The Skin Nerd: back to basics to treat the pesky plague of ‘bacne’

All ages can suffer from spots across their back but thankfully, there are many things we can do about them, says Jennifer Rock

‘Bacne’ is a colloquial term for back acne that makes it sound more fun than it is. In reality, back spots can be a painful plague on all ages, and can zap confidence faster than you can say “off-the-shoulder”.

There is no inherent difference between the spots that appear on your face versus your back or any other area of your body. Like all congestion, it occurs when a pore or pores become clogged with dead skin cells and sebum, and they become red and inflamed when bacteria manages to enter the pore and cause the classic bacterial hubbub leading to redness and pus.

Those who are oilier tend to be more prone to bacne and acne of any forms, as more sebum means a higher likelihood of clogging, and people can be oilier due to a number of reasons. Maybe you’re from a family of oiliness, or perhaps the very hormones that define how much oil you produce are slightly out of whack.

Although the basis of your oiliness is important, with bacne, its best not to think about what you can’t do — like change your genetic coding — but what you can do.

Although congestion is caused by the aforementioned clogs, there are a few lesser-thought-of reasons that may be contributing to spots. Are your clothes a bacterial breeding ground?

Wearing damp, sweaty clothes is inviting more bacteria to accumulate on your skin, potentially causing more infection to any congested area so after the gym, change in to something dry and towel off properly first. Friction is also believed to be a culprit — tight straps like on bags or bras combined with sweat tends to lead to a breakout.

Regardless of the causes, my advice remains the same. You want to use the ingredients you use on your face for spots too: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid is perhaps the most famous spot-fighter because of its antibacterial and exfoliating qualities that allow it to dissolve the clogs that lead to spots whilst simultaneously helping to antibacterialise areas and improve skin cell turnover to reduce the likelihood of future clogs.

Tackle your bacne with this hard-working ingredient in the shower with a salicylic acid face wash (yes, you can use it on your body —there are no skincare police) like Skingredients Sally Cleanse (€25, skingredients.com and selected pharmacies, salons and department stores), Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Purifying Cleansing Wash (€10.99, Boots nationwide) or IMAGE Skincare Clear Cell Clarifying Cleanser (€37, selectedsalons nationwide).

Just turn off the shower, massage the cleanser onto your back with your hands, allow it to sit for about 60 seconds and then rinse it off thoroughly. You can use salicylic acid more often on your back than you would on your face as the skin is thicker so there is less likelihood for irritation, but sensitive skins should patch test first, as with anything.

If your bacne persists, speak to your GP who can prescribe something that will help with your bacne.

Remember — at the end of the day — acne and bacne is nothing to be embarrassed about. Tonnes of us worldwide suffer from it and it doesn’t make us any less funny, charming, intelligent or loved.

The Nerdie Pick

If you struggle to reach your back and don’t have a helpful partner, child or housemate around, Paula’s Choice Clear 2% BHA Body Spray is a favourite of many for bacne, because you can simply spray the 2% salicylic acid solution on the area.

This spritz also contains brightening and soothing liquorice root extract as well as hyaluronic acid for skin hydration to balance out the potential dehydration that a high amount of salicylic acid can cause.

It’s a super lightweight and quick-drying formula, so very easy to use!

The Nerdie Pick: Paula’s Choice Clear 2% BHA Body Spray (€26, available from paulaschoice-eu.com).