Acne is an issue that we speak to our customers about on an almost daily basis, and although most of them suffer mostly from acne on their faces, some of them have it elsewhere, with the most common ‘other place’ being their back. Here, we look at some of the causes of back acne (also known as ‘bacne’) and what you can do to make things better:
Causes
Dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk says “”Similar to the causes of spots everywhere, bacne is namely caused by excess sebum production, the build-up of dead skin cells, and bacteria. The skin on our backs is extremely thick so the potential for blocked pores is very high”
“For those who are prone to spots, the accumulation of oil and dead skin cells in our pores creates an ideal environment for a particular bacterium called ‘Propionibacterium’ acne to thrive. This triggers inflammation in the skin leading to angry red bumps and pus-filled spots.”
Further to this, the skin is more prone to acne during the summer and if you work out regularly, so now is a great time to get a handle on it.
How Do I Fix it?
- Make sure you wash thoroughly – you’d be surprised by how many people admit that they NEVER wash their back when in the bath or shower. Elemis Sharp Shower Body Wash offers deep-cleansing which will help to keep acne-causing bacteria at bay.
- Exfoliating is important because acne can be worsened by dead skin cells and sebum which isn’t scrubbed away. Decleor 1000 Grains Body Exfoliator is designed to leave the body feeling soft, smooth and refined.
- Replacing moisture which can be lost by exfoliating is important as often, skin which is dry and over-sensitised will be more prone to breakouts. Decleor Moisturising Body Milk is light enough to avoid blocking pores but offers a high level of moisturisation while soothing the skin.
- Change your bra daily – many women wear their bra for more than one day at a time, which is fine, but if you suffer with bacne, keeping it clean and free from bacteria is important, so changing your bra every day will help to avoid bacterial transfer from your clothes.
- As tempting as it might be to pick at your spots (or even let a popaholic loved-one do it, if you can’t reach!), this can not only cause scarring but can also cause further outbreaks. Leave your spots alone if you don’t want to make them worse!