At a Glance: Back acne is a confidence killer. It is as embarrassing as it is irritating. Do not let it slow you down.

Picture this: You are at the beach looking immaculate in a flimsy two-piece bikini when you notice a handsome lifeguard eyeing you from afar.

Apparently, you are too irresistible for him, so he begins walking in your direction.

Wanting to show off your “assets,” you ask if he can apply sunscreen to your back, to which he readily agrees. And just as he is about to slather a dollop of lotion on you, he backs off.

Or perhaps you are at the local fitness club in a sexy halter top, proudly displaying your traps, when your trainer volunteers to help you with your deadlifts. But just as he gets a closer look at your upper back, he too runs for the hills.

What’s the issue? “Bacne”.

If you are suffering from bacne, or back acne, you may often find yourself panicking whenever you run the risk of exposing body parts that are riddled with those nasty zits.

The common misconception that people have about back acne is that it is caused by poor hygiene...and let’s be honest, you don’t want to give off the impression that you rarely hit the shower.

Painful, unsightly, and generally unpleasant; “bacne” is not exactly enjoyable. And that’s why we’ve made this guide for you!

Now, let’s dive into all the tips, treatments and home remedies that can help you get rid of this skin problem once and for all.

Try some of them for yourself and find the one that brings you the best result.

What Causes Back Acne

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. When oil and dead skin cells become trapped within the hair follicle, it creates a “plug” within your pore. This results in comedones—tiny, painful red bumps on the surface of the skin.

Acne breakouts can occur on different areas of your body, which includes your back.

In fact, there are many possible factors that can cause back acne to breakout. Now, let's take a look at each of them in turn.

Cause 1: Your Fluctuating Hormones

If you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, the chances are your body is also producing more oil than it should.

This potentially leads to an overproduction of skin cells that causes clogged pores.

Cause 2: Your Back is Exposed to Skin Irritants

When the clothes you wear are too tight, moisture caused by sweat gets trapped with oil and dirt against your skin and you develop back acne.

The constant friction that tight clothing creates may also irritate the skin and cause acne to break out.

Cause 3: You Push it to The Limits

If you live life in the fast lane and often find yourself relying on junk food or staying up late for work or a night out with friends, you might want to reconsider your lifestyle.

Many of the things we do on a regular basis affect our health. An imbalanced lifestyle causes a hormonal fluctuation, which triggers acne to flare up.

How To Prevent Back Acne

First of all, you must first understand what causes your skin problems.

You have to keep in mind that healthy skin starts by developing a healthy lifestyle and living true to it.

A healthy lifestyle incorporates many factors that directly affect your physical, psychological, and mental makeup—all of which are foundations for maintaining clear, bacne-free skin.

1. You Are What You Eat

Take it from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, foods that are high in sugar can trigger a boost in insulin.

An increased level of insulin in your bloodstream can lead to a heightened production of pore-clogging cells, more active oil glands, and angrier acne flares.

Opt, instead, for a low-glycemic diet. These foods tend to be less processed, higher in fiber, and healthier for the skin.

You can also search the grocery aisles for foods that are high in antioxidants, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Antioxidants are enzymes that destroy free radicals that damage the immune system and the skin, causing inflammation and breakouts.

2. Hydrate!

We can't emphasize enough the importance of water in keeping your back acne at bay!

For starters, drinking the required amount of water each day helps flush out toxins and waste products from the body.

When these toxic bodily wastes accumulate, they increase your chances of developing back acne.

Water also helps in transporting essential nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to regenerate skin cells.

3. Doze Off

Have you ever noticed how your skin becomes too oily when you lack sleep?

That is because a lack of sleep promotes stress, which in turn increases the production of cortisol in the body.

Cortisol causes the skin to secrete more sebum, the main culprit for acne.

Get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night to regenerate and rejuvenate your skin and improve the condition of your back acne.

4. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

If balancing your time between work, family and friends is causing you too much stress, you might want to take it easy and reconsider your priorities.

This is because a heightened level of stress can cause your adrenal glands to shoot up.

When this happens, it stimulates your sebaceous glands into producing more oil, thus, aggravating the condition of your back acne.

A visit to the spa and enough me-time will not only help you manage your adrenal spikes, but your breakouts as well.

5. Keep it cool

If you enjoy hitting the gym or doing high-intensity activities, there’s a big chance that you are often sweaty.

When your skin is sweaty, it becomes vulnerable to a stubborn form of acne called Pityrosporum folliculitis.

Sweat causes normal skin yeast to block the pores.

As the condition progresses with more sweat and friction from tight clothing, these breakouts that feel and look almost like sandpaper worsen, resulting in severe back acne.

After sweating it out, hit the shower. Make sure that your skin is thoroughly cleansed, then pat dry with a towel and stay in a cool area.

