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Oh, great! Another pimple—said no one ever. Acne isn’t just limited to your face and can actually pop up on other parts of your body, including your back. If you’re dealing with acne on your back, a.k.a. bacne, you may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed showing your skin. Fortunately, there are things you can do to clear up your bacne and keep it from coming back.
Steps
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I've been dealing with bad acne on my back for years now, and it's been making me feel self-conscious. I've tried showering and washing my back m... Read More
If you are using just over the counter products, get a wash with either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which you can buy without a prescript... Read More
Something that helped me is changing my shirts more frequently. In the summer I can sweat a lot and I think that sweat getting trapped on my skin... Read More
Expert Q&A
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QuestionMy acne isn't that bad. How long do you think it can take to go away?Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.You may start to see improvement after about 2 - 4 weeks of using the lifestyle changes and the over-the-counter remedies mentioned above. If you are not noticing a change, you can contact your healthcare provider.
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Tips
- Avoid wearing the same shirt for too long if you’re dealing with bacne. Your sweat and oils can accumulate and clog up your pores, making your bacne worse.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- When you sweat, it helps provide bacteria with a path to clog your pores. If you want to avoid acne on your back, don't do anything that makes you sweat a lot. If you do work out or play sports or something, wipe your back dry periodically.
- I have bacne and I've found the Australian Bodycare products to be really helpful. I also really like using tea tree oil for clearing up marks or spots that seem like they could become acne.
- I have a theory that chlorinated water helps, since my bacne tends to clear up when I go swimming in public pools. It's worth a shot! Plus, swimming is fun!
- Try to remember, bacne is just another sign that you're human. Everybody has their little quirks and imperfections, so don't beat yourself up over it.
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Warnings
- Never take prescription acne medication unless it’s prescribed by your doctor.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-best-back-acne-treatments.html
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/DIY/back-acne
- ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-best-back-acne-treatments.html
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/DIY/back-acne
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/body-and-physical-health/a20212414/how-to-get-rid-of-body-back-acne/
- ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-treat-bacne
- ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-treat-bacne
- ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-once-and-for-all
- ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-treat-bacne
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a32876/back-acne-treatment/
- ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-once-and-for-all
- ↑ https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-best-back-acne-treatments.html
- ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-once-and-for-all
About This Article
Article Summary
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To get rid of bacne, start gently exfoliating your back with a sponge or loofah whenever you shower to remove dead skin that clogs pores. Also, swap your body wash and lotion out with over-the-counter medicated alternatives, like a salicylic acid wash. It may also help if you spot treat your bacne with a benzoyl peroxide cream before bed. If your bacne persists, try switching up laundry detergents, and get a new filtered shower head — these things may reduce irritation on your back. For more tips, like using a retinol cream to get rid of bacne, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I totally loved the article, as it helped me to get rid of my bacne at a much faster rate. The video elaborated the methods and was pretty much helpful, too." ..." more
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"I totally loved the article, as it helped me to get rid of my bacne at a much faster rate. The video elaborated the methods and was pretty much helpful, too."
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"The video helped explain more, and also I liked how you did medical treatments and natural treatments! I'll be trying/doing a lot of these, thank you!"
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"This is a helpful solution for pre-teens and teens. Most of the teens get acne and bacne. This is a great way to show how to get rid of it!"
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"The salt water really helped, and so did the natural cream I made from grapefruit sugar and salt. Also wash your bra daily."
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"What helped me most is probably knowing that I wasn't the only one with these horrific spots on my shoulders and back."
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