What Causes Body Acne
The first step to treating body acne is to figure out the reason you are breaking out,” says , a dermatologist in New York City. These reasons could be hormonal, lifestyle, or just genetics. Of these contributors, your lifestyle is the only one you can really control, so it’s best to start there.
First, scope out your workout habits. When you dont shower right after working out or sweating, the sweat can cause bacteria to build up on your skin, leading to breakouts, Peredo says. You should make sure to wear cotton athleticwear, which wont trap in sweat, shower after working out, and apply a topical cream to treat the acne.
Your hair routine can also contributeand in more ways than you might think. The most obvious culprit here are your hair products. If you are using heavier leave-in products like conditioner, pomades, and oils, you may notice that you are breaking out along your hairline, upper back, and neck area, says Peredo. These tend to be thicker and more occlusive, and thus more likely to plug up a pore. But not washing your hair isn’t exactly a solution, either. Washing your hair less can cause the scalp to produce more oil, which can also clog pores and cause breakouts, she says.
Back Acne In Women Vs Men
For women and teenage girls, back acne that appears a few days before menstruation can result from increasing levels of androgen, the hormone that stimulates the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Fluctuations in this hormone is often the cause of acne breakouts in teenagers of either sex.
How To Treat Back Acne
You dont need a medical degree to tackle bacne, because the treatment for regular acne, folliculitis, and acne mechanica are pretty much the same. The same ingredients that help acne on your face, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, can help on body acne, too. Keeping the area clean and exfoliated is a given as well.
As with most things, prevention is far more effective than treatment, Finney says. Always make sure to shower as quickly as possible after working out and change into dry clothes to prevent sweat from sticking around on your skin . Keep using skincare products, like body washes and exfoliators, even after your bacne has cleared up to keep it from coming back. Acne-focused skincare can work wonders on mild to moderate cases of bacne, but if you have severe outbreaks or notice that its not going away despite treatment, see a dermatologist. There might be underlying issues like hormones or diet at play. But for now, start with these 17 best back acne treatments to help get rid of annoying bacne and prevent it in the future.
Dexterity issues be damned, a spray containing salicylic acid can help you treat hard-to-reach areas like your mid-back or between your shoulder blades. This version is a leave-on treatment, which means you spray it on after your shower and let it go to work without washing it off.
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Otc Treatment For Back Acne That Works
OTC stands for over-the-counter. Its medical jargon that means any treatment that you can buy without a prescription.
Studies show that the following OTC acne products can help clear mild back acne when used along with acne-friendly skin care:
Benzoyl peroxide : This helps to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Used daily, it can help control back acne and reduce flares.
Benzoyl peroxide needs time to work
Studies show that benzoyl peroxide works best if left on the back for two to five minutes.
Letting the benzoyl peroxide sit on your skin for a few minutes has two advantages.
This approach helps the medicine penetrate your skin. Skin is thicker on the back than on the face.
Rinsing it off prevents bleached clothes, sheets, and towels. Benzoyl peroxide is known to bleach fabrics.
Youll find OTC benzoyl peroxide foaming washes in different strengths. Using a product that contains 5.3% benzoyl peroxide is less likely to cause irritated skin, dryness, or peeling.
If you feel that you need stronger medicine, you can start with a foaming wash that contains 10% benzoyl peroxide. Thats the strongest concentration of benzoyl peroxide that you can buy without a prescription.
Retinoid : Using this along with benzoyl peroxide can improve your results. This OTC retinoid can help unclog pores, which will help the benzoyl peroxide work better.
Dermatologists recommend applying adapalene after you shower or before going to bed. Again, you want to apply it daily.
What Causes Acne On Your Chest And Back
Body acne develops the same way as face acne, but there are some factors that lead to the development of acne on your chest and back.
Genetics, hormones and diet are likely some of the bigger triggers for acne, Dr. Thompson said. Other contributors to truncal acne can include use of androgens, such as testosterone or dihydrotestosterone , among male or transgender patients or androgenic anabolic steroids in body builders.
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They’ll Last Longer With Home Touch
According to Villagomez, a guy with persistent back acne might want to get a back facial monthly. But there’s stuff you can do at home to extend the results.
Clean up after workouts, and look for non-greasy products. If you really want to care for your back, use some of the other facial products from your medicine cabinet.
“At night, a clay mask can help draw out blemishes,” says Villagomez. “The same clay mask you’d use on your face.”
