Back acne a.k.a bacne is an annoyance that we’ve all had to deal with one time or another, but there’s no reason you need to put up with it! Exfoliation is the number one method to make these back breakouts disappear for good. Keep reading to also learn some ways to figure out what is causing your breakouts and how to nip them in the bud.
Back acne can be a bit tricky to exfoliate since it’s in such a hard to reach area! Exfoliation is one of the best ways to treat and prevent future back acne breakouts. There are many ways you can exfoliate your back and you might already even have the supplies in your home! Many acne facial washes can also be used on your back or you can pick up a bodywash specially formulated for treating body acne.
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How to Exfoliate Back Acne
There are three methods of attack you can use to exfoliate back acne:
- Chemical Exfoliants
- Body Scrubs
- Physical Exfoliants like a Washcloth or Body Brush
Chemical exfoliants include ingredients like AHA and BHA which help unclog pores and remove excess sebum and dead cells. You can find chemical exfoliants in many skincare products like body sprays, acne cleansers, and moisturizers. If you don’t want to purchase a special body wash to treat back acne you can apply a exfoliating moisturizer right after showering to easily exfoliate those hard to reach areas.
Using a gentle body scrub is another easy way to exfoliate problem areas. You don’t have to purchase a body-specific scrub if you already use a facial scrub, feel free to multitask with your products! But if your facial cleanser is on the pricy side it is a good idea to pick up a cheaper body cleanser as you’re going to be going through a lot more product.
Lastly, you can keep things simple by exfoliating with a washcloth or body brush. If you use a shower loofah be sure that you are swapping it out every 1-2 months as they can grow bacteria.
If you have trouble reaching the areas where you are breaking out I suggest that you pick up one of these silicone back scrubbers. It’s safe to store in the shower and won’t mildew plus the handles make it super easy to thoroughly scrub your entire back or apply any body cleansers.
Exfoliating Products for Back Acne
Chemical exfoliants are the easiest way to painlessly treat body breakouts. My personal favorite is the PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash which has a 10% concentration of benzoyl peroxide which helps kill acne-causing bacteria and exfoliate excess dead skin cells and sebum that clog pores. This is actually my personal go-to facial cleanser but it has also done wonders for breakouts on my lower back. You can find this at most drugstores for around $9!
When using a body wash with active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide be sure to let it sit on the skin for 2-3 minutes before rinsing it off. This will allow the actives to penetrate deeper into the skin and provide faster results. Also, be sure to save your body wash for the tail end of your shower! Many hair products contain ingredients that can clog pores if left on the skin. If you rinse out your hair after using a body wash you may accidentally leave a residue of heavy hair formulas on the skin which may trigger breakouts on your back.
You can also chemically exfoliate your skin with moisturizers! The CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin is formulated with lactic acid which gently exfoliates the skin and helps to combat clogged pores. You can get a giant 12oz container for around $19 which will last you for quite a few months. It’s important to always moisturize after showering to prevent water loss in the skin. Many people stop after using just a facial lotion, your back and shoulders need some attention too!
The Best Physical Exfoliants for Back Acne
Onto physicals exfoliants! Manual scrubs are a very common skincare product that you may reach for to tackle body breakouts. Most popular brands of body scrubs use harsh exfoliants like sugar which can feed acne causing bacteria, salt that dries out the skin, coffee or ground walnut/apricot pits that can cause microtears in the skin, or comedogenic oils like coconut or olive oil that clog pores.
I have not been able to locate a body scrub that I am comfortable recommending and I advise that you save your money and stick to using a brush or silicone back scrubber like the one below. You can gently exfoliate your back using your normal body wash and not risk irritating your skin with harsh fragranced (and overpriced) scrubs.
It’s extremely easy to go overboard with scrubs and damage your skin barrier and most body scrubs are formulated with insanely high levels of fragrance which just further aggravate acne-prone skin!
Best Ingredients to Treat Bacne
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the two ingredients to watch out for while shopping for body acne skincare. Salicylic acid penetrates deeply into the skin because it is oil soluble and it can get deeper into the pores to break up excess sebum and trapped dead skin cells. If you have very oily skin or struggle with congested pores SA will be a lifesaver in your skincare routine. You can learn more about the many benefits of this acid in my article on Azelaic Acid vs Salicylic Acid.
Other AHA and BHAs will also be beneficial in treating bacne but benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are going to be the least inexpensive options in most skincare formulations.