Treating Back and Body Acne
Back and body acne is a common problem for many acne sufferers.
Unfortunately, there are not as many treatment options available
for those that suffer from body acne, and just as with normal
acne treatment, most of these treatments simply do not work. In
order to put an end to stubborn back and body acne, you need to
understand your skin and treat it effectively.
Body acne is different from facial acne.
Because the skin on areas such as your back is different from
the skin on your face, the type of acne you suffer from can be
different as well. Generally, almost all cases of facial acne
are caused by an excessive production of skin oil (sebum) by the
glands in your pores. This is largely the case for body acne as
well. However, besides skin oil, your pores can also be clogged
by a build-up of dead cells. The important thing to understand
is that areas such as your back may be much more susceptible to
this later cause of acne.
The layer of skin on your back is thicker than on your face, and
is less frequently exposed to the elements and other factors
that could aid in exfoliation (the process of shedding dead skin
cells). Many people only half-heartedly wash their backs in the
shower, and this may simply not be enough to scrape away those
dead cells.
To make sure you're exfoliating your entire body properly, leave
that bar of soap alone. Buy some gentle body wash and a bath
sponge with some texture to it. Wash thoroughly every day in
those hard-to-reach places. If you need to purchase a
back-scrubber to reach everywhere, then get one. Keep in mind
that you shouldn't need to scrape hard against your skin. Any
sponge will usually exfoliate the top layer of your skin much
better than your hands.
Once you begin exfoliating properly, you'll probably notice
results fast, but there's still the matter of preventing acne
from forming in the first place.
Take a moment to consider if you are doing anything that causes
acne. If you frequently wear clothing that isn't quite clean,
you may be giving bacteria an extra opportunity to form. This is
especially important for clothing that hugs close to your skin
and doesn't breath well. If you wear tight clothes and exercise,
make sure not to sit around in sweaty clothes for long.
Can acne treatments help?
Chances are that many of the same acne treatments that work on
your face will work on your back and body, but they may not be
quite as potent on the thicker skin of your back. Reading the
reviews for some acne skin
care products may help you learn which one is right for you.
However, if you really want to prevent acne from forming, you
need to prevent your oil glands from over-producing. Internal
acne treatments are the best choice for this, as they are the
only treatments that can really prevent acne, and it's also just
easier to take a pill rather than trying to apply a cream in a
place such as your back. There are a few vitamin supplements
that can help with acne prevention.
Vitamin A can help by strengthening your skin cells and reducing
the production levels of your oil glands. However, too much
vitamin A can have serious side effects, so it's best to take it
simply with a multivitamin so that you are sure to get your
recommended daily value. Zinc is a mineral that also aids in
regulating your oil glands, and is a powerful antioxidant that
can eliminate toxins in your skin cells. Taking a zinc
supplement every day has been shown to reduce acne for many. Too
much zinc can cause stomach pain, so just be sure to listen to
your body.
Vitamin B5 is the safest and most effective vitamin for acne
treatment. The doses required are higher than for other
vitamins, but since B5 is water-soluble there is no health risk
at all. Vitamin B5 assists oil regulation by enhancing the rate
at which your body metabolizes skin oil, and thus can prevent
most cases of acne when taken in sufficient doses.
By exfoliating properly on the outside and preventing acne on
the inside, almost anyone can be rid of body acne in just a few
weeks.