What Can Cause Acne on a Man's Back?
When the word "acne" is mentioned, a few other words come to mind. Adolescence, for example. Face. A word that generally isn't recalled in association with acne is the back. Despite this, acne that occurs on the back is quite common, especially in men. There are several causes for back acne in men, most of which can be treated very easily. They include hormones, hygiene, clothing friction, clogged hair follicles and exercise.
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Hormones
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Hormones are responsible for or are at least related to most physical processes in the human body, both for men and women. Hormones thus are involved in the production of oil from the glands in the skin. Normally, large amounts of oil glands are on the face, which is one reason why acne is most common there, but men can have large amounts of oil glands on the back, as well. As a result, when hormones are overactive, oil can be produced on the male back that can clog pores and cause acne.
Hygiene
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Acne is essentially clogged pores and follicles. The pores and follicles can become clogged with dirt, lotions, soaps and even the remnants of dead skin cells. If a male does not wash his back properly, then these contaminants aren't removed from the pores and follicles, and acne results.
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Friction
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Some men wear clothing that is too tight for them. The friction from this tight clothing can irritate follicles and grind contaminants into pores. If severe enough, friction can cause tiny skin lesions to form that can become red and have white pus. These bumps are not acne in the sense of clogged pores--they really are infected cuts in the skin--but they resemble acne in size, feel and appearance.
Increased Hair
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Males tend to have more hair follicles on their backs than women do, although this varies from male to male. As a consequence, there are more follicles that can become clogged, more hairs can get pulled and irritated, etc., and the result is increased acne on the back.
Exercise
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Exercise is another cause of back acne in men. Exercise increases the amount of sweat and oil produced by the skin, and sometimes this sweat and oil is not washed away before it gets clogged in a pore or follicle, even if the male showers right after the exercise regimen. The sweat and oil trapped in the pore or follicle creates an acne bump. This can be avoided by using a towel frequently to wipe off excess sweat and oil as the exercise regimen is completed.
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