Do you know what bacne is? It’s like the acne you get on your face, but it appears on your back, chest and shoulders. Almost everyone going through puberty gets it in some shape or form, (fact: your upper torso has more oil glands than anywhere else on your body!). It’s annoying, embarrassing and it can be painful.
The good news? It’s very treatable, with the right products and the right changes to your daily routines - even how often you wash your underwear can make a difference. Follow some simple steps and be consistent with your new regime and you’ll see a difference in a couple of weeks.
Here’s our Bacne low-down:
What causes Bacne?
The same things that cause acne on your face. That’s too much sebum, a build up of dead skin cells that block pores and then the bacteria that likes to hang around all that sebum and congestion. And because the skin on our upper torso is thicker than the skin on our faces, the chances of inflammation are even higher.
But there are other triggers, too:
- Hormones - A rise in hormones - particularly androgens - during puberty is a huge acne trigger. Mainly because they give your sebaceous glands the green light for producing more sebum. And more sebum = more spots.
- Sweat - as with facial acne, sweat is one of the biggest bad guys. That’s why bacne is often worse during the summer or if you’re sporty.
- Diet - What you eat can make a huge difference to your skin. Certain foods cause hormones to surge in your body, which can trigger spots.
- Stress - When you’re worked up, your body releases ‘stress hormones’ - mostly cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol causes increased oil production and that leads to clogged pores and acne.
- Friction - tight clothes, combined with sweat, that rub against your body skin can trigger bacne breakouts.
- Hair and skincare products - yes, oil from your hair can trigger bacne! As can products you put on it and heavy or fragranced body washes and moisturisers. Oily sunscreens can be guilty, too!
How to banish Bacne?
Follow these anti-back acne tips and to curb those pesky breakouts fast:
1. Wash that sweat off!
When you’re a teen/tween, you can’t be hit or miss about showering or bathing any more. Sweat and sebum that sits on your body skin is heaven for the bacteria, so washing thoroughly morning or night and always after sport is essential, if you want a blemish-free back. If you can’t shower straight away after a match (and we know that’s the case for lots of teens at school), make sure you change out of your sweaty kit asap. And, if you can, give your back and chest a quick cleanse with our Gentle Cleansing Lotion.
2. Wear clean, breathable clothes
Think twice about wearing bras and t-shirts for days on end. Bacteria likes sitting on dirty, sweaty clothes, too, so wash and change regularly any clothes and sports kit that sit close to your skin. And make sure your sport kit isn’t too tight (bacne loves friction!) and wicks sweat away from your skin.
3. Wash your sheets and towels weekly
Teens are sweaty sleepers. Bed linen also gets its fair share of dead skin cells, sebum and even grease from your hair. No wonder sheets, left on more than a week, are a breeding ground for bacne causing bacteria. Wash them! Towels, too, for all of the above reasons…
4. Exfoliate gently
Like facial acne, back and body acne is caused by a build up of dead skin cells and oil that clog pores. Gently rubbing your skin with a clean flannel when you wash will help clear off that dead skin and sebum. Even more effective, use a body wash with Salicylic Acid, which can get deep into pores, downsize blemishes and leave acne-prone backs smoother and clearer.
5. Don’t pick your spots!
We know it’s tempting, but you know what? Picking, squeezing and popping bacne, might be satisfying, but it will damage and irritate your skin, spread the bacteria and up the chances of infection and scarring.
6. Check out probiotics
You can find them in Kefir, live yoghurt and kimchi, or take a supplement daily, but these are a blessing for skin problems. Mainly because they increase the good bacteria in your gut. And a balanced, healthy gut reduces inflammation all through your body - including your back and chest.
7. Keep your shampoo and conditioner off your back
Why? Your shampoo might contain sulphates, which create the suds that can strip and dry your body skin, upsetting its natural balance and triggering irritation and more spots. And your conditioner might have moisturisers that can block pores if you leave it on your body skin. Try to clip your hair up when you're conditioning it and rinse your hair away from your body to keep the foam away from your back (or use our famous sulphate free shampoos!)
8. Use your face spot zappers on your body
What works to downsize spots on your face, will do the same to your body acne. So, feel free to dab on your favourite spot cream or follow showering with the leave on Salicylic Acid Lotion that’s working wonders on your facial blackheads and breakouts. Check out our Super Balm and Gentle Exfoliating Liquid.
Find out more about our Anti-Blemish Body Wash, non-comedogenic (that means it doesn’t block pores!) Brilliant Body Lotion and all our Body products specially formulated for teen/tween skin.
