Neck Acne

On the back of your neck, however, your skin is thicker, less sensitive, and produces more sebum (oil) than the skin on the front and on your face.  Acne on the back of your neck is similar to acne that may occur on other parts of your body, like your chest and back.  The benefit to this is you can use more stringent treatment regimens, but the downside is that the acne here can be more severe and tougher to treat as well.  In addition to typical pimples, acne on the back of your neck can present in cysts and nodules, which can be painful.²

Irritating your skin can exacerbate an acne breakout.  Physical irritation from rubbing, itching, friction, and pressure is known as acne mechanica, and can trigger the production of inflammatory signaling molecules in affected skin.³  Due to its location and proximity to clothing, the skin on your neck can be particularly prone to irritation.  If you have been experiencing breakouts on or around your collar line, you may want to take measures to reduce irritation from your clothing.  Avoid wearing collared shirts if possible, or wear shirts made of soft cotton.  Take notice of other items which may be causing irritation to your neck, such as jewelry, lanyards, and other straps, and avoid them as much as possible.

If you routinely shave facial hair from under your chin and your upper neck, this may cause further complications to your skin’s condition.  A particular type of acne called acne keloidalis nuchae, which derives from inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis), is often experienced in skin that is shaved frequently.  Irritation from the physical act of shaving, or from blocked pores and ingrown hairs, can cause the hair follicles to become invaded by immune cells. This forms dome-shaped papules and pustules and can frequently lead to uneven skin and scarring.⁴  Exfoliating products and skin peels may be helpful for opening up ingrown hairs, while avoiding dull razor blades and using quality shaving cream can help prevent them from occurring in the first place.⁵

If you routinely shave facial hair from under your chin and your upper neck, this may cause further complications to your skin’s condition. A particular type of acne called acnekeloidalis nuchae, which derives from inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis), is often experienced inskin that is shaved frequently. Irritation from the physical act of shaving, or from blocked pores and ingrown hairs, can cause the hair follicles to become invaded by immune cells. This forms dome-shaped papules and pustules and can frequently lead to uneven skin and scarring. 4 Exfoliating products and skin peels may be helpful for opening up ingrownhairs, while avoiding dull razor blades and using quality shaving cream can help prevent them from occurring in the first place. 5.

As discussed earlier, the therapies used for neck acne are similar to other types of acne treatment, depending on where the breakout is.  Frontal neck skin should be treated the same as facial skin due to its sensitive nature.  Skin on the back of the neck, on the other hand, is treated in a similar way to back and chest acne.  Routine cleansing of your neck and behind your ears is important for keeping excess oil from building up and clogging pores.  For mild to moderate breakouts, standard acne creams containing 2.5% benzoyl peroxide or 10% glycolic acid can be useful for unclogging pores and keeping Propionibacterium acnes infections at bay.  Side effects from these are typically mild and may include temporary skin discomfort and redness.^1,2