What Is Back Acne?
Back acne includes large tender cysts that develop on the back. Just like our face, the skin on our back also has sebaceous glands. These glands excrete sebum. When the sebum gets built-up along with bacteria and dead cells, it leads to inflamed pores and breakouts. The severity of this acne may vary. A mild acne breakout results in few blemishes and may include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Meanwhile, a severe acne breakout results in more spots and cysts. Let us take a look at the causes of back acne.
What Causes Back Acne?
Factors that contribute to the development of back acne are:
Oily skin due to overactive glands Dead skin cells Acne-causing bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) Dandruff Hormonal issues polycystic ovarian disease) Previous laser treatments Shaving and waxing Ingrown hair Friction or heat
Understanding the different types of back acne helps deal with them better. Check the following section.
Types Of Back Acne
Acne is widely classified into two types – non-inflammatory and inflammatory. Non-Inflammatory acne lesions include:
Blackheads – Open comedones that occur when your skin pores are clogged with dead skin and sebum. Whiteheads – Closed comedones that result from a build-up of sebum and dead skin cells.
Inflammatory acne lesions include:
Papules – Acne caused due to the inflammation of walls around skin pores. Pustules – Acne caused due to inflamed skin pores that are filled with pus. Nodules – Acne caused by irritated and clogged pores. Cysts – Acne caused by clogs occurring deep within your skin, resulting in white or red bumps that are painful to touch.
We have listed some well-known home remedies that may help treat back acne. Continue reading.
Home Remedies To Treat Back Acne
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (1). Hence, tea tree oil may reduce acne. It also can have fewer side effects when compared to other treatment options (2).
7 drops of tea tree oil 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
Do this daily for at least a week.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve inflammatory acne (3). It also exhibits anti-acne activity and enhances the effect of other popular acne medications, like tretinoin (4).
1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel
Do this 2 to 3 times daily.
3. Epsom Salt
Epsom salts have excellent anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of magnesium (5). These properties may help reduce acne as well as the redness and inflammation that accompany it.
1 cup of Epsom salts Water
Do this daily or every alternate day.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice possesses bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties (6), (7). Hence, it may help in reducing inflammation around the acne-affected area.
½ a lemon Cotton swabs (optional)
Do this once daily.
5. Vitamin D
Acne-prone individuals may also be deficient in vitamin D (8). Therefore, restoring the levels of this vitamin may help treat the symptoms of acne lesions.
1000-4000 mcg of vitamin D
Do this regularly.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties (9). It may not only reduce acne inflammation but also soothe the lesions.
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 1 cup of water Cotton balls
Do this multiple times daily.
7. Baking Soda
Anecdotal evidence suggests that baking soda may help relieve acne. However, there is no scientific evidence in this regard. Baking soda is thought to exfoliate your skin and soothe swelling and redness. It also absorbs excess oil from the skin and may dry out acne and help it heal faster.
1 tablespoon of baking soda Water (as required)
Do this 2 to 3 times daily, but make sure you only scrub once.
8. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, including lauric acid. Lauric acid exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that combat Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria responsible for causing acne (10).
1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil
Do this once or twice daily.
9. Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It is a sought-after ingredient in dermatology to treat inflammatory conditions like acne (11), (12).
1-2 cups of oatmeal Water
Taking an oatmeal bath daily can help reduce back acne with time.
10. Vicks VapoRub
Vicks contains many anti-inflammatory compounds like camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil. These compounds treat back acne by reducing inflammation and redness (13), (14).
Vicks VapoRub
You can do this multiple times daily. Note: Do not apply Vicks VapoRub to broken skin or lesions.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in probiotics, which are the good bacteria that live in your gut. These can help reduce inflammation within your body and may help treat acne (15).
1 bowl of plain yogurt
Include yogurt in your daily diet.
12. Garlic
Garlic contains allicin, which exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory activity(16). It not only helps reduce the inflammation and itching caused by back acne but also reduces their recurrence.
A few garlic cloves
You must do this at least twice daily.
13. Green Tea
Green tea is beneficial for treating acne – whether it is taken orally or applied topically. This is due to the presence of polyphenols that help reduce sebum secretion and acne (17).
1 teaspoon of green tea 1 cup of water Cotton pads
Do this 2 to 3 times daily.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known to reduce acne lesions (18). It may also be used to exfoliate your skin and treat acne breakouts.
3% hydrogen peroxide solution Cotton pads
Do this 1 to 2 times daily.
15. Honey
Raw honey is especially helpful in treating inflamed and pus-filled acne. Honey has natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may help reduce acne (19).
Raw honey (as required)
You must do this 2 to 3 times daily.
16. Sugar Scrub
The coarse texture of sugar may be used to exfoliate your back gently. Exfoliation may help remove accumulated dead skin cells in your pores that may otherwise be causing back acne.
½ a cup of sugar ½ a cup of coconut or olive oil
Do this once daily or every alternate day.
17. Turmeric
The major component of turmeric is curcumin (20). This compound has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may help treat acne lesions (21).
2 teaspoons of turmeric powder Water (as required)
You must do this once daily. In addition to trying out these remedies, you need to take some precautions to prevent the recurrence of back acne.
Prevention Tips For Back Acne
Shower immediately after an intense workout – The sweat and dirt accumulated after exercising can settle in your pores, which can aggravate acne. Exfoliate regularly – Use a mild, non-comedogenic exfoliator with salicylic acid. It helps remove excess oils and dead skin cells from the pores. UV rays from the sun may darken the acne and result in acne scars. Hence, avoid sun exposure while you have back acne. Slather oil-free sunscreen daily – Sunscreen helps repair damaged skin and absorbs excess oil from the pores. Choose non-comedogenic skin care products. Keep your hair off your back. Wear loose-fitting clothes that do not irritate your skin. Tight clothes may push oil and bacteria deeper into the pores. Clean your gym clothes and towels regularly. Laser therapy can remove excess oils from your pores and may reduce acne. Even though the treatment is slow, it is quite effective in keeping back acne at bay.
The type of food you take plays a vital role in combating back acne. The following diet tips can help.
Diets Tips For Back Acne
Follow a healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Consume foods that are rich in vitamins A and D. Avoid foods like ice cream, cheese, and chocolates as they may aggravate acne. Stick to a low-glycemic diet to prevent the occurrence of acne (22). Eating probiotic-rich foods helps boost skin health and keeps acne at bay. Foods like kimchi, miso, yogurt, and kefir are rich in probiotics. Instead of an extreme or restrictive eating plan, try to follow a well-balanced diet.
Over-The-Counter Medicines For Back Acne
The following OTC acne products can help clear mild back acne. However, we suggest you consult a dermatologist to assess the severity of your acne and take the prescribed medications. Is back acne normal? No, acne is caused due to an accumulation of sweat, dead cells, sebum, and bacteria under the skin. However, it is quite common. What age does back acne go away? Teenage acne usually clears up by the age of 20-25 years. However, adult acne that occurs after the age of 25 years can also present as back acne and require self care, treatment or, home remedies to go away.
