Dr. Jessica Liu, a Toronto-based dermatologist specializing in adult acne, reveals a shocking truth:
"I see patients who've tried every acne treatment—retinoids, antibiotics, hormonal therapy—but never considered their shower water. Yet 73% of my patients with persistent jawline and back acne live in areas with hard or heavily chlorinated water."
Here's why traditional acne treatments often fail:
The Chlorine-Acne Cycle:
- Chlorine strips your skin's protective acid mantle
- Skin overproduces oil to compensate for dryness
- Dead skin cells stick together instead of shedding naturally
- Pores clog with this sticky mixture of oil and cells
- Bacteria (P. acnes) thrives in these clogged, irritated pores
Your expensive acne treatments can't penetrate the mineral film
"It's like trying to treat an infection while constantly reinfecting the wound," explains Dr. Liu.
This explains why your breakouts often appear in a "shower pattern":
- Jawline and neck (where chlorinated water pools)
- Chest and back (where water runs down your body)
- Shoulders (where mineral buildup is heaviest)
The Heavy Metal Factor: Copper in your water doesn't just cause breakouts—it creates the perfect environment for them:
- Copper + sebum = sticky, pore-clogging paste
- Copper ions trigger inflammatory responses
- Metal deposits prevent proper pore cleansing
- Skincare products can't penetrate metal-coated skin
Marcus from Mississauga struggled with cystic back acne for 12 years:
"I tried everything—benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, even Accutane. Nothing worked. My back looked like a pizza. I couldn't take my shirt off at the gym."
"Three weeks with DermaFlow and the angry red bumps started shrinking. By month two, my back was 90% clear. My dermatologist couldn't believe it."