Summertime is right around the corner, and that means barbecues, pool parties, swimsuits, and sundresses. It’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the warmer temperatures, but it’s also a good time to draw attention to “bacne” or in other words, acne on your back.
If you’re struggling with blemishes and bumps on your back, then summertime can seem like a nightmare. You want to stay comfortable in loose-fitting clothing and swimsuits, but the pimples on your back can make your favorite clothes feel like a giant spotlight on your acne.
Don’t worry, Rael has a holistic way of dealing with back acne. We’ll tell you why it’s there in the first place, what’s causing it, and how you can get rid of it all while regaining total confidence this summer, no matter what you’re wearing.
What is Back Acne?
Keeping blemishes off your face is a big enough challenge, but seeing them on your back seems incredibly unfair, especially if you’re still getting them on your face.
Unfortunately, acne can happen anywhere on your body where you have sebaceous glands, which are basically all over. The most common places for acne to appear are on your face, chest, shoulders, and back. There are more oil-producing glands in those areas that can cause break-outs.
The acne you develop on your back may not look exactly like the acne on your face. It may be characterized less by small white pimples and more by larger red bumps that resemble welts. Smaller pimples may appear at the top part of your back and neck, expanding onto your shoulders and chest.
You may also develop blackheads on your back. Blackheads are clogged pores that are open, while whiteheads are clogged pores that are closed off. If you’re experiencing acne on your face, back, and chest, you aren’t alone. Body acne is very common and often flares in the summer.
What Causes Back Acne?
You develop acne on your back in the same way you develop acne on your face. Your pores become clogged with dead skin cells, excess oil, dirt, and bacteria, and a blemish forms. However, there may be different reasons why your pores are becoming clogged on your back.
Sweating
Sweating is one of the main causes of acne on the back. Sweat itself does not cause acne, but blemishes form when your sweat mixes with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells under your clothing.
Because your back is usually covered with a shirt, the skin underneath lives in a virtual bacterial breeding ground. It’s darker, damp, and prime real estate for bumps to develop.
Once you develop back acne, your immediate response is usually to attempt to cover up with clothing. This can make your back acne worse.
Wearing certain types of clothing can also trigger body acne, making it worse. 100% cotton is the best material to wear against your skin. Polyester blends tend to trap more moisture and keep it locked against your skin.
Exercise and Sports Activities
You love your daily hot yoga class, but if you’re not wearing breathable clothing, you’re more prone to breakouts. Excess sweat from working out gets pummelled into your pores, especially if you’re wearing tight-fitting athletic clothing, like sports bras or spandex tops.
Additionally, athletic wear can be so form-fitting that it doesn’t allow your skin to breathe. If you wear it after your workout, it can trap sweat, dirt, oil, and dead skin cells against your skin, creating blemishes.
Athletic clothing can also store bacteria, so it’s important to keep your workout gear clean.
Hormones
Hormones could be to blame for your back blemishes, too. Your hormone levels rise and fall throughout your entire monthly cycle. When your hormone levels change, your skin can become drier, which can signal your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
Excess oil can clog your pores and create blemishes. If hormones are to blame, you can still help clear away back acne by using better skincare products.
Products
We spend a lot of time carefully considering what products we use on our face, but most of us don’t give the same respect to our back. Products can clog pores on your back just like they can clog the pores on your face.
For backs one of the biggest offenders is sunscreen. Certain ingredients in sunscreen can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It goes without saying you definitely need sun protection, which is why it’s so important to look for sunscreens that are non-comedogenic and don’t contain harsh, irritating chemicals.
Your body wash, soaps, and lotions could also be giving you blemishes. If your products contain ingredients that could clog the pores on your face, chances are they are capable of clogging the pores on your body, too.
How to Get Rid of Back Acne
With the right tools, you can get rid of bumps and blemishes on your back and prevent them from coming back. Here’s everything you need to know about getting rid of back acne.
Keep the Skin Exposed Frequently
Keeping your back skin exposed can help it breathe. If you are constantly covering your back with clothing, you can increase the amount you sweat. You also can increase the amount of time that sweat (along with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells) is strapped to your back by your shirt.
Keep it Clean
Take special care to keep the blemished area of your back as clean and dry as possible. If you suspect your products may be to blame for your blemishes, try using similar products you use on your face, on the skin of your back.
A great facial cleanser like Rael’s Daily Detox is great for using on your face and back. The all-natural, gentle ingredients like olive oil, chinaberry extract, and vitamin B5 help clear away excess dirt and oil without stripping skin of natural moisture, helping restore balance to the skin gently and without irritation.
Exfoliating your back skin with a mild exfoliant can also help remove dead skin cells and keep the area free from buildup.
Change After Your Workout
Our lives often times are busy and it’s easy to jump from one activity to the next is super comfortable athleisure.
Unfortunately, wearing a sweaty sports bra and tank the rest of your day can cause you to experience breakouts on your back. It’s best to change immediately after your workout and shower, if possible.
Don’t have time or access to a shower between workout and brunch? Stash a pack of wipes in your back and use them to gently remove the sweat and dirt from your back before you change into your clean clothes.
Become a Spot Treatment Pro
When all else fails, spot treat your blemishes by using proven techniques to eliminate them in a matter of hours. Pimple patches aren’t just a great solution for bumps on your face, you can use them on your back acne, too.
Pimple patches are small, clear patches that you place directly over your blemish. Leave it on for four hours or overnight and remove the patch to reveal clarified skin. Pimple patches use hydrocolloid care to remove excess oil and pus from pimples, leaving your skin blemish-free.
Rael’s pimple patches are available in two different strengths; one for already developed bumps and one for under-the-skin bumps. Our pimple patches also come in two different sizes, so whether you’re dealing with a single blemish or a larger breakout, we’ve got you covered.
Get Rael Products
You know Rael is your go-to source for holistic beauty care, but we’re also passionate about skincare. Our products are developed with natural, safe ingredients and formulated with K-beauty technology. The result is skincare that is powerfully effective but gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.
Our Miracle Clear Trio is the perfect solution for clear, glowing summer skin on your face and body. You’ll get our Exfoliating Cleanser, Clarifying Toner, and Barrier Cream specifically designed gently and effectively fight acne without drying out skin. Our Acne Patches are also a quick way to treat pimples or clusters of pimples without popping or picking at your skin.
You’ve got options this summer for skincare, and we’re guessing plenty of invites to summer soirees. Don’t miss out because of a breakout. Take care of the skin on your back just like the skin on your face and feel cool and confident all summer long.
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