How to Get Rid of Back Acne Overnight With Natural Remedies

Now that you know what causes back acne and how to avoid it, you may also want to consider treatments using products that are easily available at home to get rid of it.

We have rounded up the best natural methods and ingredients that can help you live away from this recurring skin problem.

Now let’s see how they can help you remove back acne.

1. Baking Soda Spot-on Treatment

Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, becomes an alkaline cleanser when mixed with water.

Mostly, it neutralizes the acidic by-products of bacteria that cause acne, hence stopping bacterial growth.

Your glowing skin can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria.

The chemical properties of baking soda help cure back acne by increasing the pH level of your skin, which makes the area covered with baking soda a weak environment for microbial colonization.

Prepare a paste by mixing equal parts of baking soda and water. Apply it to the congested areas and leave on overnight.

You can also prepare a toner-like solution by mixing 1 part baking soda with two parts water. Leave it to dry overnight, then rinse.

2. Oatmeal Scrub

Oats are not only high in fiber, which helps clear the skin of toxins and other impurities when eaten, they also work wonders for exfoliation. That's because their coarse texture helps remove dead skin cells and excess oil on the skin.

Oats also contain polysaccharides and starches that create a gel-like texture when combined with water.

When applied, they lock in your skin’s natural moisture as well as provide additional nutrients that improve the skin barrier’s functionality.

To prepare the oatmeal scrub, you’ll need to mix three spoonfuls of regular steel cut oats with warm water in a blender for about two minutes.

Once the mixture is soft, massage your back with the scrub in a circular motion for a couple of minutes and rinse.

3. Honey

Honey, due to its pure nature, helps clean and heal acne lesions. It naturally produces hydrogen peroxide that prevents your acne from becoming infected.

Think of it as nature’s little antibiotic. Honey also contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the size and the swelling of acne, thus diminishing its appearance.

You can use it both for internal consumption and topical application.

Detoxify your body with a honey-lemon drink by adding one tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of lemon juice into a glass of warm water.

Create a soothing mask: apply a small amount of honey to the affected area, leave it on for about thirty minutes, and rinse off with cold water.

4. Sea Salt

While ingesting too much salt may not be a good idea for your overall health, using sea salt as a solution is a tried and tested natural remedy for back acne.

Sea salt contains zinc that can help regulate sebum production. This helps restore the skin’s natural oil balance as it exfoliates the excess oil that clogs your pores.

If you have mild back acne, you can use a sea salt spray solution. Just add a tablespoon of sea salt to warm water in a spray bottle. Shake well until the sea salt has completely dissolved in the solution.

Finally, spray the solution on your back up to three times daily. Let the solution dry and wear loose clothing.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

If preparing back acne concoctions is not your thing, you can also try a more potent back acne medication that is readily available over the counter.

But how do you know which one actually works?

Whatever product you choose, it is important for you to look for these active ingredients:

1. Alpha Hydroxy Acid

AHA, a group of natural acids found in food, includes lactic acid and glycolic acid.

It works by peeling off dead skin cells and stimulating the growth of new skin, giving the appearance of tighter, smaller pores and reduced acne scars for smoother, brighter skin.

2. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide acts as a drying agent that unclogs pores, reduces oil production, and kills off acne-causing bacteria.

You must note, however, that this is not a quick fix and may require four to eight weeks of continuous use to see the results.

As it is potent, you might want to take it easy during application; only use what is prescribed and avoid areas around the eyes and lips.

3. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid belongs to the same group of drugs as aspirin. It helps increase the natural moisture of the skin and dissolves the substance that binds skin cells together.

When this happens, the keratolytic (thinning) effect of salicylic acid unclogs pores as well as softens and sloughs off the top layer of skin cells, allowing for the growth of new skin.

However, salicylic acid may not be as effective in removing cystic acne as it is in getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads.

4. Sulfur

Although it may not smell very nice, this non-metallic element boasts of a strong antibacterial property that helps fight off acne-causing bacteria.

Often produced in soap form, sulfur absorbs excess sebum and dead skin that blocks pores, as well as dries pimples.

When All Else Fails, See a Skin Specialist

No one can provide you with the best guide on how to treat back acne as your trusted dermatologist. Your skin specialist may suggest the latest skin care technology depending on your back acne condition.

Getting rid of severe back acne may require laser light therapy in conjunction with other procedures, such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and topical antibiotics, among others.

Visit your skincare specialist for an assessment and recommendation.

The Bottom Line

There you have it - a detailed guide on how to treat your back acne.

Getting rid of back acne may not be an easy bout because it is a multifactorial condition that may vary person to person.

If you really want to see it gone for good, you must identify the factors that cause your bacne.

Otherwise, you will only be treating the symptoms intermittently but will never really get rid of the problem.

As you can see, clearing away back acne may take a lot of time, effort, and, yes, even money. However, with patience and persistence, you could be flaunting a velvety, smooth back in no time!