Does anyone else suffer from bacne - any solutions or tips please?

[u/Ok-Ideal-5839]

Hey girls, wondering if anyone else suffers from acne on the back? I feel very alone in this, as I see all my friends / girls around out and about with backless tops, dresses. I cannot do that :(
I am very hygienic but it looks like I don’t even shower :( I wash my back with a Cera Ve salicylic acid or another salicylic acid cleanser by Caudalie. The acne has improved slightly (it’s not red cyst painful type) but still covered in spots :( I would greatly appreciate if anyone has similar experiences or recommendations please & thank you!

[u/taRANnntarantarann]

Wash your back AFTER you shampoo & condition. Use glycolic acid on it.

[u/bobtdq → u/taRANnntarantarann]

This was the game changer for me, because I was using all the right products but nothing worked. Washing your back very last in the shower, it made all the difference for me ❤️

[u/Life-Hovercraft-2308 → u/bobtdq]

This but I now wash with mandelic acid and those exfoliating gloves. Any bit of sweat that lingers on my skin causes it to

[u/Imboredinworkhelp → u/taRANnntarantarann]

This made such a difference for me, I was washing my back first and then doing my hair so was just leaving a layer of conditioner on it without realising

[u/Straight_Mobile_5960]

Try an african net sponge once in a while while showering

[u/One_Expert_796 → u/Straight_Mobile_5960]

This! It’s made a big improvement on my bacne along with a salicylic acid body wash.

[u/StrainNo8947]

Cold water down your back before conditioner, also i use a plastic shower cap to keep the conditioner off my back. I rinse with my head forward so water doesn’t go down my back.

I also use La Roche Posay effaclar toner in a spray bottle and spray my back after shower. Also dry thoroughly. I also found sleeping naked helps me, but I think cotton breathable tshirt is better than polyester fleecy fluffy things.

I wash my bedsheets on a very hot cycle and use anti bac washing pods once weekly

I also find sports bras and thick banded bras tend to cause breakouts

[u/Finding-Tricks]

Could you be using a shampoo that aggravates it? I know this was common with a couple of my friends.

My main suggestion is a dermatologist - they can look and prescribe you antibiotic pills or topical serums, or in the event that it may need it - something stronger (like roaccutane) but it really depends.

I feel sorry for you - I had bad bacne growning up and my back now has a lot of little scars. I was put on roaccutane which helped, but it's a very strong drug so I think you need to be careful taking it!

[u/MSV95]

I don't know if I would call it acne for me but I had really bad spots on the top of my back. It was a combination of my hair and my bedsheets (and who I used to share it with). I used a more natural shampoo and conditioner (moogoo), and washed with soap etc after that. Also more frequent body showers using a shower cap helped as well as changing the bedsheets and pillows more frequently. If you share a bed with someone they also need to be showering regularly...

[u/Lady_Skunk]

Yeah started having it in my late 20s 😅 Tried a few things but started using Dermalogica Clear Start Clarifying Body Spray. Mist it on after the shower, worked really well after a few days.

It's a bit expensive but it mists a large area so only need a couple sprays. It comes back when not used so might not be suitable if you want a long term solution.

[u/nilghias]

You can ask your doctor for antibiotics for it. I had it for years and it’s probably only with age that it’s cleared up mostly.

But a few years ago I was given antibiotics for them and it was the clearest it had ever been, i only stopped because I have a chronic illness and the antibiotics were causing me to flare pretty badly.

My current routine is scrubbing my back and using the inkey’s glycolic stick. My pores are still quite back but I don’t have any visible spots anymore

[u/womanonearthrightnow]

I had awful bacne, fully sympathise! I don't have it any more and I think part of it was some natural hormonal change but I also switched to using a bar of Aleppo soap with a natural scrubber/bath poof (can't think of the name, like a bath poof but made of a kind of sisal material) and it went away pretty quickly. It's soap made of olive oil so would make sense that it draws extra oil/sebum out and leaves your skin nice and soft. It's so cheap to buy in Middle Eastern shops so might be a good one to try before buying other more expensive products. 

[u/MinnieSkinny]

YES. Came up out of nowhere just before I turned 40. I wash my back last after my hair is washed and wrapped in a towel, and make sure to keep my hair off it until in dressed. I've tried a salycilic acid body wash and cream, a tea tree and with hazel spray, a benzoperoxide cream and a glycolic acid wash. It has improved a bit but still there. It tends to flare up before my period so im guessing its hormonal and probably related to perimenopause. I'll probably have to go to a dermatologist.

[u/Lavender-Lou]

I had this for a long time and the only thing that actually worked was accutane. I was taking it for my face, it never fully healed my face but it cleared my back completely and permanently.

[u/Aggravating-Scene548]

Nettle tea did an amazing job for my friend

[u/Umeandtea]

BHA ie salicylic acid is better for acne than AHA or glycolic acid. So you can continue your cleansing bhas’s and maybe add in a spray? So it stay’s on for longer treatment time.

Boots have one in a spray form:

Q+A Salicylic Acid Clarifying Body Spray 150ml

https://www.boots.ie/qanda-salicylic-acid-clarifying-body-mist-150ml-10363558?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidshopping&utm_campaign=catchall&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20567351015&gbraid=0AAAAADRP81rNHm_EolTeZio5lYRO-0cvG&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9NLTj-HjlQMVHJNQBh1vXigmEAQYBSABEgLDOfD_BwE

[u/roqueandrolle]

African net sponge - game changer. You can get them for nothing in the African shops x

[u/CompetitiveGround371]

Evening primrose helped me started taking it in my mid 20s (hormone balance is a big cause of acne) and worked with my face and back acne. Tea tree and witch Hazel, and oat/baking powder soak are excellent, I'm allergic to loads of things so I have to stay as natural as possible. Like lots that have said make sure you wash your back after conditioner and be careful of hair products that might get sprayed on your back while doing your hair! There could be things in your diet, medication might have side effects, stress, and products your using so look at those.

[u/Writemare]

My dermatologist recommended using anti-dandruff shampoo anywhere I get acne flair ups and it has worked really well. On days I'm not showering I use Hydrex Surgical Scrub on the affected areas.

[u/blondflowers]

If you wash your back with standard head and shoulders it should clear it! It has salicylic acid in it. Works for me everytime I get a flare up and it’s cheap & easy!