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How to Get Rid of Bacne

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How to Get Rid of Bacne

Tips for getting rid of acne on your back

 
If you have breakouts on your back, relax—you’re not alone. Even people who don’t have acne on their face can have it on their backs. The skin on the back is much thicker, and has more oil glands than the skin on your face, so breakouts aren’t uncommon. I’m going to share some advice that you may have never heard before. It’s a system I designed myself, based on the principles I learned throughout my esthetics training. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of embarrassing bacne.

• My first suggestion would be to start with a clean slate. One of the best ways to achieve this is to schedule a back facial. After steaming your skin, an esthetician will safely remove any blackheads or whiteheads. If going to a spa isn’t within your budget, you can get a back facial from a beauty school in your area at a discounted price. Do a little research to find the best solution for you.

• Back acne is usually the result of several different factors working against you. Your hormones are the biggest influence, as they are the determining factor behind the amount of oil secretion in your body. Powdered maca will help balance them. Maca is a natural herbal supplement made from plants. It’s available online or at most health food stores. All you need is ¼ teaspoon daily.

• Taking 50mg of zinc every day will also help. Compounds in the zinc attack the acne bacteria. Zinc can be purchased in any vitamin or health food store.

• Certain prescription medications can cause the skin to break out, particularly on the upper back/shoulder area. If your breakout began after you started taking a medication, you will need to discuss options with your doctor.

• Your age, as well as your genetic background, determines how efficiently your skin cells renew themselves. Slow skin cell turnover can be combated with exfoliation. Use a good back scrubber (I recommend the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber) with a body wash containing gentle acids to dissolve the debris clogging pores. Neutrogena has a few body washes designed to prevent acne, although my personal favorite is Phisoderm Anti-blemish Bodywash.

• Your skin having an unbalanced pH is also a contributing factor. Skin should have a pH of 4.5, but with all of our exposure to chemicals in the water we use, it is often higher. When you shower, chlorine in the water is hitting your back more than anywhere else, causing the pH of your skin to shift to a more alkaline state. Alkalinity allows acne to thrive. I strongly recommend purchasing a Culligan showerhead filter. They run for about $25, and you can easily find them on Amazon. The filter is easy to install, and requires no tools. It removes 99% of the chlorine and contaminants from your water.

• Another tip is to mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water (not tap water—use good drinking water) and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can get Heinz apple cider vinegar for about a dollar. To lower your skin’s pH, spray the mixture onto your back after showering, right before bed. You can substitute witch hazel for the apple cider vinegar, if you prefer. Both work, but the vinegar works better and faster. Be sure to let the skin dry before dressing.

• Make a skin-soothing mask by massaging plain, non-fat Greek yogurt onto your back. This infuses the skin with good bacteria known as probiotics, which overrun the bad bacteria that cause acne. Do this every three days, leaving the mask on for fifteen minutes, before rinsing completely.

• One of the biggest causes of bacne is residue from your hair conditioner not being thoroughly rinsed off after showering. After washing your hair with shampoo, change the water to a cooler temperature to rinse off conditioner. Hot water opens the pores, allowing conditioner to clog them. Always wash your back last, to get any conditioner left behind. If possible, wash your hair every other day. Another option is to stop using regular conditioner and instead use a spray or leave-in conditioner.

• Sweat from working out, playing sports, or not rinsing off immediately after exercise creates a breeding ground for acne bacteria. After working up a sweat, take a shower with lukewarm water. Hot water causes the pores to re-absorb the sweat, while cold water seals it in. If you don’t have access to a shower, bring some wipes with you, and use them to clean yourself as thoroughly as possible.

• Residue from laundry detergent can also aggravate back acne. Most laundry soaps are loaded with dyes, perfumes, and other chemicals. I recommend using a detergent free of scents or dyes, such as Arm & Hammer for Sensitive Skin. Always rinse your laundry twice, to get out as much of the detergent as possible. You can also put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the rinse cycle.

