How to Get Rid of Back Acne for Men by Donna Reese

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Donna Reese
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Written By Donna Reese, MSN, RN, CSN
Donna Reese is a freelance nurse health content writer with 37 years nursing experience. She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in her local community clinic, as a school nurse, and in home health and rehabilitation, along with hospital nursing. She utilizes her life experiences to write from the…
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Medically Reviewed By
Marie Villamil
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Medically Reviewed ByMarie Villamil, RN, LPT, Certified Caregiver Nurse, Reviewer, Health and Wellness Editor
Marie is a registered nurse who gladly shares her knowledge through health-related articles and blog posts. She works with different teams to be able to produce the most relevant and reliable information readers can find online and offline. She strives hard to achieve real success. Her goals in life keep…
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Published On Jun 25, 2021,

Last Updated On June 25, 2021

Are you embarrassed by unsightly pimples on your back? With summer here, exposing your skin may a source of humiliation for you. Instead of avoiding the beach or pool to hide your problem, try these steps to get rid of back acne.

Before you know it, you can feel free to shed that t-shirt and show off your skin without risking sideways glances and questions about your acne.

What is Back Acne?

First of all, be aware that facial and back acne are basically the same thing but on different areas of your body. Pimples are caused by a mixture of bacteria and clogged pores. When hair follicles in the skin’s pores become plugged with dead skin cells and oil, acne can result.

Men tend to have more acne on their backs due to sweating more than women. The excess sweating leads to increased bacteria causing the skin oil to be contaminated, leading to pimples. Furthermore, male hormones, called testosterone or androgen, are linked to acne in men.

These factors, in addition to the ones listed below, can make acne a male problem that is bothersome.

Ways to Prevent Back Acne

It is easier to take steps to avoid back acne than to treat it after it becomes an issue. The following are tips to prevent this unsightly condition before it starts:

Take a shower daily and as soon as you can after sweating. Washing at night before bed will give your back a better chance to heal vs. sleeping with bacteria on your skin.
Use a good body wash designed to treat acne to wash your back in the shower.
Use a clean back brush to wash your back with soap. Gently scrub the skin. Excess friction may actually add to the problem.
Change out of your wet shirt as soon as you can.
Avoid friction to your back as much as possible. Back friction can be caused by workout clothing and equipment, backpacks, running with a shirt on, and chairs.
If you sweat a lot at night, try sleeping on your side to avoid excess sweat on your back. Keep your bedroom cool and change your sheets often.
Avoid skin-tight shirts and shirts that do not “breath” well. Clean cotton and moisture-wicking clothing are best to prevent acne from occurring.
Avoid steroids, which can cause acne and aggravate the condition.
Drink plenty of water.
Small amounts of sun can help to keep your back clear. However, sunburns and an abundance of sun exposure can aggravate your skin.

How to Treat Back Acne?

Once you notice blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules on your back, it is time to double up on the preventative measures and add in some additional steps to treat the situation.

Some suggestions for treating back acne are:

Invest in some over-the-counter (OTC) non-prescription acne care products.
If OTC acne products do not help, talk with your doctor about prescription oral and topical medication to treat acne. Sometimes a physician will prescribe antibiotics and other medicines along with acne skin creams to help get rid of back acne.
Take a look at the medication you are taking. Some medications can cause acne. Talk to your doctor about this.
Consider seeing a dermatologist. They specialize in skin conditions and offer an array of remedies that may help, such as skin peels, light therapy, and hormonal therapy.

The Take-Away

Hopefully, by reading “How to Get Rid of Back Acne,” you have a better idea of what may be the cause of your pimples. In addition, now that you know how to prevent and treat back acne, you should feel more comfortable in your skin.

Hopefully, you can control the problem before it begins, but if not, at least you know there is help out there for you, no matter how your back looks. Maybe this will be the summer that you will have the confidence to shed your shirt and enjoy all that summer has to offer!