| Back Acne Back acne is common and often harder to treat than facial acne. The back is made of tough skin with thousands of sebaceous glands that produce a lot of oil. Back acne is usually viewed as the same disease as facial acne since it develops in a similar manner and expresses itself in similar lesions. However, sebaceous glands on the back are larger and produce more oil than those on the face. These larger glands can produce more severe lesions such as nodules and cysts more frequently. The skin on the back is also much thicker than that on the face, sometimes making effective treatment more challenging. Causes of back acne No one is certain of the cause of acne. We do know that maturation of the oil glands is required. This is why we see back acne only after puberty begins. Beyond this, what causes back acne is similar to what causes facial acne. For some reason, acne prone individuals tend to overproduce skin cells inside of their pores. This overproduction of skin cells creates pore blockage. The blockage traps skin oil which creates a perfect breeding ground for acne bacteria. The proliferation of bacteria along with a build up of oil and skin cells often breaks the pore wall, signaling the body to enact its immune response. The immune response brings redness and pus into the area, and a zit is born. When speaking about back acne in particular, there is a particular form of acne called “acne mechanica” - a fancy name for acne which is caused by irritation of the skin. Anything that repeatedly rubs against the skin, such as backpacks, rough massages, tight fitting clothing, weight lifting machines which press on the shoulder area, or anything else that rubs the back area and irritates the skin can aggravate acne in that area. Acne mechanica tends to be aggravated by moisture, so if you’re sweaty and combine that with the repeated rubbing that comes with your backpack, clothing, etc., that could make the problem worse. By simply existing as a human being, your back is going to be in contact with chairs, clothing, beds, and other people’s touch so no one will be able to remove all irritation of the skin of the back. Still, there are some simple ways you can help the situation. |
 |