Back Skin Problems
When we think of acne, our first thought is the face; however, some people, in addition to facial acne, have a horrible time with skin problems on their backs.
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Inflammation
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Acne is far worse than the occasional pimple. It is an inflammatory condition that zeros in on the tiny hair roots and the sebaceous glands that produce oils in our skin. Acne commonly occurs where the sebaceous glands are most active and that includes the back, according to malehealth.co.uk and an article written by Ricki Ostrov.
Characteristics
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Acne can be pretty gruesome-looking. Its characteristics include deep nodules that are located under the skin, which are tender; pus-filled pustules or spots; blackheads, which are also called comedones and appear in non-inflamed areas, and whiteheads, as well as inflamed bumps called papules.
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Puberty
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Acne often surfaces when a boy or girl goes through puberty; this is due to increased levels of testosterone, which is a male sex hormone--- but females also have it. When an individual's sebaceous glands and hair follicles change during puberty, due to the rise in hormonal activity, this can result in pustules and spots. For some, acne is a short-lived condition; for others, it is a lifelong battle and doesn't end when puberty is over.
Sebaceous Glands
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Because the sebaceous glands are very active on the back, as they are on the face, acne is apt to sprout up across your shoulders and may even cover your entire back. This is an unpleasant condition particularly if you are a female and want to wear strapless dresses. Guys don't enjoy it, either. When the sebaceous glands become extremely sensitive to even normal levels of testosterone, these glands begin producing even more oil (sebum). The oil travels to the skin via the hair follicles and results in greasy skin. When skin-cell growth changes, due to hormonal disruptions, these cells, which line the hair follicles, become sticky. The cells die and end up blocking or clogging the follicles. This results in an accumulation of oil in the follicles, which then solidifies and creates a blackhead or whitehead. Bacteria pops up in the follicle and reacts to the accumulation of oil by producing more bacteria and producing chemicals that lead to inflammation.
Bacteria
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The body has a reaction to this activity and resorts to bringing in white blood cells to kill the bacteria. This causes the formation of pus and the creation of a pustule. If the inflammation is deep-seated inside the follicle, it can cause the follicle to split. This results in deep inflammation in the skin in the form of a nodule.
What to Do
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According to acne-treatmentreview.com, drinking water will help keep your body hydrated and less prone to developing back acne. Staying fit will promote the circulation of oxygen to the cells in your body, helping your skin to stay healthier in general. Taking oral contraceptives often helps a woman clear up any problems that she has with acne. Take a multi-vitamin that contains vitamins A, B complex, C, E, L-carnitine and the mineral zinc and this should help clear up your back acne.
Since it is difficult to reach and treat your own back, get someone to assist you in applying over-the-counter cream or ointment that contains benzoyl peroxide, which will kill the bacteria that is causing the inflammation. However, it may take you a couple of months before you see any improvement. If this doesn't work, move on to the next step.
Other Options
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Consider using a topical antibiotic cream. This will clear up the bacteria and reduce inflammation. Ask your doctor about prescribing an oral antibiotic such as minocycline or tetracycline. If this isn't working, consider using Retin A or a comparable product, which is a derivative of vitamin A and is medically known as tretinoin. This product will normalize the growth of cells and prevent blockages. If your acne isn't responding to any of these, consider using Accutane, which must be prescribed. It lowers sebum (oil) production significantly and also reduces blockages and clears up inflammation; however, there are serious side effects, including depression and birth defects in fetuses.
Sunlight is good for healing acne---but don't over do it. Ultraviolet-light treatments are used to combat acne and are effective at healing mild to moderate cases.
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