Posts Tagged ‘swimsuit’
Back Acne
The Ugly Truth
Acne that is found on the back is quite like facial acne. It is formed by cysts and pimples. Back acne can be potentially much worse than face acne for the simple reason that there are thousands upon thousands of more pores on the back than there are on the face. These pores all have the potential of becoming clogged with oil, dirt and bacteria.
Back acne is severely more painful than face acne and usually comes with a lot more scarring. It usually occurs at the same time as face acne, during puberty. It is usually gone by the time you hit adulthood, but will often leave behind severe scarring, which can be embarrassing, causing many adults to never wear a swimsuit or backless dress.
Why Me?
No one knows exactly what causes back acne. The back is full of oil glands and these tend to become clogged and inflamed with bacteria, dirt and oil. This causes acne, but it is often a lot harder to treat than that of the face. Back acne is not caused by a poor diet, by exercising or by wearing tight clothing. It is also proven that it is not caused by friction, such as wearing a backpack all of the time. It is also said that genetics do not play a role in back acne, nor does stress. This in itself is stressful, as these are all contributing factors to face acne.
One of the reasons for such severe scarring on the back is that the friction of sleeping, wearing clothes and using a backpack is something that will pop the pimples prematurely, resulting in scarring. This cannot be avoided and therefore, there is nothing you can say that you did wrong to cause the scarring.
What Can I Do?
What most people choose to do is to scrub their backs with a soap that will dry out the skin, trying to rid the back of grease and sweat. This is not a good idea at all. Scrubbing will cause irritations in the skin and can open it up to infections and breakouts.
The best way to treat back acne is with antibacterial soap. It is best to do it in a warm shower, as that is when the pores will be open. Using a soft back brush and soft strokes, lather the soap over the back, carefully making sure not to cause irritation. After stepping out of the shower, it is best to let the back air dry, rather than rubbing it with a towel. Spread a cream that contains peroxide over the affected area. This can be purchased over the counter and if a stronger dose of peroxide is needed, your doctor can prescribe it for you.
Lastly, once a week, in the shower, it is good to exfoliate with a slat or sugar scrub. This will aid in the removal of dead skin cells, which is likely the cause of back acne. A proper exfoliation ensures that all of the cells are removed from the body, rather than getting stuck inside and clogging the pores.