Sunday, February 1, 2009

A Look At Back Acne And What You Can Do To Treat It

By Don Saunders

Acne is a very common problem for both adults and teenagers and the commonest perception of acne is that it occurs on the face. But, if you have had acne you know only too well that it can occur in other places too such as the back and the chest.

Despite the fact that chest and back acne is not so apparent to the outside observer it can nevertheless be very annoying for those suffering from it. Unluckily, chest and back acne is frequently more difficult to treat than the acne that you have on your face and traditional treatments and cleansers which you buy to treat facial acne are normally less effective when it comes to curing back acne. As if this were not bad enough, as your chest and back are often covered by clothing, you may experience more irritation as your clothes rub against your pimples.

Just as you do with your facial acne you will have to have a daily treatment regimen for your back acne and the majority of common regimens include a cleanser followed by a moisturizer. Generally, it is more difficult to put medication on your back acne because of where its location and so you might require the help of a family member or to use a special applicator.

You will have to take care over the type of clothes you wear. Rough materials or tight-fitting shirts can rub against your skin and irritate your pimples resulting in increasing oil production and therefore more breakouts. You also need to be careful about the type of washing powder and fabric softener you use. Sometimes these can irritate back acne and so you might need to try different brands or even a dye and fragrance free variety.

Watch what you carry anything on you back. For teenagers in school, as well as those who go hiking and backpacking, backpacks can make back acne considerably worse. If you are experiencing an increase in the number of acne breakouts you may want to stop carrying a backpack for a while. If this is difficult then you might find that a shoulder bag helps until your acne subsides.

A doctor can be a great help with both diagnosis and treatment of back acne and will be able to start by determining just how bad your acne is and also assessing your skin type. For example, whther you skin is oily or dry or what is referred to as a combination skin plays an important part deciding upon the best course of treatment. Your doctor will also want to have a history of your acne condition, covering things like how long you have had it and how often breakouts occur. With this information he will be able to determine the best course of treatment and medication to clear up your individual case of acne. - 16650

About the Author: