Back Acne

Published:January 16th, 2012

Back acne is typically the same as facial acne, the only difference being that it is situated on the back. The lesions are similar to facial acne except that they are larger as the sebaceous glands located on the back produce more oil compared to the ones located on the face. In effect, severe lesions such as cysts and nodules are produced on the back. According to the available statistics, about 2/3^rd of individuals with facial acne also have acne lesions present on the back. Moreover, 20% of the healthy adult male population has back acne. Other than the face, the back is the second most affected area and back acne is in fact more common in men than in women.

Causes of back acne

The cause of back acne is still unknown but it is said to be triggered by the maturation of oil glands. Back acne is visible when puberty begins and the mechanism which causes it is typically similar to the mechanisms of facial acne. It also commonly occurs in individuals who tend to overproduce skin cells inside the pores which lead to blemishes.

The term acne mechanica is a specific type of acne caused by irritation of the skin. Anything that irritates the skin such as rough massages, backpacks and tight fitting clothing aggravates the acne occurring on the back. The problem could even get worse by the moisture trapped in the pores so if you sweat and repeatedly rub your back, acne could worsen. Some simple situations can also lead to back acne such as friction on the back caused by sitting and sleeping.

How to Avoid Irritation

Because irritation leads to the occurrence of acne, there are things you can do to simplify the problem. You can start by avoiding tight fitting clothes and instead wear breathable cotton clothing as much as possible. If you are fond of wearing backpacks, try carrying your belongings by hand or strollers while you are treating your back acne. Once your acne clears, you can resume to wearing backpacks again but if acne still persists, backpacks
are not the best choice for you. If you can, try to be aware of the aggravating factors and sources of skin irritation and take every possible measure to avoid them. Stick to your treatment schedule to cure the back acne effectively and to avoid recurrence.

Treatment  

Facial acne can be treated and so can back acne. Depending on the severity of the condition, certain medications are prescribed by the dermatologist. To treat mild cases of acne, the doctor will suggest a gentle cleansing plus an application of 10% alpha hydroxyl acid. This solution clears the back acne and is an easy way to keep the acne of the back under control.

However, in moderate to severe cases, a combination of benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxyl acid works effectively. Accutane also works well but should be used for about 15-20 weeks. It is a derivative of vitamin A taken in pill form that permanently shrinks oil glands, decreasing the symptoms of acne. The use of Accutane on the other hand has some adverse effects. Examples of these are thinning of hair, chronic dry lips and eyes. Therefore it should be used only under the supervision of a dermatologist.

 

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