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| How I’m treating my back acne — and what you should consider |
| I have a pretty good idea why I developed back acne. For one, I don’t remove my tight clothes or shower immediately after a sweaty workout. I usually run errands, meet friends, or lounge on the couch before I finally rinse off. I also don’t sleep with a shirt on and I definitely don’t wash my bedding often enough. Please hold your judgment — I know I’m a gross person!️ |
| In general, acne forms when oils and other gunk (dead skin cells, dirt, etc.) mix with skin cells and bacteria, which can clog pores and lead to pimples. Other causes might include hormones, stress, diet (looking at you, sugar), and certain medications.
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| Some sneakier reasons could be having longer hair that rests on your back (where oils can transfer to your skin), using greasy sunscreens, and rinsing shampoo and conditioner down your back. ️️ |
| As a first line of treatment (for mild cases), you can try some OTC topical cleansers and treatments. There are three common active ingredients you should look for:
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- Benzoyl peroxide: This dries out existing pimples, prevents new ones from forming, and kills acne-causing bacteria.
- Salicylic acid: This exfoliates your skin to prevent pores from getting clogged.
- Sulfur: This also dries out skin cells to unclog pores.
If you don’t notice a difference in your skin after a few weeks, consider scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist — you might be dealing with moderate or severe acne, which may require stronger treatments. In many cases, a doctor might prescribe antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin), retinoids (retinol), oral medications (isotretinoin, formerly known as Accutane), or perhaps some sort of procedure like a chemical peel.
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| I’m currently washing my back with prescription-strength topical treatments. Once a day, I wash my body with a cleanser made with 10% sodium sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur. I was also prescribed a gel made with clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide for the occasional spot treatment. Beware: This gel will bleach your clothes!
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| So far, so good. I haven’t noticed any breakouts and my scars are definitely becoming much less noticeable.
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| The right course of action for your specific needs should be discussed with a healthcare professional. Not to sound like a broken record, but personally, I think seeing a specialist like a dermatologist is your best bet to find out what’s really going on. I’m so glad I found mine!
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