Causes of Body Acne

Back and body acne is a common problem for many acne sufferers. Unfortunately, there are not as many treatment options available for those that suffer from body acne, and just as with normal acne treatment, most of these treatments simply do not work. In order to put an end to stubborn back and body acne, you need to understand your skin and treat it effectively.

Because the skin on areas such as your back is different from the skin on your face, the type of acne you suffer from can be different as well. Generally, almost all cases of facial acne are caused by an excessive production of skin oil (sebum) by the glands in your pores. This is largely the case for body acne as well. However, besides skin oil, your pores can also be clogged by a build-up of dead cells. The important thing to understand is that areas such as your back may be much more susceptible to this later cause of acne.

The layer of skin on your back is thicker than on your face, and is less frequently exposed to the elements and other factors that could aid in exfoliation (the process of shedding dead skin cells). Many people only half-heartedly wash their backs in the shower, and this may simply not be enough to scrape away those dead cells.

To make sure you’re exfoliating your entire body properly, leave that bar of soap alone. Buy some gentle body wash and a bath sponge with some texture to it. Wash thoroughly every day in those hard-to-reach places. If you need to purchase a back-scrubber to reach everywhere, then get one. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t need to scrape hard against your skin. Any sponge will usually exfoliate the top layer of your skin much better than your hands.

Once you begin exfoliating properly, you’ll probably notice results fast, but there’s still the matter of preventing acne from forming in the first place.

Take a moment to consider if you are doing anything that causes acne. If you frequently wear clothing that isn’t quite clean, you may be giving bacteria an extra opportunity to form. This is especially important for clothing that hugs close to your skin and doesn’t breath well. If you wear tight clothes and exercise, make sure not to sit around in sweaty clothes for long.