Treatment to cure and clear back acne requires a lot of patience. It cannot be done overnight or in one day. It takes weeks to see some positive results and months to get rid of the acne on the back. This post tells you how you can treat back acne effectively.

You may get acne on the face and back at the same time. Both these usually tend to occur together.

From acne on your back to that on your butt, you have to show patience and persevere with the treatment. You should continue with the treatment even after your acne clears. Stop it only when the doctor tells you.

Most people feel that the acne will not go away and, therefore, tend to give up the treatment midway. You must persist with the treatment.

How to treat back acne and get rid of them?

Treatment of acne on your back involves some self-help, techniques, and products to clean your acne skin, mild OTC creams, and gels for local application.

If needed, prescription topical creams and oral drugs are required if the OTC products do not give the desired results.

Treatment is a long process and may take months to clear your back acne. You have to be patient and persevere with it.

Certain risk factors make you prone to this condition. Try to avoid them.

Practice back hygiene

Clean your body and especially the back daily with mild soap. This will help remove sweat and dust that can clog the skin pores.

After any activity that can cause you to sweat, have a shower using a mild acne soap or an antibacterial cleanser. Such activity can include exercise or some physical activity. Be sure you apply the soap properly to the back with a loofah on a back exfoliating band.

Use chemical exfoliators (such as lactic acid) with physical exfoliators (micro-dermabrasion granules) to clean the skin of oil, dead skin, and grime.

During hot and humid weather be sure to shower twice or thrice a day as required. You are going to sweat more in such weather and it is advisable to wash off the sweat and not allow it to stay and clog the skin pores.

Exfoliate your back once a week using a soft sponge and soap. Do not scrub too hard as that will irritate the skin and aggravate the acne.

You must make sure you are able to reach the whole of your back or else take the help of someone. You could buy a lotion applicator. Pat your body dry with a clean towel after the shower. Do not rub the towel on the body as it will aggravate the acne.

What foods to eat?

Foods do not cause acne — even the greasiest of them. Science still has no proof of that. But it is always healthy to have foods that are rich in antioxidants. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains are good sources of antioxidants.

They are good anti-aging agents and keep your skin healthy. They also prevent the formation of skin wrinkles. However, if you come across a particular food, which you think aggravates your acne, you should avoid eating that food.

Avoid foods that have a high glycemic index. These are the foods that contain simple carbohydrates, which raise your blood sugar levels rapidly. Such foods include white bread, chips, and white potatoes.

Learn to handle stress

Stress is one factor that does not cause acne but aggravates an existing one. You must learn to control your stress level.

Regular exercise and proper sleep are two things that will help you to do that.

Meditation is another thing, which will help increase your stress threshold. Practicing meditation every day will benefit you in more ways than one.

Medications to treat back acne

Topical and oral medications to treat and cure acne on the back are the same as those used to treat facial acne. Treatment consists of the use of over-the-counter (OTC) topical creams initially for mild to moderate acne.

These include benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, retinoids, and topical antibiotics. The last two are available under prescription, which your dermatologist will prescribe if required.

You have to approach your dermatologist if the OTC acne products have failed to work or if the acne has become worse. Your dermatologist will prescribe oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or its derivatives such as doxycycline.

Erythromycin is another antibiotic that can be used to control the infection. He may also prescribe oral contraceptive pills to regulate the hormonal balance in the body.

Isotretinoin, first marketed as Accutane is very effective to treat acne. But it is cautiously prescribed to treat severe conditions only because of its potential side effects. Its use in pregnancy is contraindicated.

Wear loose clothing

  • Wear loose-fitting clothes made of cotton or sweat-absorbing fabric.
  • Have your clothes washed after each use.
  • Have a shower and change clothes after each sweat-generating activity such as a workout.

Other do’s and don’ts

  • Do not use a backpack
  • Avoid driving for long hours because this may aggravate your back acne.
  • Change your bedsheets and pillow covers twice a week. Both these get contaminated with dead skin cells and bacteria, which aggravate your face and back acne.
  • Avoid exposing your acne-ridden skin to the sun. Exposure to the sun’s rays only darkens your acne and makes it worse. If sun exposure is inevitable, use an oil-free sunscreen.

Head over to a more detailed version for the treatment of back acne. You could also use some effective natural remedies. Once treated, follow certain effective preventive measures so that you do not get a recurrence.