acne on back

Back Acne Treatment

Back acne also known as bacne, usually appears on the back, upper arms and the buttocks in the form of pimples, blackheads, and pustules. Back acne is also prone to becoming cystic and developing scars.

What Causes Back Acne?
Back acne is basically caused by hormonal imbalance. Tight-fitting clothing does not allow the perspiration to evaporate easily. This trapped sweat, mixed with the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands, causes the skin pores on the back to clog and cause acne.

Back Acne Prevention

To prevent acne, therefore, take a shower after you return from your active exercise. If you can’t reach your back, you can purchase a back scrubber. It will help you fight acne by removing dead skin and unclogging blocked pores. Soap will remove excess oils that build up on your lower back, shoulder blades, and in the center of your back.

Back Acne Treatment

Topical antibiotic drug of medication for body acne such as erythromycin, clindamycin, stiemycin or tetracycline can kill the bacteria that block folicles on your skin.

Use an over-the-counter product containing benzoyl peroxide (some experts have found this to work better than salicylic acid), try to find one with 2.5% bp, apply it to your back about ten minutes after washing, once or twice a day. It helps break up the plug of dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil that clogs the pore and forms an acne blemish. Allow time for the product to dry up before you wear your clothes. Start with the lowest concentration, and work your way up. It is also good to follow up with an alpha-hydroxy acid body moisturizer which will exfoliate the skin without drying it out.

If you choose to go to the doctor, he may get you an oral prescription of antibiotics like tetracycline or minocycline. The skin on back is tougher than face skin, therefore more aggressive products are used to treat back acne. These include products like Retin A cream or a ten-percent benzoyl peroxide wash.

In even more severe cases, the drug Accutane is used in higher doses than those prescribed in facial acne. Accutane is a vitamin A derivative administered in pill form for 15-20 weeks. It has been shown to dramatically and often permanently shrink oil glands, leading to reduction and at times remission of acne symptoms. But please be aware also of its side effects possibility, like: ached joints, dry eyes, dry lips, and faster thinned hair.

Some other useful tips for you:

- Stay clear of backpacks and over the shoulder bags and the gear we use can aggravate acne of the body.

- Wear loose fitting clothes made of cotton and apply powder to keep the skin dry. Change your clothes at least twice a day.

- Antiperspirants can also be used on the back but not when a tough physical exertion is going on. This is important because sweating is important to cool down the body.

- Keep your hygiene during work and sleep to keep the bacteria away.

(* Summary about Back Acne by Brain and Peter Hutch)