July 5, 2021

Back Acne: A Complete Guide

Back acne is a problem that can greatly affect the confidence levels and restrict the variety of clothes one can wear, apart from this, it can also be quite sore, so let us talk about it today!

First things first, it is completely normal to feel self-conscious when you have back acne. The urge to get rid of it completely is common as well. Now let us dive a bit deep into it.

What Causes Back Acne?

Simply put, the acne that exists on your back, exists due to the same reason why it exists elsewhere! There are no special causes for the back acne to exist. So let us discuss the common reasons for acne to occur first. Excess sebum production is one of the primary causes along with a build-up of dead skin cells. What happens is that the sebum and dead skin cells mix and eventually get trapped in our pores. Since the skin on our backs is extremely thick, the risk of having blocked pores is exceptionally higher.

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, bacteria can also be a cause. When there is an accumulation of oil then the dead skin cells in our pores create a bacteria friendly environment that is called Propionibacterium acne or P.acne.  When you exercise during heat, the bacteria that causes acne thrives in sweaty and moist conditions.

How to Treat Back Acne?

The causes explained above might make you feel that controlling back acne is something that is beyond your control, but that is not the case. There are various options and treatments available that explicitly help in fighting back acne.

Some Lifestyle Changes That Can Be Done to Avoid Back Acne

Shower Gel

Clean the skin on your back thoroughly in the shower every single day. Body washes that have ingredients like lactic acid, salicylic acid & glycolic acid can prevent the dead skin cells from blocking the pores on your back. Using specialized shower gels containing alpha or beta hydroxy acid can also be part of a treatment regime designed to deal with back acne.

Exfoliate

Use a scrub at least twice a week in the shower. Make sure that you are gentle with it and not rubbing your skin raw as that increases inflammation.

Using Body Creams

Applying a moisturizer to smoother and repair the skin barrier also works great. Make sure to use products that have been explicitly labelled as “non-comedogenic” which basically means that they would not clog your pores.

Always Shower After Workouts

Showering after workouts or any activity where you were sweating excessively is very crucial. Back acne thrives on sweaty skin. In case your job involves a lot of physical work that makes you sweat, just make sure that you shower keeping the other tips in mind, every time you get home from work.

Avoiding Back Acne Scarring

Never pick, squeeze, or scratch the problem spots on your back! This can cause infection and even lead to acne scars on the back. Instead of scratching, apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid gel to your spots instead.

Conclusion

It is good to always try the lifestyle changes first, however, if back acne continues to be a problem for you. Then do not shy away from speaking about it to your dermatologist. In case you would like to know more about back acne & how to deal with it, you may book a consultation with Dr. Jaspreet by calling us at +91-8826141232.