For the majority of acne sufferers, back acne (popularly called bacne, which sounds cute but can give you hell) is an inevitable next step from acne on the face. Though bacne has been known to attack men more than women, its origins are as shrouded in mystery as those of other forms of acne. That is to say, no one knows exactly what causes bacne, and the only thing we can say with any certainty is that it does not directly develop as a result of heavy sweating, or tight clothing, or friction from heavy backpacks, though these factors may aggravate an existing condition.
Bacne basics
Like other forms of acne, bacne develops owing to pores clogged by the excessive secretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands, which become breeding grounds for acne-causing bacteria. However, more than other forms of acne, bacne seems to be aggravated by heavy perspiration. Therefore, if you have acne but are yet to develop bacne, make sure you keep your back as free of sweat as possible. And for those with bacne, a wash after any strenuous physical exercise is mandatory, preferably using a mild exfoliating agent.
Added must-dos include always wearing clean clothing (including underwear) while engaging in physical activities such as exercising, gardening, or running to minimize the incidence of bacteria. The thing to remember is that excessive heat and rapid blood circulation – such as that produced by physical exercise – help increase sebum secretion. And once the pores on the skin are clogged, they gather dead skin cells, bacteria and additional sebum, thereby infecting the area.
Bacne treatment
The slightly worrying aspect here is that bacne often proves harder to treat than regular acne. One reason for this is that because all areas of the back are not always reachable, the proper application of topical ointments and lotions is a problem. Given the circumstances, dermatologists may prescribe oral antibiotics for particularly severe bacne, which is mostly hereditary, says dermatologist Dr Andrew Waite. However, the flip side here is that because the skin on the back is tougher than facial skin, for instance, dermatologists often use stronger medication for bacne.
The first step, of course, is lotions and ointments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If these don’t work, and if the bacne is persistent and severe, oral antibiotics such as Accutane are the only solution. However, you should only take oral medications under competent medical supervision.
Before we leave
To sum up, people with bacne should remember to wash at least twice daily with mild soap and exfoliating agent, avoid harsh scrubs and chemicals, avoid wearing sweaty/soiled clothes, wear comfort rather than tight fits, change bed linen (especially pillow cases) frequently, and consult a dermatologist should the problem become acute.
Says Dr Waite, “As with all forms of acne, bacne requires regular but gentle monitoring. Patience and discipline are essential for back Acne Treatment results to be positive.” Easier said than done, perhaps, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Posts
