Back acne, commonly known as bacne, is a skin condition that can affect people of all ages and can be caused by a variety of reasons. For some, waiting to see if the bacne will clear on it’s own is sufficient. Others want to find the best bacne treatment as soon as possible.
What is Bacne?
Nutritionist Ayesha from Nutrition By Ayesha says that bacne is akin to facial acne.
“There is excess sebum production, hyperproliferation to the duct leading to clogging, bacterial infection and inflammation, resulting in comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, or cysts,” she said.
Acne on the back can range from mild to deep and painful acne. Bacne shows up as whiteheads, blackheads, aggravated red bumps and pimples on your back. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, seeing a dermatologist, using over-the-counter products and monitoring your lifestyle habits can all be effective in treating bacne. Some things to look out for include monitoring sweat and cleansing skin gently.
Considering an acne-friendly skincare routine is something that can be done to help with bacne. It is always best to seek a professional if bacne persists and is severe.
What are the main causes of Bacne?
Acne develops when the skin’s pores get clogged with oil, sweat, dead skin cells or bacteria. In the case of back acne, there are a number of ways that this would develop, some similar to facial acne or any other part of the body. According to Ayesha, there are several causes of bacne.
- Hormonal – Sometimes bacne can occur during puberty or if an individual has PCOS. Usually, fluctuating hormones can cause bouts of acne on the back.
- Friction – Making a habit of wearing tight clothes, backpacks, and scrubbing or waxing can cause, and in some cases, worsen bacne.
- Sweat – Hot weather or habits causing excessive sweating can exacerbate bacne in some individuals.
- Skin/hair products – Products that contain pore-clogging ingredients can be a root cause of back acne too. They will clog the pores if they come into contact with the back in any capacity.
- Family history – It’s worth noting that genetics also play a role in developed bacne.
- Medications – Certain medications, such as steroids, can cause bacne.
- Lifestyle choices – Stress and lifestyle also can cause bacne. Living a life in constant fight-or-flight mode will increase stress levels significantly, which might trigger a breakout.
Daily Management and Prevention
Bacne is a pretty common skin condition and thankfully there are several options for effectively treating and preventing it. Ayesha offers some examples of how adequate body and skincare can help make things much easier.
“Shower right after exercising or after a workout session since this can ensure you avoid post-gym breakouts,” she advises. “Exfoliate regularly at least 2-3 times per week as dead skin cells, dirt and oil can be behind unwanted breakouts”
Outfit choices are also key in avoiding back acne.
“Always opt for breathable clothing as this will give your skin room to breathe, especially on warmer days,” she said.
Investing in materials that are light and breathable should minimize the likelihood of a breakout. Another tip is to “use specifically formulated cleansers that use ingredients such as salicylic acid/benzoyl peroxide.”
Hygiene and cleaning your personal spaces could be habits that rid you of the stress of back acne flare-ups.
“Wash your sheets regularly as dirty sheets can be a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria,” Ayesha said.