Dealing with Back Acne

What is Back Acne?

Back acne comes in all sizes and forms of acne, ranging from whiteheads to the more severe forms of acne including cystic acne. “Bacne” as it is referred to in slang terms, can consist of pimples, pustules and blackheads as well. I remember very clearly having back acne on reaching puberty - you couldn't put a pin between those wretched pimples, and I remember too, the endless nights of mum slapping acne cream all over my back - Lovely!

Back acne can be found on any part of the body and does not necessarily have to be on a person’s back. It can be very severe with large lesions and painful cysts and unfortunately certain people just seem to be prone to it. It can also be caused by other things such as tight clothing or a heavy backpack. Of course, it's impossible to go around with nothing making contact with your back and therefore it's easier to treat back acne than to try and prevent it because most people will suffer from back acne at some stage during their life.  The skin on the back is much thicker and therefore allows for stronger topical treatments, such as 10% Benzoyl peroxide. This strength of Benzoyl peroxide is not suitable for other, thinner skin because it wouldn't be able to sustain itself under harsh treatment. You can get all the same types of acne, blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts, on your back just as you can on any other part of your body.

However, there are some differences in back acne and acne located elsewhere on the body. Back acne is not caused by genetics as other acnes can be. Some severe cases of back acne may be genetically passed on but most likely it is just the individual’s body type or personal genetic make up.

Causes of Back Acne

Back acne affects people ranging from age ten to age forty or even older. Like all of the other forms of acne, there is no one thing that causes back acne. Back acne tends to start happening when the oil glands start functioning more rapidly around puberty. The hormone group androgens -found in both women and men-  get overactive which in turn causes the oil glands to produce extra oil. The oil glands are located just underneath the skin and are constantly producing and secreting oil through the skins pores. When too much oil is produced the pores and hair follicles become clogged. The clogs obstruct the way that dead cells escape the skin, which in turn clogs up the hair follicle. This then attracts bacterium, which in turn causes the acne to be formed.

Back Acne Treatment

Taking some over the counter medicines may treat breakouts of mild back acne. Should you be unlucky enough to have a severe form of back acne it's best to seek professional help. Most of the simpler forms of acne might disappear with daily washing and cleansing routines but as cystic acne goes deep into the skin and can cause permanent scarring, it should be given more serious medical attention than simple pustules or blackheads on the back. Always speak to your healthcare provider about treatment before starting a back acne treatment program and never attempt to treat severe back acne on your own or with an over the counter product.