Like facial acne, back acne (known as bacne) occurs when bacteria and dead skin cells mix with built up oil from the pore’s sebaceous glands. Due to the back’s thickness of skin and many oil glands, bacne prone sufferers often have reoccurring flare-ups.
"To reduce acne flares on your back, dermatologists recommend wearing sweat-wicking (or loose-fitting cotton) clothes when working out.”"
(American Academy of Dermatology)
Switch to Shower Gel
Soaps and body wash tend to have a high pH, which can strip skin of lipid and proteins, leading to dryness and irritation for about 20 – 40 minutes after bathing. This may cause back acne to feel more painful especially when most bacne sufferers use this time to apply medicated treatments to their back.
Either wait about 40 minutes to apply products or consider using Shower Gel instead. Shower gels are a lower pH closer to the body’s pH level of 5. It comes in a much thicker consistency, which work better for acne prone skin and oily skin.
Exfoliate
Use a body scrub or exfoliate that is strong enough to unblock pores but gentle enough not to further exacerbate aggravated skin, such as Acne Dote from Alba Botanica. The best exfoliates will have smaller granules and will dissolve quickly. May also use a washcloth or body brush with shower gel to gently scrub and exfoliate affected areas. If your back feels too sensitive to scrub during a flare up, use a medicated shower gel with active ingredients of 2% salicylic acid.
Use Medicated Treatments
On a regular basis, apply a Salicylic Acid gel directly to the bacne legions. Salicylic Acid will exfoliate deeply into the skin allowing the pores to unplug from excess oil and dead skin cells.
Try a monthly mild-medium chemical peel using a natural or store bought alpha hydroxyl (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) agent. [types of chemical peels]
Use a cleansing combination of salicylic acid together with benzoyl peroxide.
For more severe back acne, consult a dermatologist for oral medications and antibiotics such as Accutane, Tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin.
Eliminate Bacne Causing Food
80% of your skin’s cells are only reached through your bloodstream. Therefore, what you put into your body has a significant effect on the condition of your skin. Try doing a total body cleanse and stay away from foods such as fried foods and foods filled with sugar to name a few.
Drink Water
Hydration is critical for a healthy acne free body. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day will help the body flush acne causing toxins out of your system. A body clean of toxins on the inside will be acne free on the outside.
TIP: Use pH strips to make sure that your brand of water is alkaline or at least pH neutral before drinking. Water that is pH negative is considered acidic and may cause other issues.
Allergies to Products
Many products may cause or irritate back acne. Try changing the following products to brands that are labeled for sensitive skin, hypoallergenic, fragrance free or non-comedogenic. Also stay away from ingredients like isopropyl myristate and coconut oil, which are also known as bacne causing culprits.
- detergent
- fabric softener
- spray deodorant
- body spray cologne/perfume
- soap / shower gel
- hair products: hair spray, oil, gel, etc
Recommended:Consider using a detergent that does not cause back acne because it does not have an irritating fragrance or acne causing chemicals which cleans well without being comodogenic.
Other Causes of Bacne to Avoid
- Backpacks - Book bags can push your shirt to rub against your back causing bacteria and oil to spread.
- Workout Sweat - Don’t let sweat sit on your skin for long periods of time allowing pores to clog up. Shower right after you exercise.
- Unclean Bedding - Wash your bed sheets at least once a week.
- Rough Towel Drying - Gently pat your back dry when you have a breakout. Never towel rub the water off your back after a shower. Rubbing can cause legions to flare up and spread.
- Shower Head - Filtered Shower Heads can eliminate chemicals such as chlorine and bacteria. It also results in softer, cleaner skin and hair.
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[5] Sparavigna A, Tenconi B, De Ponti I, La Penna L. An innovative approach to the topical treatment of acne. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 Apr 9;8:179-85. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S82859. eCollection 2015. Review. PubMed PMID: 25914552; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4399783.
[6] Baek JH, Ahn SM, Choi KM, Jung MK, Shin MK, Koh JS. Analysis of comedone, sebum and porphyrin on the face and body for comedogenicity assay. Skin Res Technol. 2015 Jun 10. doi: 10.1111/srt.12244. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26094640.
[7] Ramesh G, Manjunatha BS, Nagarajappa R and Sharma A. Allergic Contact Dermatitis of Face Following use of Household Detergent Soap. Austin J Clin Case Rep. 2015;2(1): 1064.
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