It happens when sweat, oil, dead skin cells and bacteria get trapped in your skin's pores. Backpacks, sweaty shirts or sports equipment can create friction on your back and worsen back acne. You can treat back acne by keeping your skin clean and using acne-fighting skin creams.
Benzoyl peroxide (emollient foam wash): This helps to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Used daily, it can help control back acne and reduce flares.
Back acne, or backne, occurs when dead skin cells and oil from the sebaceous glands block pores, causing inflammation. It can be harder to see and reach acne on the back in order to treat it. However, a range of effective OTC and prescription treatments are available, and using an applicator can help.
“Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and healthy bacteria,” Grous explains, “which plays a major role in keeping moisture in—and the bad stuff out. And because dryness triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, hot water can worsen preexisting acne or cause a breakout.”
Like all acne, back acne is caused by overactive sebaceous glands. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum, which helps keep skin healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to bacteria growth and dead skin cells, which can block pores in the skin.
Back acne is more severe than acne in other areas. Usually, it has bigger inflammatory regions because there's just more surface area on your back than in other places. And because back skin is so thick, breakouts go deep under the surface. That means treatment for back acne demands a different approach.
Back acne is a common form of acne because of the high number of oil glands on the back. There are multiple causes of back acne. Pores can become clogged with sebum and dead skill cells, leading to acne. Hormonal changes can also cause back acne.
Two types of acne can develop on the shoulders: acne vulgaris and acne mechanica. The first typically develops in response to hormonal changes, while the second typically develops in response to heat, pressure, friction, or a combination of these.
Treating back acne at home comes down to two star ingredients: benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. “[Those ingredients] will help desquamate those top dead layers, keeping the pores open so the oils can get out onto the skin and not be collected under the skin,” said Boh.
Although it might feel good to pop a pimple, dermatologists advise against it. Popping a pimple can cause infection and scarring, and it may make the pimple more inflamed and noticeable. It also delays the natural healing process. Due to this, it is usually best to leave pimples alone.
Potential scarring. Cystic acne is a serious skin condition. This type of acne can be more likely than other forms of acne to leave scars. Delaying treatment, picking at the skin, or popping pimples can all increase the risk of scarring.
Although dermatological experts advise that stress does not cause acne, some research identifies a link, and medical professionals agree that stress can worsen symptoms. Stress can affect a person's hormonal balance and the skin's immune function. This may increase the chance of oily skin and clogged pores.
A gentle sugar or salt scrub made with olive oil can be a great homemade exfoliator, but beyond that it's worth the investment of purchasing skin care products with ingredients that are proven to be effective on bacne.
Regularly washing your pillow case as well as sleeping on your back can help eliminate acne caused during sleep. Specifically sleeping on your back can keep pores open and refreshed, preventing angry breakouts and flare-ups the next day.
Cold water tightens your pores and reduces the overproduction of sebum and excretion of acne-causing bacteria. In contrast, hot water opens them and does the complete opposite, leaving your skin more prone to irritation.
1. Wash Your Back. We hope this goes without saying, but showering and washing your back on the reg can really help to reduce bacne breakouts. Wash your back with soap and water every day and use a back loofah to reach any parts of your back that you can't reach on your own.
One of the telltale signs of a hormonal breakout is its location on the face. If you're noticing inflamed cystic acne on your chin or jawline area—anywhere around your lower face, really—you can bet your bottom dollar that it's probably hormonal acne.
What does hormonal acne look like? Whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, cysts and nodules are all common hormonal acne symptoms. Normally, whiteheads and blackheads do not cause pain, inflammation or swelling, but if they do, then they are most likely forming into cysts and pustules.
One of the main causes of body acne is the change and fluctuation in hormone levels. Androgens, such as testosterone, cause an increase in sebum production, cell activity, and bacteria resulting in acne.
Poor hygiene and excessive sweating may cause your skin to act out as well. While sweating can clear up your pores, the presence of dirt, oil, and dead cells blocking them may cause you to develop body acne. Cleaning your skin regularly is the best way to remedy this.
Green tea is one of the most popular morning drinks and one of the most effective beverages for fighting acne. Green tea is a potent natural antioxidant source that helps alleviate skin redness, fight inflammation, and prevent the harmful effects of UV radiation.