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What Causes Back Acne?

Acne is not limited to your face. In fact, it can develop on several other parts of your body, including your back. Back acne can cause sufferers to become self-conscious and avoid clothing that reveals any part of their back. Although there is no exact cause for any type of acne, when acne develops, it can be treated. Treatments for back acne are not the same as treatments for facial acne. However, both can lessen the severity of acne.

  1. Identification

    • Back acne, also called bacne, is acne that develops on the back as well as other parts of your body such as your chest, shoulders and buttocks. It develops when an oily substance in the body called sebum is overproduced. Sebaceous glands are stimulated by hormones called androgens, which become more productive during puberty.

    Function

    • Individuals become vulnerable to developing back acne when pores become clogged. Pores clog when extra amounts of sebum are produced. Clogged pores block dead skin cells from being released from the body. This attracts bacteria, which inflames skin tissue and results in acne.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Back acne cannot be treated effectively by products used to treat facial acne, since skin is much thicker on the back. Treating back acne with benzyol peroxide is recommended because it attacks the bacteria in your clogged pores. To prevent clogged pores, exfoliate at least once per week, shower soon after activities that cause you to sweat a lot, wear clothes made of natural fibers and change bed sheets regularly.

    Considerations

    • Certain individual characteristics may increase the likelihood of back acne, such as genes or hormones. Therefore, back acne can run in families and develop when hormone levels are elevated. Additionally, sweating, tight-fitting attire and wearing backpacks can irritate back acne because they rub against the skin. Irritation of back acne can make it worse.

    Expert Insight

    • According to the Acne Resource Center, neither stress nor greasy foods seem to have an impact on back acne. Although over-the-counter benzyol peroxide is often effective, oral antibiotics are often needed if back acne is hereditary. Contact a dermatologist if over-the-counter treatments are not effective.

    Warning

    • Back acne may appear as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads or cysts. Cysts are filled with pus, which is released when cysts burst. This causes bleeding, scabbing and usually scarring. Picking at the scabs only worsen the scars that develop.

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