Although it is not readily seen, back acne might be considered even more of problem for sufferers than acne on other areas of the body.Where it is situated makes it very arkward to treat in the proper fashion because and there are several other factors that come into play that make it more prone to irritation than the face or chest.

The skin on the back is very thick compared to other parts of the body and it has a large pore density making it more susceptible to blockages.

The upper back is also very prone to sweat during exertion or hot weather, and although not a problem itself, sweat can cause a lot of irritation to already sensitive skin cause by the acne.In addition it is usually covered with clothing, which can chafe the affected area, and of course it makes the wearing of a backpack a challenge to avoid irritation. Before getting in to how you may best treat back acne,  let us briefly look at some other factors.

Back acne can affect both men and women, and it usually becomes apparent in a person’s early teens, and it may get worse as they get older, and then it usually recedes by their mid twenties, usually young men are worst affected and often have quite severe outbreaks compared to females.If left untreated back acne can infect other areas of the torso including the arms and lower back, so it is important that action is taken on it to try and prevent this from happening.

Acne on the back may be the same as that found on the face, and as such it has the same types of symptoms, such as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and papules, severe cases may also become cystic, because of the thickness of skin on the back these may cause severe pain, and hopefully you will get your acne under control before it reaches the cystic or nodular stages.

Causes Of Back Acne – And Tips To Help

There are many myths around about the actual causes of acne, and that is what they are, nowadays as more is understood about medicine, it has been determined that the major cause of almost all acne cases is related to hormones in the body, and the  people who suffer the most are those that have much hormonal activity going on within their bodies, this is especially true of growing teenagers and women in pregnancy, their is little evidence to suggest anything else as the primary cause.

Poor diet seems to be one of the most popular myths that abound, and while it may contribute to the condition it is likely not the root cause in itself, however recent research on indigenous peoples indicates that may now be a dietary link, and it looks like earlier theories on the subject are looking increasingly suspect. Clearly one should not leave this to chance, eating a good well-balanced diet has proven positive health benefits, including the health of your skin, whether or not it clears acne is still a matter of conjecture, but why take the chance?

Like other forms of acne because it is related to hormones there is nothing you can do to prevent back acne from occurring, it is just the luck of the draw as whether or not you will be affected by it. You may not be able to prevent it but you may be able to lessen the severity of it if you are eating a healthy diet, previous thinking totally disregarded diet as having anything to do with acne, but continuing research appears to indicate that there may be some form of link but this is not clear at present.

Many problems that occur within the body are manifested in the outward appearance of the skin because it is a very sensitive organ, so it follows that by looking after the inside of the body by supplying it with all the necessary vitamins and minerals it needs there is less likelihood of a skin problem. Apart from anything else the overall long-term benefits of a healthy diet far outweigh any reason for not eating one.

A good cleansing routine is just as important for the back as for the face, it may be a little trickier to carry it out but it will be worth the effort.If you already have acne on your back you will want to avoid any irritation as much as you can, and there are a few points here to pay attention to. Strong soaps are out so too are modern shower gels these can contain a lot of chemicals that will irritate.

Once again look out to for hair products especially conditioners for the same reason.Clothing can also be a problem, especially in hot weather, always go for natural fibers such as cotton or silk, man made fabrics especially nylons and acrylics are out. Loose clothing is best as it will allow air to circulate more freely across the skin.

For females, bra straps are always going to a problem area, and any movement will likely cause chafing, not wearing one at all may be an answer for some, but it is appreciated this is not always feasible, you will just need to try a few until you get one that is comfortable to wear.

Sweating can cause irritation to acne skin, be sure to take a shower as soon as you can after physical activity, do not leave it to dry on your skin if you can avoid it.

When laundering clothes modern detergents, especially heavily scented ones are likely to leave residues that can cause irritation to your acne especially if your clothes become damp with perspiration. You will probably find detergents suitable for sensitive skin at your local store. they may be labelled hypo allergenic or allergy free, these are the best types to use.

Backpacks have become very popular especially among students as a means of carrying around their books etc, if you have a back acne problem, it will probably be advisable not to wear one of these, especially if it is heavy, go for a hold-all or grip instead, agreed they are a little less convenient especially if you cycle, but it really comes down to a question of priorities and doing everything possible to avoid irritation.

One last tip is to avoid taking a shower with very hot water, as this will undoubtedly cause the skin to get irritated, the area may become hot, inflamed an itchy for quite a while, so use warm water only to avoid this problem.
Back Acne Treatment Method

As mentioned treating back acne can be a little more difficult, what medication you use will largely be down to the severity of the condition.

In any event it is probably best to use a mild cleansing wash on the back first to gently remove any dead skin cells and dissolve any excess oil from the surface, preparing the skin first in this way will help the medication you apply to soak in better thus potentially making it more effective.

If you are reasonably supple you should be able to reach the whole of you back with your fingers, just take the time to do it thoroughly and as gently as possible, be careful of your fingernails catching on any spots, when doing one side you may have to use the back of your fingers, it may take a little practice just remember to use a light touch.It would be really helpful if you could call on someone to help you with this.

It is usually best not to use any form of washing aid on you back be it a brush or loofa, with normal skin they are fine but with acne skin they may cause too much irritation.

Once this has been done pat or dab the back dry with a soft towel, never rub or pull the towel from side to side, which is a traditional way of drying it, always be as gentle as you can.

If your acne is fairly mild then a recommended solution is an application of 10% alpha-hydroxy acid that has added Licochalcone, can work quite well, if you see no improvement after a couple of weeks you may need to switch to a Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic acid treatment as well as the AHA solution, as the skin on the back is a lot thicker than the face it can take longer for these products to have an effect.

You may also need to apply moisturizer to your back too especially as BP can dry out the skin.
If your attempts at treating your back acne do not work, then it is time to visit a dermatology clinic, where more powerful medications can be prescribed for you after a professional assessment of your condition.

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