This might sound a bit gross but for years ive suffered with back acne. Its mainly the top part of my back, from shoulder to shoulder.

Sometimes it gets really bad that its itchy and i scratch it which i know makes it worse but i cant help myself.

Ive tried different creams and lotions but none seem to make a difference.

At the moment ive resorted to akways keeping covered so no strappy tops, which is harder in summer! But sometimes if i wear white or light tops i get the occasional bit of blood if a spot has burst which is not a good look!

I tried using zineryt which my dr prescribed years ago for my face, and although it works on my face theres no improvement at all on my back.

Can anyone recommend anything that could help?

There used to be a product from Australian bodycare called Ketsugo. It was in a spray/gel form.

Australian bodycare has it's own website and it is based on a tea tree formulation.

My other half used it a few years ago because he used to get quite a few spots on his back. The spray version was good because backs are difficult to reach.

If you've suffered with it for years, I'd say go back to the GP and remind them you've been prescribed things like Zineryt in the past and they haven't worked.

Try and get them to refer you to a dermatologist. You'll be on a waiting list for a while I'd expect (I was when I was referred in 2008) and see what they advise.

I was prescribed a course of Roaccutane because of my persistent acne. I'm so glad that I was now. Persistent back acne concentrated across the top half of the back was one of my problem areas. Mostly clear everywhere else.

Try a peroxide cream called "Pan oxyl" from the chemist.

It has different strengths and works straight to the spots and drys them up.

Always moisturize after.

I had this problem in my late teens, a relative mentioned that she had also suffered and recommended having a salt bath (just regular table salt) once a week (and scrubbing the salt into my back as well as putting a load in the water) and only using non bio washing powder/liquid, plus fabric conditoner for sensitive skin/baby friendly stuff. Within a month they'd mostly cleared up, and 14/15 years later my back is clear and smooth. I still salt scrub a couple of times a year, and only ever use non bio/sensitive skin fabric conditioner.
Might be worth trying it, it's cheap and it does work (my husband had the same thing so I have him the salt treatment and his back is now clear too).
It might not work, but you've got nothing to lose by trying.

I've suffered from acne on the back before, but only a mild form. What worked for me is exfoliating my back with a body brush. Obviously, don't scrub too hard if yours is a worse case. I once read that 'back-ne' can be caused by a build up of dead skin cells, and if you think about it, your back is the only place that doesn't get exfoliated properly!

I suffer with acne on my chest, upper arms and back. I have Benzoyl Peroxide from my GP which I use on my face but for some reason it brought the skin on my chest out in tight red, dry skin. Plus I can't reach my back so I don't use it on these areas.

I read a tip somewhere about using shampoo for oily/greasy hair on a loofah and washing the affected skin with it. So I started to use it and it works for me. I use a Superdrug own-brand shampoo (green apple and lime, I think), which is 99p or two for £1.49 (which I think is a permanent offer). I use a 30 or 40p sponge from Wilkinsons, which has an exfoliating side, and I am pretty much spot-free. If it weren't so abrasive I'd use it on my face too.

A couple of oxytetracycline pills are working for me. Don't waste money on endless creams, especially for a hard to reach place like the back. Doctor said I might have to take them for life, fine by me, no big red spots.

I bought some Hibiscrub, was using antibacterial hand gel in the shower. Staph Aureus bacteria can get into cuts and open spots and cause infection, this stuff keeps working for six hours afterwards.

Muslin cloths...I swear by them (thank you Liz Earle). Abrasive enough to remove dead skin etc but gentle enough not to irritate or scratch the skin.

Im intrigued by the pills, i might mention it next time im at the doctors. So long as they dont interfere with other medication i wouldnt mind.

Does the doctor have to assess how bad your skin is and do the tablets cost much? Someone i know used to have really severe acne and was given tablets and cream which worked. I dont know if id be able to get it since the acne is only really bad on my back.

Takes a little while but one in the morning one at night and mine are going now, my face too. Can get them on the NHS, even if you had to buy them yourself from an online pharmacy they are incredibly cheap. Lost count of how much money I have spent on Clearasil and the like over the years, just gets washed down the sink - literally.

Have you considered food allergies as being the main culprit? I had bad acne on my chest and back when I was younger. As soon as I gave up all dairy products, my skin cleared up.

People often state there being no connection between diet and acne, but I'm not at all convinced.

It depends of what type of acne you have. My midle acne i cured with zineryt but it is better to take a doctor consultation.

I use Australian Tea Tree Oil bought on Amazon. Pour a little into a glass and get your partner/someone to dip cottonwool bud into solution and apply to each spot. Try to use a clean bud each time - you don't want to spread the bacteria.

On that note...a lot of people swear by Head and Shoulders Classic Clean shampoo:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=he...OcA5LeaLm-gpAB

Could it be an allergy I had this and then it went when I changed my hair shampoo

Ibuprofen gel is good for calming down the big red ones - very cheap at Wilko, chemist or similar. Otherwise, in addition to the meds others have suggested, I've found the contraceptive pill and finasteride (at different times!) very effective. Obviously it's a very personal decision whether to go on these medications though. Good advice above about gently exfoliating and using tea tree oil too.

The only thing about Roaccutane is a bit of caution, my brothers had horrendous moodswings on them.

This may sound weird, but try a different shampoo?