How to Treat Back Acne

Let's face it, acne is gross, painful, embarrassing, leaves scars and can seriously affect your self-esteem. As if pimples on your face weren't bad enough, those who suffer from back acne have really got it hard, as acne in hard-to-reach places is also hard to treat. Never fear, a few tips can help.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Recognize some of the triggers of back acne and acne in general. Common acne triggers include stress, greasy and fatty foods, tight clothing, improper bathing after excessive sweating and even carrying a heavy backpack. While these triggers may not be the cause of your acne, they certainly make matters worse, so eliminating them as much as possible will help you to successfully treat the problem.
2. Use a loofah to exfoliate the skin every day in the shower before you wash your back. Loofahs are available on sticks for easy reaching and should be replaced every 4 to 6 weeks.
3. Apply a generous amount of antibacterial soap to a clean washcloth and gently scrub your back after exfoliation to help kill the bacteria, which is the actual cause of acne.
   If it is hard to reach problem areas, try gripping the washcloth behind your back with both hands, working up and down the best you can. For antibacterial soap to work, it must be in contact with the skin for at least 30 seconds. Finally, make sure that you use a new, clean washcloth every day.
4. Allow your back to dry thoroughly. Treat current pimples and prevent the formation of new ones by applying an even layer of cream or gel that contains 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, available over the counter. Unfortunately, if some areas are hard to reach, you will have to recruit help.
5. Treat acne further by applying a light layer of lotion with AHA, or alpha hydroxy acids, directly on top of your benzoyl peroxide application.

Tips & Warnings

• If your back acne does not improve within 2 or 3 weeks, you may consider seeing a dermatologist for prescription medications, creams and further treatment.