Effective Strategies for Clearing Up Back and Body Acne
Acne is a condition that affects everyone sooner or later. While facial acne is the most common form of the affliction, it can occur on other parts of the body and this is known as body acne. Back and body acne affects males and females, teens and adults. However it is usually most common (and most severe) in males.
Body acne is caused by the same factors as facial acne. These include overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells, and a proliferation of acne-causing bacteria. Oil and dead skin cells become trapped within the follicle, or pore, and create a blockage. This blockage can become a blackhead (a dark, non-inflamed acne lesion) and may progress further into a pimple (an inflamed acne lesion presenting as a red bump on the skin with a white top or head) if bacteria invade.
For mild cases of body acne, paying close attention to your hygiene might be enough to solve the problem. Bathe or shower at least twice a day and more frequently if you perspire a lot. Use a mild body wash to gently cleanse yourself, and don’t scrub at your skin. If you play games where you sweat but cannot shower immediately, dry yourself off completely with a towel and wear dry clothes until such time as you can have a bath. By and large, simple hygiene precautions such as these can treat most body acne problems.
If the outbreak is mild, back and body acne will often respond to over-the-counter treatments. Using a salicylic acid wash every day or wiping the affected areas with pads containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid will often do the trick. Another potential remedy is any lotion containing an alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic or lactic acid. Alpha hydroxy acids help to speed cell turnover, rapidly exfoliating the skin and reducing the number of pore blockages.
Moderate to severe forms of body acne can be more difficult to control, and need to be treated by a physician. Topical and oral medications are often prescribed. Common treatments include Retin A, oral antibiotics and Accutane (isotretinoin). Accutane is only used for very severe forms of acne, or after other treatment options have been exhausted. This is because it has a risk of potentially severe side effects.
Don’t expect miracles from a body acne cure – acne takes time to develop and will not go away overnight. Fortunately, most cases of acne can be successfully treated, given time and patience.
Acne is a problem that can happen to anyone, no matter their age or lifestyle. Fortunately, there are a number of ways of curing acne, ranging from treatment methods for simple acne outbreaks or more advanced approaches to curing cystic acne.
No comments yet.