How To Get Rid Of Bacne: 5 Products That Actually Work
Bazaar contributor Leen Hajjar shares her first-hand experience with battling pesky breakouts on the body – and the products that actually helped clear it up
Back acne can be irritating, stubborn and especially disturbing during the summer time — trust me, I know.
It all started at the age of 18 when I moved to the United States to begin my college experience at a university in a small town outside of Boston. Little did I know that new food —which mostly consisted of fried dishes at the college’s cafeteria — extremely cold from the East Coast weather, and a new shared living space, built in the 1800’s, would not only impact my emotional well-being but could also cause large, cystic acne to appear on my back.
I noticed these spots during my first week at college when I couldn’t sleep one night due to their bothersome and painful nature. I initially thought that they were a rash from my body’s response to the stress of moving a thousand miles away from my hometown of Amman, Jordan; I assumed they would go away after a relaxing, warm shower.
My optimism quickly faded when I noticed that the acne was still present several days after my lovely shower. Feeling extremely frustrated and confused I (of course) turned to Google to research “home-remedies for back acne.” One of the first tips that appeared was to dab apple cider vinegar on your spots, so off I went to the nearest grocery store to purchase my “acne remedy.” The apple cider vinegar, however, did not help clear my acne but instead irritated it. I then tried a new remedy that I also found online, which was to squeeze lemon juice on your spots as lemons are known to be antibacterial; this “remedy” was also another failed attempt. I spent several months trying to clear my blemishes through at-home remedies and various drug-store scrubs. The process was excruciating and extremely lonely, especially because I was living alone in a new city with friends who had never struggled with acne.
After three to four months of failed attempts to clear my blemishes, I shared my experience with a family friend who also experienced back acne during her early adulthood. She had spoken to multiple dermatologists who recommended the best products and daily habits to help her, which she kindly shared with me during multiple conversations. Fast-forward 11 years later, I can now confidently say that the at-home remedies I tried during my college days made my acne worse.
Here’s what actually worked on my quest to get rid of the breakouts on my back…
But First, What is Back Acne (a.k.a. Bacne)?
Similar to face acne, hormonal imbalances, oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells are all reasons for acne to appear on our backs.
“Clogged pores and excess oil are two major contributing factors to body acne,” says Rita Qubain, a Jordanian licensed esthetics teacher, who has been my go-to skin expert since she helped improve my “adult face acne” last year (which is an entirely different experience of mine) through her advice and product suggestions.
“Acne commonly appears on parts of the body that have the most oil and the skin on our back also has oil glands, which is why many people experience spots and blackheads on that specific area,” she adds. Additionally, sweat combined with bacteria on our skin can clog pores, which can also lead to breakouts on the body.
Does Exercising Make Bacne Worse?
Many people who exercise who can’t shower immediately after they’re finished working up a sweat are likely to develop back acne (I was one of those people who thought that staying in my workout clothes to run errands after a workout was fine). My advice to you? Try to change out of your workout clothes and jump into the shower as soon as you finish your workout.
How To Clear Up Back Acne?
While back acne can be extremely painful and bothersome, especially if it’s in tricky places, I have tried and tested countless products and beauty treatments that have helped during my acne journey. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from dealing with my back acne is the importance of creating a daily routine that works for you, which may include showering regularly, exfoliating once a week, and using your spot treatment each night, and sticking with your routine for at least one month to truly notice a difference.
I know that an entire month may seem too long of a wait, but it generally takes 28-40 days for a full skin-cell turnover to occur through a process called desquamation, so please try to be patient. It is also important to find specific products that work for your skin type, whether that may be oily, dry, or sensitive, and to continue using that same product, even though you might be tempted to try something new after a week — I have done that and learned from it.
Here are some of the best body acne treatments that can help you battle those pesky breakouts.
1. PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash: This wash includes 10% benzoyl peroxide, which is one of the best acne-fighting ingredients, available on Amazon AE ).
View this post on Instagram
2. Laser Acne Treatment: Laser technologies are commonly used to treat body acne by removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores, which can help reduce bacteria and minimize inflammation.
View this post on Instagram
3. Murad Acne Clarifying Body Spray: Murad’s quick-drying acne body spray with 0.5% salicylic acid helps treat and prevent body breakouts on the shoulders, back and beyond. Available at all Bloomingdales stores across the UAE.
View this post on Instagram
4. Back Facial: Just like we should be getting facials to improve skin on our face, back facials are essential to help with bacne. The process of an esthetician attending to your back and using certain products and techniques to unclog pores, extract blackheads, and exfoliate the skin is extremely beneficial. Your skin will thank you later.
View this post on Instagram
5. Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment: This gel treatment not only helps tackle the specific spots on your back, but it also helps prevent scarring, available on Amazon AE.
View this post on Instagram
Lead image courtesy of Jason Lloyd-Evans (Jacquemus FW20)