Back Acne
Most of us think that acne appears only on the face. The truth is that though 90 per cent of people suffering from acne get it on the face but there is a strong majority who suffer from acne on their back as well. It affects almost 60 per cent of individuals who have acne problems. Back acne is also known as Bacne, this is another term for body acne or back acne.
Acne in almost every individual starts from the face and then reaches the other part of the body. The more severe the acne becomes the more it spreads to the other areas of the body. It is not always necessary that someone who gets acne on face will get it on the back as well. It is common though that those who suffer from back acne also get acne on their face.
Back acne appears on the back, buttocks and at times on the upper arm as well. It is mostly confined to the back and the upper torso of the body. These parts of the body have more sebaceous glands per inch than the other parts. There can be different forms of back acnes; these include pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, pustules and cysts.
This is a very common problem among those who suffer from acne. This problem is not restricted to only teens but it is widely spread among the adults as well. It affects both male and female, but it is generally observed that the occurrence of back acne and especially the severe form is more common among males.
There is no one reason that can be attributed to the growth of back acne but some dermatologists believe that most of the times back acne start occurring during puberty due to the sebum that is produced by the sebaceous glands.
The treatment approach for back acne is almost similar to that of acne. If you suffer from mild form then you can use a 10 per cent benzoyl peroxide constituent in a cream or gel on the affected area, it helps to reduce the acne.
The more severe form of acne like pustules and cysts has to be treated by a dermatologist.
Individuals who suffer from mild form of back acne may find these small steps useful in their daily activities. These steps not only provide relief from back acne but prevent its reoccurrence as well. In case of acne try and avoid using a regular soap. Instead use an anti bacterial cleanser for the face. Make sure that it contains cetaphil. Do not rub the skin much, let the water dry naturally. The rubbing will irritate the skin further.
The bath should be ideally followed by the application of a gel or cream that contains 10 per cent benzoyl peroxide. To make it more effective use a lotion containing alpha hydroxyl.
The severe acnes have to be treated by dermatologists; especially the cysts would require prescription medicines to heal. These forms of acne also can be painful at times. In most cases of severe acne tropical or oral medicines are prescribed. In some severe form of acne where the other treatments do not work Accutane is given though the drug is known for its side effects. The other most frequently used options include oral antibiotics and Retin A, which are the most common approaches to treat severe back acne.
If you are prone to back acnes then you can follow these precautionary measures to stop their reoccurrence. You must remember to exfoliate your skin. This not only allows the dead skin cells to be removed but also eliminates the growth of bacteria. It should be used at least once a week. A sugar based scrub is most effective and the least irritant.
There is a school of thought that believes that back acne is common among people who wear tight clothes but this may not be true as most dermatologists believe that there is no proof for the same. Though if an individual suffers from this problem then he should avoid wearing tight clothes as the abrasion from the cloth will further aggravate the acne.
Athletic pads and gears should be avoided also. Students should avoid using a backpack if suffering from this problem. Sweat can also be another irritant to the acne. Always try and have a bath after a heavy physical activity to keep the acne bacteria free.
