Anytime I sculpt or use an alpha on one side it also gets applied to the back side. and I don't have symmetry turned on...any suggestions as to why this is happening? thanks!

You probably need to go to Brush->backface mask.

Keep in mind that the brushes you use in Zbrush are not circles but actually volumes, so thinner geometry will get it on both sides unless you've got this checked

that fixed it...thanks man!