How to Cure Back and Body Acne
Acne is a condition that affects everyone sooner or later. While facial acne is the most common form of the affliction, it can occur on other parts of the body and this is known as body acne. Back and body acne affects males and females, teens and adults. However it is usually most common (and most severe) in males.
Body acne is caused by the same factors as facial acne. These include overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells, and a proliferation of acne-causing bacteria. Oil and dead skin cells become trapped within the follicle, or pore, and create a blockage. This blockage can become a blackhead (a dark, non-inflamed acne lesion) and may progress further into a pimple (an inflamed acne lesion presenting as a red bump on the skin with a white top or head) if bacteria invade.
The first step you need to take towards curing back and body acne is to stay clean. Bathe or shower frequently using a gentle body wash to clean the affected parts of the body. Ensure that you use this at least twice a day and perhaps even more if you live in a hot and humid climate where you perspire a lot. Sweat can irritate body acne. When exercising or engaging in some other vigorous form of physical activity it’s important to shower as soon as possible afterwards. Avoid scrubbing the skin, even with a loofah. A thorough, but gentle cleansing, preferably with a salicylic acid wash, is better than a vigorous scrubbing.
If the outbreak is mild, back and body acne will often respond to over-the-counter treatments. Using a salicylic acid wash every day or wiping the affected areas with pads containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid will often do the trick. Another potential remedy is any lotion containing an alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic or lactic acid. Alpha hydroxy acids help to speed cell turnover, rapidly exfoliating the skin and reducing the number of pore blockages.
Moderate to severe forms of body acne can be more difficult to control, and need to be treated by a physician. Topical and oral medications are often prescribed. Common treatments include Retin A, oral antibiotics and Accutane (isotretinoin). Accutane is only used for very severe forms of acne, or after other treatment options have been exhausted. This is because it has a risk of potentially severe side effects.
Don’t expect miracles from a body acne cure – acne takes time to develop and will not go away overnight. Fortunately, most cases of acne can be successfully treated, given time and patience.
Acne is a problem that can happen to anyone, no matter their age or lifestyle. Fortunately, there are a number of ways of , ranging from treatment methods for simple acne outbreaks or more advanced approaches to .