Bacne, or back acne, isn’t a word you will find in the dictionary, but for the millions of people who live with it, it’s a word they know very well.
Acne can appear not only on the face but on other parts of your body as well. In fact, it’s common for breakouts to also occur on the back, chest, neck, and shoulders. Back and body acne affects males and females, teens and adults. However, body acne is more common, and often more severe, in males.
Most often, acne begins on the face. As acne progresses in range and severity, it begins to affect other areas of the body as well. Not everyone with acne will experience breakouts on the body, but those with body acne nearly always have acne on the face, too.
For the most part, acne occurs on the back and other parts of your body for the same reasons it does on your face – overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells, and a proliferation of acne-causing bacteria. Oil and dead skin cells become trapped within hair follicles or pores, creating a blockage that can progress to a pimple if bacteria invade.
Additionally, there is a certain type of bacne that is a form of acne mechanica, which occurs when heat and sweat get trapped against the body, and the skin becomes irritated by friction causing inflammation. People who wear athletic pads, athletic equipment, tight fitting clothes, hats, or carry backpacks are the most susceptible to this type of bacne.
Help for Bacne
The good news is that bacne can be treated. First, try using an over-the-counter body wash that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. And if you sweat, be sure to shower as soon as you can after sweating so it doesn’t aggravate the acne.
If cleansing doesn’t take care of the problem, a dermatologist can prescribe powerful oral medications that can help. Whatever you do, don’t ignore bacne. Heavy inflammation can lead to scarring, if it is not treated. And don’t even thing about popping the pimples! That’s a surefire way to get scarring!
Additionally, some dermatologists offer laser treatments that can not only help with treatment of acne, but also take care of any residual scarring. At Dermatology Associates, we use our PicoSure® laser to treat scarring. The most advanced laser of its kind, PicoSure attacks the scars by sending intense bursts of light energy to the deeper layers of your skin where acne originates. Many patients have noticeable results after just a few sessions. Each treatment with the PicoSure laser takes just 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
We also offer several products you can use at home to treat and prevent acne outbreaks, including the Obagi skin care line, the leading skin care system recommend by physicians nationwide.
If you’d like help for your bacne, give us a call or click here to schedule a consultation.
Dermatology Associates offers a full spectrum of leading edge medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services from offices in Savannah and Vidalia.
