Although most people associate acne with the face, back acne is also a very common form of this skin condition. Whatever symptoms you associate with acne on the face: whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and so on, you can also get on your back.
The problem with your back is that it contains a lot of oil-producing glands that help to block up your pores. Although many people think back acne less of a problem than the more visible facial acne, it can be an unpleasant condition, especially if you like swimming and sunbathing a lot. So what causes back acne and what can be done about it?
As for other forms of acne, the real cause of back acne is unknown, but it is certainly not caused by eating fatty foods or chocolate. It tends to occur after puberty, and is common among athletes, which is why it has the alternative name of athletic acne. It is believed by some to be caused by a combination of sweating and friction of the clothes on your back, but it is highly likely that these conditions only make an existing condition worse.
At puberty, the hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands into generating more sebum, an oily substance that waterproofs and protects the skin and hair. However, sebum is also involved in the formation of acne, although the exact mechanism is not understood. It is believed that the pores become clogged with sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells, and that bacterial attack of this oily mass causes it to become infected. Your immune system reacts to the bacteria, and the pus is formed by dead white blood cells that succumbed during the fight with the bacteria. The immune system's inflammatory response causes the redness and inflammation.
Back acne forms on the back and buttocks of people from 10 years old to around 40, and it is likely that it is exacerbated by excessive sweating during athletic activity and the abrasion of tight clothing against the back. Pustules are formed if the pore blockage is close to the surface of the skin, but if it is deeper, then a papule in the form of an inflamed lump can form. This papule has no white head, since the pus will be deeper in the skin, and scratching or squeezing it can cause extensive scarring.
The most severe form of back acne creates cysts deep within the skin, and these will cause scarring if they erupt. The common blackhead is not caused by dirt but by reaction of the infected sebum with the melanin in the skin to form a discoloration. A whitehead is simply an eruption of the pus on the surface, and these can be squeezed if you know how to do it properly.
However, the best treatment depends on how deep the pore blockage and the infection are. Isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane and Accure) is an oral prescriptive acne treatment that slows down the production of sebum, and therefore helps the condition to clear up. Antibiotics can help to clear up bacterial infections, and there are also a variety of creams and lotions than can effective clear up mild cases of back acne. Benzoyl peroxide (Oxy or Clearasil Max) can be effective on the back, but don't use it on your face, and an antibacterial soap can help to keep the surface of your skin clean and free from bacteria.
It is not easy to prevent back acne, but an antibacterial soap to keep bacteria down and an exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin cells, can help prevent the blockage of your pores. Keep in mind that anybody can get it, it is not hereditary, cannot be passed from one person to another and has nothing to do with cleanliness. Try not to squeeze spots until you have seen your doctor, and then follow the expert medical advice given.
