Acne pimples are not just a facial problem. Other areas of the body are susceptible as well. The neck, shoulders, arms, chest, and legs can all get the occasional or not so occasional zit. One place that sometimes gets acne, the back, even has a special name coined for it: bacne.
Bacne is what you have when your back has an outbreak of acne. In general, it's not quite so serious as getting facial acne because it's usually not as visible. It's much easier to hide back pimples under the clothing we wear most of the time. Of course, the exceptions are the times one is in a bathing suit or shirtless. Under these conditions bacne can be as much of a cosmetic problem as the facial variety of acne.
Like the other parts of the body, this form is caused by clogged pores. A type of oil called sebum is excreted in excess from the sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles on the back. These pores will become blocked if this oil is not promptly removed. This can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and zits or in other words, bacne.
It's also thought that acne, including bacne, can be caused by the friction or pressure from wearing tight fitting or synthetic articles. There's even a name for this, it's called acne mechanica. Heavy backpacks, shoulder pads, bra straps, and tight fitting synthetic uniforms that chafes or puts excess pressure on the skin can cause this type of bacne. If you must wear tight articles of clothing or heavy equipment, it may help to wear a cotton T-shirt underneath. Better to avoid the item that caused the problem, or at least make it less tight or heavy.
The treatment and prevention of bacne is also the same as for acne on the face. It's important to keep the back clean, and to avoid excess perspiration. Always wear clean clothing and undergarments next to the skin. Use a gentle back scrubber and a mild soap to clean the back area. Also, avoid the accumulation of dead skin cells on the back as this can add to the problem. You can use an exfoliate to remove these cells. Regular bathing (especially after any activity that causes you to sweat a lot, like working out) is important. If you can't do this right away, then at least try to wipe off well, and change into dry clothing. Apply acne medication to the affected areas after cleaning. All of these steps will help to discourage the formation of bacne.
In some cases bacne can be pretty stubborn, and difficult to control. But because back skin is less delicate than the face, it can be treated more aggressively. Over-the-counter medications can handle most cases of bacne. Most contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. There are also some good natural acne fighter you may try such as basil, neem, and tea tree oil. The advantage of these is that they not only are anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial, but they condition the skin as well. For more persistent or severe cases of back acne, a visit to the dermatologist may is necessary. If your bacne is really inflamed, or has developed into larger blemishes that could lead to deep scars; he or she can prescribe stronger treatment, including antibiotics if necessary.
So if you have bacne, it's not too difficult to manage in most cases. A little diligence on your part and you should soon see some improvement.
Stephanie McIntyre has been a Platinum eBay Powerseller, an eBay Trading Assistant as well as an Educational Assistant trained by eBay. Her company, eSales Unlimited Inc. specializes in training small business owners in using eBay as an additional revenue stream. She maintains a site with information on selling on eBay.
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