What Causes Back Acne Anyway
In order to treat a skin condition, it’s helpful to learn the source of it. Bacne is similar to facial acne in the way overactive oil glands, hormones, genetics, stress and diet can cause breakouts. “Your skin on your back, however, is obviously harder to reach and therefore probably doesn’t receive as much attention and care as the rest of your body,” says New York City dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. “Some people are inherently prone to back breakouts, but it can also be exacerbated by amping up your workouts as you’re gearing up for the big day,” she says. Even though a gym session is great for keeping your body and mind healthy, the increase of sweat and oil on your back creates a pore-clogged New York City environment that acne loves. “Stress also plays a major role,” adds dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman. Late nights figuring out your wedding budget can release cortisol, which is a stress hormone in your body that causes the glands under your skin to produce more oil. There are plenty of other sneaky bacne triggers, too: “Brides-to-be often want to look their best, and experiment with new hair masks, self-tanners and other products that contain oils, which can clog the pores on your back,” says Dr. Jaliman. Bacne is a bit of a double-edged sword: “though the skin on your back is physically harder to manage than your face, it can handle more aggressive treatment since it’s less sensitive and more resilient,” says Dr. Jaliman.
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How To Get Rid Of Back Acne: Overnight Treatments Natural Remedies And More
May 18, 2021
- Back acne is a common skin condition resulting from a buildup of dead skin cells, oil and bacteria on the skin
- Effective treatments include over the counter medication, lifestyle changes and natural remedies
- More severe back acne can be treated with prescription medication
Acne develops when sebum, the oil naturally produced by the skin, becomes trapped inside a pore along with dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria. One of the most common places for acne to appear is on the upper back, as the skin there has a relatively high number of oil glands.
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Wear Clothing That Breathes
“Any skin irritation can exacerbate outbreaks. Its important to stay away from tight clothing to minimize friction, especially when perspiring. Certain materials, like those that absorb sweat from the skin, will also reduce irritation. Lighter colors and cotton are ideal, especially during workouts,” says Day.
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Use Other Products With Caution
It is possible to use other back-applicator products as well, but it can take some extra effort and extra care. The following illustration shows some commonly used products that may cause more physical irritation because they must be applied using repetitive back-and-forth motions. If you’re using a product like these, make sure to remain ultra-gentle and try not to go over any area too many times. Think to yourself as you use them, “I am using a featherlight touchbarely touching my skin with this.”
Back Acne Is Caused By Skin Picking
Picking and popping back acne is very tempting. However, this may cause infection and potential scarring. The better alternative is to apply a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide gels to the affected areas. These gels kill acne-causing bacteria safely and effectively. You will find many effective topical treatment creams with these specific ingredients.
Please note that some creams containing benzoyl peroxide may cause your skin to dry out. In contrast, products containing salicylic acid will cool the raging areas without giving you chalky or dry skin. Regardless, both types of products are effective in getting rid of back acne. Choose whichever solution works best for you.
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Waxing Is Part Of The Problem
Take a step back: why are these back breakouts happening to you? It could be because of the things you do to get rid of your back hair.
“A lot of guys shave or wax their backs,” says Villagomez, “and a lot of the acne is just ingrown hairs.”
If you’re in this group, the same spa that waxes your back may also be the place to extract it. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
How To Prevent Back Acne
According to Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology,”Because the back has a high density of sweat and oil glands, and is generally covered with clothing, its prone to heat-trapping, occlusion, and pressure,” Nazarian explains. All of these factors increase the chances of back acne formation and scarring.
- Avoid backpacks: Rubbing and friction can cause a type of acne on the back called acne mechanica, and it can inflame acne making scars more likely.
- Use an acne-medicated body wash: Washing with an acne-specific body cleanser will help to decrease acne pimples and inflammation quickly. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid that break up blocked, clogged pores and decrease back acne inflammation.
- Wear breathable clothing: To avoid trapping sweat and heat, wear fabrics such as cotton rather than polyblend fabrics.
- Dont pick: Even though some of our back acne pimples may be within our reach, picking only increases injury to the skin and makes it even more likely scars will form.
- Dont sunbathe: Although it may be tempting to camouflage acne pimples with a tan, this will increase redness and the pigment that acne leaves behind, leaving those scars around longer and preventing them from fading.
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Best Products For Back Acne
If you have chronic back acne that doesnt respond to natural remedies, your next step is to purchase over-the-counter products.
Acne body washes formulated with active ingredients are safe to use every day. If desired, you can apply spot treatments to individual blemishes. Anti-acne body sprays, which are designed to be left on the skin all day, are also available for easy application on hard-to-reach areas like the back.
All these products work by killing acne-causing bacteria or reducing sebum production to dry out existing blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.
Five Ways To Get Rid Of Bacne
While getting rid of your back acne can be difficult, its far from impossible.
By picking up the right workout clothes and investing in a new skin care system, you can easily banish bacne and prevent new pimples from forming.
