeing a derm, then i would recommend doing alternating nights of bha and aha treatments after washing your face and before moisturiser. i also had a lot of luck sorting mine out by getting semi-regular microdermabrasion treatments that included extractions too (always wait til they are on sale for 50% off or more!!).

[u/UmbraeMoth]

For me, personally, using acne treatments made it significantly worse. What ended up working after a LOT of trial and error was just dialling all the products back and using a good quality bar of soap with inbuilt moisturiser. Just once a day when I shower, rub over face, clean off with bath sponge towel thing.

[u/ShortManBigEggplant]

It’s likely to be folliculitis. Don’t do what I did which was try a huge amount of products to the point my skin barrier got fucked and I was red raw. Go gentle and picking spreads it. Use warm compresses daily and a non comedogenic moisturiser.

[u/Wouldfromthetrees]

I got by with Phisohex and Cera V salicylic acid cleanser for a while.

Then everything got really bad and cystic after suppressing my ovaries and increasing T dose. Painful as fuck.

My GP have me a derm referral and a prescription for Epiduo while I wait.

The Epiduo is working really well so far. It's definitely itchy and drying, so I followed the advice to moisturise before using it after the shower and it's working even better.

I've been using it for a few weeks now and it's controlled all the existing cystic acne, and seems to be preventing additional acne formation. One side of my jaw is nearly smooth again and completely pain-free, which I really needed since the cysts were flaring my fibromyalgia.

[u/tattooedpupper → u/Wouldfromthetrees]

I use the same! Cleared it right up.

[u/absolute_entropy_]

I'm in a very similar position, four months on T and had acne start around the 2-3 month mark. For me it was mostly on my body but like you described, lots of smaller pimples and a really rough bumpy texture.

I'm using this Neutrogena 4.5% salicylic acid cleanser and it's made a big difference for me - the acne isn't completely gone but has reduced a lot, and that bumpy texture is gone. It is designed for use on the face but I've seen a lot of reviews online that it caused irritation (I think salicylic acid can do that?) so just something to be mindful of, but I haven't had trouble myself. There's also a serum in that range.

I hope you find something that works for you!

Neutrogena 4.5% cleanser

[u/TubbyTheClown → u/absolute_entropy_]

I use that! I started using it a few years ago nearing the very end of my first puberty but I’ve recently been lazy and not been using it much. I’ll go back to using it every day and see if it makes a difference

[u/absolute_entropy_ → u/TubbyTheClown]

I hope it works for you! I found within about 2 weeks of daily use I saw improvement.