Did you know that acne on your back is different than acne on your face? Back acne, or backne as it’s so lovingly referred to, can make it tough to sport a tank-top, backless dress, or bathing suit. Have no fear though, here at Old Bridge Dermatology, we’re equipped and ready to treat acne in any form!

What makes back acne different?

Acne on your back is often a combination of the common types of facial acne and also a “yeast” acne with the fancy scientific name Pityrosporum folliculitis. That type of acne tends to form a combination of bright red, itchy and tender pustules. It can manifest as tiny flesh-colored bumps.

Back acne can cause hyperpigmentation, or darker spots on your skin, to pop up if it’s not treated quickly. This can be exacerbated by sun exposure, so if you have acne on your back, limit your exposure to sun as much as possible.

How do you treat back acne?

The skin on your back is tougher and thicker than your face. Most products on the market are designed for your delicate face, but won’t penetrate your shoulders and back. Not to mention, most of these products are sold in sizes for your face. Your back and shoulders have much more surface area, so you’d run out of cream pretty quickly!

To treat back acne, try the strongest medicated soap products. These will leave medicine on your skin to help continue to treat acne even after your shower. Make sure you apply it with a gentle exfoliating cloth to help reduce dead skin cells on your back and shoulders. This combination can be very effective! Before starting any new treatments, however, we do recommend that you check in with your skin care professional first.

If you are looking for help tackling back acne or are dealing with any other skin, nail, or hair issues, call us today. Here at Old Bridge Dermatology, our dermatologist, Dr. Juan Vaillant, has over 30 years of experience to help assess and treat any skin, nail, or hair problem that you are experiencing. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Old Bridge, NJ office, call us today at 732-679-0222.