Back acne sometimes referred to as bacne, is another common offender second to facial acne. Even though it doesn’t develop in central areas on the body, it can still be nasty and disheartening. Luckily, there are several tried-and-tested solutions that help fight it and this post will attempt to address both at-home therapies and in-office back acne treatment in Singapore.
We will start with some basic tips for preventing and treating pimples that you can incorporate in your daily regimen right away; that is, if you’re not doing it already. And then, we will move onto how to get rid of back acne if nothing else has worked. Stay tuned.
Table of Contents
What Causes Back Acne
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of removing back acne in Singapore, let’s discuss what the main causes are in the first place. This might prove essential in the fight against it. These are the most common causes of back acne:
- Hormones. As you know, the main reason boys and girls get acne at puberty is hormonal changes. But you could still struggle with pimples even if your age doesn’t end in -teen anymore. For women, the time around menstruation is such a trigger in general. However, if you have zits all the time for an extended period, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor and rule out the hormonal imbalance.
- Medication. There are things that can cause heavy outbreaks and certain drugs top the list. Talk about barbiturates, anticonvulsants, lithium, corticosteroids, and androgenic steroids, to name a few. You should also be careful with products that contain iodides and bromides.
- Genetics. If acne runs in your family, chances of you getting outbreaks at some point in life are greater than they are in other people. Yet, that doesn’t mean you necessarily will. It’s a matter of luck.
- Stress. Believe it or not, stress is capable of giving you undesired blemishes on the face and on your back. Let’s be real here, stress isn’t the main factor that creates the unpleasant red spots but it can trigger breakouts when they have already become a part of your life.
- Sweat. Don’t get this the wrong way, exercise and sweat are both good for you and you should not shy away from physical activity just because you have acne. It’s when sweat mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria that the real problem begins and that you should worry about. In other words, do your best to cleanse your skin on the regular to avoid such a situation in the future.
Simple and Inexpensive Things You can do to Beat Back Acne
Check out the basic techniques that will enable you to keep body acne at bay. If you are wondering how to get rid of back acne quickly, a combination of all these can help. Please, don’t expect miracles. This can help you minimise the appearance of zits and make your skin more appealing to look at but it won’t necessarily tackle the problem in full.
Exfoliate
Your back is prone to building up extra oil and dirt throughout the day. Before you get the chance to wash it, it may cause irritation. The oil glands will start overproducing sebum, which may lead to clogged pores and then give rise to pimples. For better results, though, you can try an exfoliating scrub. The latter reaches deeper into the skin than standard washes and also helps to keep a low amount of dead skin. It leaves the pores free from particles that could block them and bring about back acne breakouts.
Shower immediately after a workout
This is a tricky one. Many people leave the gym with the same clothes they’ve worked out and wait until they get home to take a shower. That’s absolutely understandable. However, it can be the reason you’re getting back acne. When you let dirt and sweat sit on your skin for longer periods, you may be inviting blemishes to form. Thar’s why it’s important to take a bath as soon as you are done training. If that’s not always possible, use a clean towel or baby wipes to get rid of the sweat and then change into fresh clothes.
Cut down on acne-triggering foods
You should be especially careful with white potatoes, white rice and pasta, as well as white bread. These are known to cause blood sugar spikes. Instead, choose whole grains, lean protein, veggies, and fruits.
Avoid tight clothing
If you have an acne situation, the best thing you can do is swap tight garments with loose-fitting ones, as this will allow your skin to breathe. Also, never work out against a gym machine with no shirt on.
Go for non-comedogenic body lotion
If you see this word on your bottle of lotion, it means it was specifically formulated without oils and in a way that will make it less likely to cause clogged pores.
Opt for topical medication
If you consult a dermatologist about your back acne, which you should, they may prescribe topical ointments with antibiotics to help with the problem. And now, if you are wondering how to get rid of cystic back acne, other treatment options include hydrocortisone cream. Yet another ointment that is sold freely, it contains steroids and can improve your skin if used in moderation.
Buy a salicylic acid spray for back acne or other non-prescription products
There are light acid mixes that can alleviate your body acne struggles. They are sold over-the-counter and are safe to use, no medical assistance needed.
In-office Back Acne Treatment Singapore
If you’ve tried the above tips to no avail, then it might be time to get your hands on some heavy-duty treatments. Severe acne responds better to medical-grade procedures.
Lasers for Body Acne Treatment
Lasers can get rid of back acne the same way they do facial acne. The only difference is that the treatment is applied south of the neck instead of on the front. The technology works by emitting controlled pulses of light and heat, which penetrate the top layers of the skin, block inflammation, and destroy damaged skin cells along the way.
By injuring the skin, the laser sets off the body’s natural healing processes during which new collagen forms. This leaves the surface clear and suppler. The technology is ideal for every skin type.
Back Acne Scars Laser Treatment
The best thing about lasers is that they serve double duty by treating blemishes and dealing with their aftereffects. Laser treatment for back acne scars involves the same methodology but the intensity and devices might vary based on the scar type and its severity. The number of sessions necessary to put an end to the problem also varies.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels typically go on the face acting as both acne treatment and acne scar removal alternatives. If they can work on the gentle complexion, then there is no reason why they wouldn’t work on the back.
One thing you should know about them is that they should be applied under the supervision of a medical professional, preferably a dermatologist. This is because the acids in those peels can vary from mild to strong and sometimes a mixture of agents is combined for better results. Thus, if not used correctly, they can cause a lot of irreversible damage. It applies to those peels employed for acne scar treatment too.
Only a specialist knows how much product to smear on the skin, what agents to mix in, and how much time the concoction should sit on the targeted region in order to remove acne without causing any adverse reactions or side effects. They also know which chemicals can be left directly on the skin and which should be neutralised using other products.
There is no difference in the effectiveness of this treatment when used in different areas, face or back. The method is pretty much the same. The patient undergoes a medical check-up which determines if his health status and skin condition allow for such a procedure.
Then, the doctor selects the acids that will be most beneficial for the particular situation. They prep the skin with a topical anaesthetic and apply the solution. After a few minutes, reapplication follows. The final step is to remove the acids and put a soothing cream on. In most cases, patients need to go back for another session after a few weeks’ time, as this will ensure better outcomes.
Compared to laser treatments, chemical peels have lower downtime.
Takeaway
Perhaps the wisest piece of advice would be to avoid activity that causes back acne. But the truth of the matter is, we are human beings and we have our lives to live, so it’s not always possible to follow strict guidelines. And sometimes zits will happen anyway, even if we eat the best of diets and have the highest levels of hygiene.
For this reason, it is important to familiarise yourself with various therapies that combat body acne and experiment with them until you find what’s most effective for you. Some back acne treatments work better than others and this totally varies from patient to patient. The only way to know how your body responds to each is to give them a try under the care of a physician.