• Clothing fabrics and dyes can be another cause for breakouts. Think of these things as a tent, sealing in humidity and sweat, mixing them with the coloring in the clothes. If you’re wearing polyester or dark clothes, wear an all-cotton undershirt to create a barrier between the fabric and your skin. Also wear the cotton shirts to bed, or any time you’re just hanging around the house. Pima cotton is the best choice.

• Finally, friction from driving or sitting in an office chair for long periods of time can worsen bacne. Often, these things are unavoidable, but it is something to be aware of. Take breaks throughout the day, and be aware of the way you are sitting.

Bacne won’t disappear overnight, but don’t give up on this system. If you use these tips consistently over time you will see results.
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@GoodFaith:
@ambeerbiitch It doesn't matter if the apple cider vinegar is filtered or not. You can also use Witch Hazel. You can pick it up at the drugstore/grocery store for a couple dollars. This comment has been removed.
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@ambeerbiitch:
This is very helpful . Thank you so much . & Does the Apple Cider Vinager have to be filtered . Cause we have some in our fridge and it says unfiltered .. So I have no idea . This comment has been removed.
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@monicute103:
This is very helpful thanks! This comment has been removed.
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@ltlangie:
@armtuk I have read this article several times. I can't see anything on MRSA. My family has a pool so I know about the pH values. It's 11.7 and somewhat diluted by the water. It doesnt really make sense that this would make the acid mantle on the skin more acidic. That's just basic math and chemistry. I agree with Dianne, that this woman knows exactly what she's talking about. I used to get bacne right down the middle of my back, until I switched to a spray in hair conditioner like she says This comment has been removed.
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@hchapin:
@armtuk She gets her information from the textbooks she had when she went through her Esthetician training. The pH of the skin is probably a range of 4.5-5.5 This comment has been removed.
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@carladarla:
@armtuk If you think you know more than she does, prove it. Anyone can write and publish an article on this site. This comment has been removed.
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@DianneV.:
@armtuk Don't you have anything better to do? Your attempt to challenge the credibility of this particular expert, is laughable. She knows exactly what she's talking about. My boyfriend had back acne and we followed her plan exactly and now he doesn't have it anymore. And it was something he's been fighting since he was a teenager. Since when has the government been the authority on skincare? Give me a break with your citations. Geesh. This comment has been removed.
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@armtuk:
Your appeal to authority is not very informative. I'd be interested in any citations you have, e.g. http://bit.ly/O7a0Ri which shows that a correctly maintained stratum corneum may help prevent MRSA which excessive exfoliation can destroy. Skin pH, is around 5.5: http://1.usa.gov/grhlIn not 4.5. Chlorine doesn't raise pH, it lowers it, Sodium Hyperchlorite, often used in pools raises it, due to the Sodium, not the Chlorine, which is only effective at lower pH http://1.usa.gov/PKDTIZ This comment has been removed.
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@Lacey4:
I found it, this is really interesting. There are some things in this article i never knew about...! This comment has been removed.
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@GoodFaith:
@kklash1 You can read some of my other articles, by typing into Search bar: how to protect skin and At home beauty. This comment has been removed.
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@kklash1:
wow its amazing i will be trying to follow all thses things today itself waiting to read more of your articles thankyou This comment has been removed.
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@GoodFaith:
@armtuk I remember sitting in a post graduate esthetic's class & the Dermatologist teaching it specifically saying, "There are a lot more oil glands on the back than on the face. Also, when the body temperature heats up through exercise, it releases sweat containing salts, which all mix together with the sebum & dead skin cells. If the sweat isn't rinsed off, it cools off and crystalizes along with the salts in the sweat, and the mixture coagulates in the pores just like butter. This comment has been removed.
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@GoodFaith:
@armtuk I am a Licensed Esthetician. What are your credentials? This comment has been removed.
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@armtuk:
I'm seeing things here that I have to debate the medical accuracy of. I had trouble finding any material that suggests oil glands are more prevalent on your back. Re-absorbing sweat is meaningless as it's almost all water and electrolytes. As far as I can read, Exfoliation is the best treatment, better diet and skin pH coming in second, two things you did mention. This comment has been removed.
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@courtney2bambi:
Wow, love it. Great timing, too with summer coming up. This comment has been removed.
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