Back acne, commonly known as bacne, is the kind of thing you might notice in the mirror after a workout or after a long day at field. These could be minor bumps or full blown breakouts but in any case, they are annoying and uncomfortable. If you work out regularly, live somewhere humid, or just tend to sweat a lot, bacne can be a real issue. “The common causes of bacne is genetics so a latent tendency inherited can be there,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Celebrity Dermatologist and Founder of Yavana Aesthetics. Here’s why it happens and ways to prevent and treat it.
Why Does It Happen?
Your Back Has a Lot of Oil Glands
The skin on your back has larger and more active oil glands than most of your body. More oil means more chances for pores to get clogged — especially when mixed with sweat and dead skin.
Sweat and Friction Are a Terrible Combo
When sweat gets trapped under that gear, bacteria and oil basically throw a party in your pores. “Synthetic materials, certain laundry detergents and friction of bag straps can also aggravate bacne,” says Dr Agarwal.
Humidity Makes It Worse
In hot, sticky weather, your skin stays damp longer. That moisture traps bacteria, which can lead to inflammation and breakouts.
You Might Be Waiting Too Long to Shower
The longer you let sweat sit on your skin, the more likely you are to break out. “Poor hygiene is another cause of bacacne specially post exercise. When you don’t shower or change clothes post exercise, there is pore clogging with sweat and bacteria,” Dr Agarwal adds.
How to Prevent It?
Rethink Your Workout Clothes: Wear loose, moisture-wicking clothes. Also, sitting around in sweaty clothes is basically asking for acne. Re-wearing your gym is a strict no.
Shower ASAP After Sweating: Go for a quick rinse as soon as you are back home. Use a body wash with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide which target acne.
Exfoliate Gently: Once or twice a week, use an exfoliating body scrub to remove dead skin. Just don’t go overboard as it can irritate your skin and make breakouts worse.
Moisturise Regularly: Dry skin can overcompensate by producing more oil. Use a non-comedogenic body lotion, especially if you’re using acne treatments that dry out the skin.
Skincare Routine To Follow
The idea is to be consistent and keep it simple. Apart from using the body washes with above mentioned ingredients, Dr Agarwal says, "Use a spot corrector containing benzyl peroxide and leave it on back acne so that it can penetrate as back skin is thicker than face." She further suggests using the spot treat at night as benzyl peroxide can bleach the clothes. "Apply a ceramide moisturiser at least once a day preferably at night to repair the skin barrier and prevent any itchy dry skin from anti-acne products," she adds. And lastly, make sure to use sunscreen when stepping out.
