Back and Body Acne
Acne is a daily skin care concern for many people; it isn’t limited to age, gender or race. And it, unfortunately, isn’t limited to just your face; body or back acne (AKA Backne) is just as persistent as facial acne.
All blemishes or acne breakouts begin the same way (face or body); a pore gets clogged. A pore is a hair follicle just below the skin. The pores on your body are much bigger than on your face, which means they produce much more oil. Because of this, body and back acne suffers may experience more breakouts of inflammatory acne which mean larger nodules and cystic blemishes. These large pimples can be painful, uncomfortable and can leave a person feeling self-conscious and embarrassed.
The exact origin of acne is unknown; however, Dermatologists do know that excess oil production, dirt, excess dead skin cells, hormones, steroids, diet, stress, reactions to makeup and even bacteria are some contributors.
Tips for Managing Back and Body Acne
After doing some research, I have concluded that following these three approaches are your best fight against body and back acne.
- Skin Care Regimen (backne products) – For best result find and use medical grade products.
- Laser Treatment
- Implement good skin care habits and healthy eating
#1 Skin Care Regimen
One of the most obvious solutions to help prevent clogged pores is to clean or exfoliate your skin. Because oil & dirt are a contributor to acne, it’s important to exfoliate the top layer of your skin to remove the daily excess.
Look for a gentle daily exfoliating cleanser. One with salicylic acid and glycolic acid. And one free of parabens, soap, synthetic fragrance, dyes, and alcohol.
Next, use a toner to help get rid of those clogged pores, minimize surface oils and to help remove any surface dead skin cells. Again, look for one with glycolic acid and or salicylic acid.
Third, try a light moisturizer that soothes and minimizes redness. Look for one with Vitamin C and E, and retinal. You may think your skin is oily enough and you don’t need a moisturizer; however hydrated skin is essential in managing your acne. When your skin isn’t hydrated, it will produce more oil which leads to more breakouts.
#2 Laser Treatments
Along with following a good skin care routine, laser treatment can also aid in treating your acne. Be prepared for a series of treatments, as acne can be very persistent. The laser safely targets the glands in your skin to heat, then shrink the pores. The procedure will help to clear up your current acne; and by shrinking your pores, it will help prevent any future breakouts. And as an extra bonus acne laser treatment will help the skin produce new collagen, which will help tighten and improve your skin’s overall appearance. IPL Photofacials have also proven to be an effective way to treat acne and its blemishes with minimal downtime. For a deeper treatment, Morpheus8 is a great way to reduce the appearance of scarring resulting from acne.
#3 Good Skin Care Habits and Healthy Eating
- Always use warm water to wash your skin, not HOT. Hot water irritates your skin and causes more breakouts.
- Change your bedding regularly.
- Before touching your skin, wash your hands.
- Use a clean washcloth every time.
I’m a firm believer that you can also help your acne from the inside out.
- Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water daily.
- Limit processed and fast foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Cut down on sugar and alcohol.
- Try an elimination diet to see if your skin is reacting to certain foods.