Why do we get acne on our back?

Skin pigmentation on the back as a result of acne can be exacerbated by sun exposure, especially as we frequently forget to apply sunscreen on that part of our body. — Filepic

The back is undeniably one of the most ignored parts of our body.

If you have acne on your back, or “bacne” as some people call it, it is very likely that you have been ignoring the skin on your back.

Constant contact with clothing material, exposure to the sun and environmental oxidants make the skin on the back very susceptible to acne, which eventually develops into acne scars.

Some examples of how we neglect our back on a daily basis:

• We scrub our backs the least when we shower.

  Even if we do, we barely do it properly.

• We spend the least time drying our back properly when our body is wet.
• We often miss our backs when applying sunscreen.
• When we look into the mirror to check on ourselves, we hardly, or never, check our backs.
• We do not even know if we have any moles on our back.

What causes back acne?

Our skin produces a natural oil known as sebum from our sebaceous glands.

Sebum is responsible for adding moisture to our skin and hair.

When we do not take care of our back skin properly, dead skin and extra sebum builds up, which then clogs the pores in the skin.

This is made worse by the fact that our back skin is thicker, which increases the possibility of pores getting blocked up.

Blocked pores in turn lead to bacterial colonisation and back acne.

Also, our backs, being one of the most neglected body parts when it comes to sun exposure prevention and sunblock application, can easily develop pigmentation and scars after a series of “bacne”, giving rise to uneven skin tone and skin texture.

Some common triggers of back acne include:

• Genes – Acne-prone skin can run in the family.
• Hormones – Hormonal changes during the teenage years and in some medical conditions can trigger acne breakouts, including “bacne”.
• Medications – Certain medications such as antidepressants and hormonal pills can some-times trigger acne.
• Sweat and clothing – Tight clothing with inappropriate material can trap sweat and lead to “bacne”.
• Lifestyle – High sugar and high fat diets, stress and environ-mental factors can contribute to acne.

How to treat back acne?

Treating back acne starts with simple, yet effective, lifestyle changes, such as:

> Cleaning your back

Cleanse your back skin daily, just like how you would cleanse your facial skin!

Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser that contains ingredients such as salicylic acid, to get rid of the dirt and oils on your back skin.

This can help clear back acne quicker.

Remember to take a good shower as soon as you can after a workout.

Excessive sweat during a workout can contribute to back acne or make it worse.

> Choosing appropriate clothing

Dirty clothes can harbour excessive oil, sweat and dirt that further irritates the back skin and worsens acne.

Wear loose clothing when you exercise, and make sure you wash your clothes thoroughly afterwards.

Go for loose-fitting clothing on a daily basis, and choose breathable clothing material, such as cotton or sweat-wicking fabric.

> Using appropriate skincare products

Skincare products that are too abrasive will do more harm than good.

Go for gentle exfoliative cleansers, and fragrance-free and oil-free skincare products, for the back skin.

Avoid using any device to scrub your back as this will make acne worse.

> Protecting your skin from the sun

Contrary to popular belief, the sun actually makes back acne worse.

Ultraviolet (UV) exposure worsens acne inflammation and makes your skin more susceptible to acne scars and discolouration.

Avoid excessive sun exposure and use oil-free sunscreen when you are outdoors.

> Watching your diet

Avoid too much sugar because a high sugar diet is known to play a role in making acne worse.

When you eat a lot of sugar, the excess sugar enters your bloodstream and triggers an inflammation process throughout the body.

Recurrent inflammation in the body produces enzymes that are related to exacerbation of inflammatory skin conditions such as acne.

Besides lifestyle changes, there are other treatments available for back acne.

These include prescription medications like topical creams and oral pills.

Topical creams such as benzoyl peroxide, retinoids and antibiotic cream are useful in treating back acne.

These are usually prescribed by doctors to treat mild to moderate cases.

In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe oral medication such as oral antibiotics, hormonal pills or isotretinoin to treat your acne.

It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions strictly in order to treat your acne effectively and safely.

Alternative treatments for back acne, such as back facials and laser therapy, have also become more popular in recent years.

Back facials in particular have become a phenomenon in recent times.

Basically, it means doing a “facial” for our backs.

It helps cleanse the back skin thoroughly, exfoliate the dead skin cells, as well as clean up sebum and clogged pores.

This may help improve mild back acne over time.

Meanwhile, certain laser treatments can help improve the redness and inflammation caused by back acne.

This may speed up the recovery process.

Also, some lasers may help improve the scars and skin discolouration caused by acne.

Dr Sii Sik Liong is a physician practising aesthetic medicine in Singapore. For more information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.