Treating Back Acne
Although acne is more regularly found on the face, there are instances when acne skips that part of the skin and goes to other parts of thee body such as the back, the chest and the buttocks. There are still no clear account why this happens except that perhaps oil glands in affected parts of the body are more active than those in the face.
The cause of back acne is in fact the same as the causes of acne on the face. Often, eruptions are caused by the over production of the oil glands that produce an overload of sebum on the skin. Experts believe that this is largely due to changes in the body brought about by the male hormones testosterone and androgen. When there is overproduction of oil on the skin, hair follicles on the face, dead skin cells on the lining of the pores and dirt from the adjacent areas all come together to entrap the sebum into the pores causing the swelling.
When this happens, resident bacteria that are normally found in the pores are activated, thus causing the skin eruptions. There are also occasions when bacteria outside come into the picture and settle on the pores of the skin. To fight off the assault, the body sends white blood cells to the area. The outcome is usually additional swelling.
Still, many believe that body acne, specifically back acne is more of an inherited problem than a hygienic one. People who have family history of acne are more likely o develop this kind of acne problem. There are also evidences that perspiration and taut fitting clothing may also help develop the problem. This is perhaps the reason why a lot of exceedingly on the go people, especially those that deal with a diversity of sports have back acne. Spandex for example traps perspiration and grime on the skin. When these two mix with the natural oils created by the body, acne can be the result. Blemishes in the form of whiteheads, blackheads, papules and postules may appear.
Compared to facial acne, back acne and other types of body acne is harder to care for. They also do not respond well to scarring treatment. This is why it is imperative that one nip the problem in the bud before it spreads to other areas of the body. Aggressive treatment is often called for as this problem can be exceedingly stubborn.
Often, dermatologists will recommend oral medicines, antibiotics, to help fight the problem. Medicines such as tetracycline or minocycline can often be found on the prescription paper. Retin A and benzoyl peroxide are also other options. If the problem still persists, accutane is often prescribed as a last resort because of its side effects.
Milder cases of back acne is treated with salicylic-acid cleanser. Patients are advised to wash the area every day for them most favorable results. They are also asked to take a shower after sweating so as to diminish the development of the acne problem. Benzoyl peroxide is also applied on the problem area. Benzoyl has been demonstrated to be quite helpful in combating the problem. This is followed by a moisturizer made from alpha hydroxy acid. This will help exfoliate the skin while making sure that it does not dry out. Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide are also used to treat the pimples individually.
An additional recommendation, is that people dealing with back acne or other forms of body acne should steer clear of wearing spandex clothing. As much as possible, they should wear cotton and should keep dry all the time. Use powder or antiperspirant to avoid unnecessary sweating. Being hygienic and clean all the time will also help lessen the problem.