1- Wear Sweat-Wicking Fabrics
If your bacne is caused by acne mechanica, switching to loose-fitting clothes with sweat-wicking fabrics is essential to getting rid of pimples on your back.
Moisture-wicking clothes allow sweat to evaporate more easily from the skin to prevent pores from becoming clogged with sweat and dirt.
2- Shower and Change Immediately After a Workout
Even if youre wearing moisture-wicking fabrics, its important that you wash and change clothes quickly after exercising.
Getting out of sweaty, tight-fighting clothes and washing off with a body scrub in the shower will go a long way in preventing bacne.
3- Exfoliate Your Backside Regularly
If you use a facial scrub regularly, then you likely already know of the amazing benefits of exfoliation.
Giving your backside some much-needed attention by using a body scrub in the shower will help remove dead skin cells from your back and dirt that can clog pores.
Use your body scrub only a couple of times a week to avoid irritating your skin.
Some sunscreens are notorious for clogging pores and causing acne breakouts.
That being said, the risk of skin cancer shouldnt be ignored.
5- Apply a Salicylic Acid-based Acne Cream
Salicylic Acid is the king among acne-fighting ingredients.
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Back Acne Is Caused By Eating The Wrong Foods
Unhealthy foods can affect our bodies in different ways. For acne-prone skin, some diets can be triggers. Avoid foods with a glycemic index, which means that they cause your blood sugar to shoot up quickly. As a result, they could cause or aggravate existing back acne. The common culprits include white rice, white pasta, white bread, white potatoes, and dairy products.
However, extremely restrictive food plans are not good for your overall wellness. Instead of eliminating these foods together, prepare well-balanced diets that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Learn to balance your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals so that they work for your body, heart, and skin.
Can I Blame My Bacne On Exercise
Contrary to what you may have learned in your middle-school locker room, working out has less to do with your bacne than you think.
Exercise itself is great for you and does not cause acne, Iris Rubin, dermatologist and founder of SEEN, explains. However, she notes, sweat can mix with bacteria on the skin and dead skin cells, which clogs pores. Its that recipe that causes body acne, not the sweat itself.
Every dermatologist told the Cut that its crucial to work out in clean clothes, and to at least change your clothes as quickly as possible after your workout, if a full-on shower isnt possible. . Rubin also recommends using a clean towel to wipe sweat away as you work out, and if youre working out indoors, wipe down equipment before and after using it, if you can.
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Shower Immediately After Working Out
Theres a reason why your gym has showers! You might think youre good to drive home and wash off later, but that extra 20 minutes is long enough to let acne-causing bacteria start working its magic .
To get rid of bacne, strip off sweaty gym gear and shower as soon as you finish your workout. If you dont have time to shower at the gym, changing out of your sweaty clothes and wiping your back with an antibacterial wipe can also help clear up bacne.
Avoid Tight Or Irritating Clothing
Tight clothing, especially in synthetic nonbreathable fabrics such as polyester, can prevent sweat from evaporating from your skin. Opt for loose-fitting clothing in breathable fabrics for both your exercise wear and regular clothing to reduce back acne. Ensure that tight-fitting garments such as sports bras are made of breathable fabrics.
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What Causes Back Chest & Shoulder Acne
Eminence OrganicsLead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar tells us that the primary causes of body and facial acne are alike: Body acne is caused by the same factors as facial acne – bacteria, overactive oil glands and excess dead skin cells. As with facial acne, oil and dead skin cells block a pore, mix with acne-causing bacteria and trigger an immune response that presents as one of the five types of acne. There are a few additional factors that contribute to breakouts on your back, chest and shoulders. These include:
How To Get Rid Of Back Acne At Home
In this article:
When speaking of acne, people often picture red, inflamed pimples on the face. However, acne can also develop on the back, as this body part has a high number of oil glands and sweat glands that can easily get clogged.
In fact, back acne is a very common skin condition affecting a high number of people in the United States.
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Back Acne Causes And How To Get Rid Of Them
Back acne, also known as bacne, is caused by a buildup of oils and dead skin around the pores. The clogged pores attract bacteria, which leads to an inflammatory response of the skin, causing bumps and pustules. Some common back acne causes may include sweat, stress, genetics, hormonal changes, or the side effects of taking certain medications.
The main areas affected by back acne are the upper and lower back, as well as the shoulders. This type of acne is more common among males and usually sets in during puberty. However, back acne can also affect women and older adults at any age. Since this acne looks unsightly, many people rely on microneedling or skin rejuvenation procedures as a form of treatment.
Do you know what causes back acne? To learn more about this condition, here are seven common back acne causes and how to get rid of them:
