Back acne is found in teenagers and adults alike and like its description, occurs on the back. The major difference between back acne and those that appear on the face, chest or neck, is that they are much more severe, they cause more pain and are harder to treat.

Some people claim that back acne can be genetically carried down family lines, this is true, but only to a certain degree. To be completely frank, it is mainly due to an imbalance in the hormones in your body, as well as the environment in which your skin is exposed to. So for example, if you sweat a lot (hyper-hydrosis), or if you wear tight fitting clothes, there is a greater chance that you will get back acne. Therefore, if you generally do a lot of sports, then you are more likely to be victim of it. All of this sweat and dirt mixes with the oil that is secreted by your sebaceous glands (sweat glands), and this clogs up the pores on your skin on your back, and this results in back acne.

It is smart, and common sense to therefore make sure you are always clean and take showers regularly, especially after physical activity that has made you sweat. Unfortunately, in some people back acne can be very severe and infected. If this is the case, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic such as tetracycline. Retin A cream or ten-percent benzoyl peroxide solution will also help in back acne that is difficult to treat. In really severe cases, a drug called Ro-accutane can be used. You should be especially careful when using this drug, because in high doses over long periods of time, it can detrimentally affect your liver function.

Many people question what surgical techniques are beneficial for back acne. Laser treatment is quite popular, however it can be quite expensive nowadays. Microdermabrasion is another option that is also very popular. The use of microdermabrasion in clinics, and even the use of microdermabrasion home systems have helped back acne suffers immensely. Consider both of these techniques if you have chronic recurrent back acne.

Like already said, if the acne is milder, make sure you control personal hygiene. Instead of using normal soap, which can be irritant to the skin, try using baby shampoo, or a salicylic acid-based cleaner and use it to wash your body, especially after physical exercise. These solutions will kill the bacteria that are clogged up in the pores on the skin on your back, and so prevent eventual acne formation. After the shower, make sure you completely moisturize your back with an alpha hydroxyl base moisturizer.

If it is difficult to get your hands to reach your back, try asking your partner or family member to help you to apply it after your shower, as many times as possible. The cream will bring about exfoliation of the skin, and prevents dry skin, so it will also improve its overall longevity.

Final preventative measures include wearing cotton clothes, and applying baby powder to your back to keep the skin dry when you are outside in the sun for example. Deodorants are not recommended, but anti-perspirants are effective while you are doing mild physical exercise. But do not use it when undergoing heavy exercise, because the cooling effect of the sweat is very important during exercise, and it prevents you from getting a heat-stroke, especially in the sun.

In conclusion, keep clean, keep clean and wash yourself regularly!



Thanks to Asanka Samaranayake for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

Home Remedy To Cure Acne

Acne is one of the major health related conditions, which is common in teenagers and youngsters. Acne brings huge problems to teenagers. Teenagers who have acne feel isolated, ugly, and insecure. Who wouldn’t when everywhere you look, only clear faced (skinned) people are put on the pedestal.

Acne is an inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands of the skin; characterized by papules or pustules or comedones. Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne can simply be defined as a group of skin rashes which appear basically at the teenage. But it can occur at any age and can happen to anybody.

When people think of acne, usually the figure of a person comes up with an occurrence of red, inflamed pores on his or her face. Though this is the most common form, but is not the only type of acne which people experience. There are various types of acne which people may experience and there are numerous causes reported for acne.

Types of acne:

• Acne Vulgaris - most commonly experienced around puberty, typically of the face and shoulders/chest

• Acne rosacea - a red rash predominantly on the face

• Acne keloidalis nuchae (Pseudofolliculitis nuchae) - a rash caused by shaving

• Acne conglobata (Hidradenitis suppurativa) - chronic abscesses or boils of sweat glands and hair follicles; in the underarms, groin and buttocks, and under the breasts in women

• Acne cosmetica - acne caused by cosmetics

• Acne fulminans - an extreme form of acne conglobata

• Acne medicamentosa - acne caused by starting or stopping a medicine

• Baby acne - a rash seen on the cheeks, chin, and forehead of infants

• Chloracne - an acne rash caused by exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dioxins or PCBs.

These are the several types of acne but the common type which occurs usually is acne Vulgaris. Acne Vulgaris occurs at the time of puberty. It is most common in the teenagers.

Causes of acne:

As stated earlier, acne can be caused due to numerous reasons. But generally there are four major factors responsible for causing acne. They are:

• Overactive oil glands

• Blockage of the skin pores

• Activity of normal skin bacteria

• Inflammation

They act together to cause the characteristic pimples, whiteheads and blackheads associated with acne.

Treatment:

The treatment procedure of acne started many years ago. Since then the treatment procedure gradually developed into better form. Acne treatments are also of considerable antiquity:

• Ancient Rome: bathing in hot, and often sulfurous, mineral water was one of the few available acne treatments. One of the earliest texts to mention skin problems is De Medicina by the Roman writer Celsus.

• 1800s: Nineteenth century dermatologists used sulphur in the treatment of acne. It was believed to dry the skin.

• 1920s: Benzoyl Peroxide is used

• 1930s: Laxatives were used as a cure for what were known as ‘chastity pimples’

• 1950s: When antibiotics became available, it was discovered that they had beneficial effects on acne. They were taken orally to begin with. Much of the benefit was not from killing bacteria but from the anti-inflammatory effects of tetracycline and its relatives. Topical antibiotics became available later.

• 1960s: Tretinoin (original Trade Name Retin A) was found effective for acne. This preceeded the development of oral isotretinoin (sold as Accutane and Roaccutane) since the early 1980s.

• 1980s: Accutane is introduced in America

• 1990s: Laser treatment introduced

• 2000s: Blue/red light therapy

Some old treatments, like laxatives, have fallen into disuse but others, like spas, are recovering their popularity. Acne responds well to treatment, particularly if treated early, at the onset of the condition. Treatment is offered to:

• Prevent possible scarring

• Deal with inflamed and painful areas

• Limit the formation of new blackheads and whiteheads

• Lessen any stress or embarrassment associated with the acne

Mild acne can be treated with over-the-counter medications. More serious acne requires treatment by a dermatologist.

Mild acne is managed well by over-the-counter preparations such as benzoyl peroxide, Resorcinol, Salicylic acid, Sulfur, etc. Nowadays acne is also treated with Natural Acne Treatment. Natural acne treatment doesn’t have any side affects and it also totally affective in treating acne. Now acne no longer remains a big problem for the teenagers and the youngsters.



Thanks to Jackius Anderson for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

Acne Treatment Benzoyl Peroxide

A single black mark on the face could accentuate the beauty of the face, but imagine what would happen when several black marks appear on the face all at once. This is what happens in blackheads.

Blackheads are actually the follicles which have expanded beyond their limits. That is why they are also known as open comedos. The main reason for their existence is excessive secretion by the sweat (sebaceous) glands. If you have blackheads, it could be because you did not pay much attention to facial attention earlier.

Blackheads are totally curable. In Ayurveda, there are several remedies by which these blackheads can be totally eliminated. Ayurveda describes two types of blackheads – the darker ones called nyachcha and the lighter ones called vyanga. Both nyachcha and vyanga can be cured and further outbreaks of these can be prevented by Ayurvedic treatments.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Blackheads

® Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Cinnamon powder when applied on the face shows effective results in blackheads treatment.

® Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) A mixture of coriander powder taken in a teaspoon with a pinch of turmeric powder is good in reducing blackheads.

® Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) The seeds of the fenugreek plant are effective. They must be applied in a past form over the blackheads and let to be there overnight. The blackheads would disappear after a few nights.

® Sandalwood (Santalum album) Sandalwood paste has a very cooling effect on the face. It is effective in the removal of both pimples and blackheads.

® Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) The tomato is a rich source of vitamin C. When it is applied to the area with blackheads on it, it makes the area suppler. This makes the removal of blackheads easier.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Blackheads

® Blackheads are produced due to inconsistencies in the circulatory system of the body. The blood is impure, and that is why facial problems such as pimples and blackheads occur. In order to correct the maladies with blood, a person should drink a lot of water. Drinking excessive water will lead to excessive urination; but this is a way of purifying the blood.

® Keep your diet rich in vitamin C foods. Eat Indian gooseberry (amalaki) a lot. Supplement your diet with vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, strawberries, lemons, etc.

® Digestion is an important key in keeping blackheads and pimples away. The food must be easy to digest. A good portion of the diet must be made of green vegetables and fruits. Protein-rich foods like milk, eggs, white meats and lentils must also be included.

® Fatty foods make the sebaceous glands work harder. Hence they should be avoided.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Blackheads

® One of the simplest Ayurvedic treatments for the problem of blackheads is to apply steam on the face. Steaming improves the circulation of blood in the facial region and helps the blackheads disappear.

® Abhyanga is also used for the treatment of blackheads. Abhyanga is a method of making oil massage on the face. This must be done every morning before the bath. This will not only remove the blackheads, but it will also make the face suppler and shinier.

® Ayurvedic doctors will strongly suggest the disuse of all cosmetic products on the face when a person has blackheads. If cosmetics are used, the Ayurvedic remedies may not work. Instead, efforts must be made to keep the skin fresh with a healthy diet and the mind free from stresses and tensions. Yoga is recommended to keep the mind devoid of worries.

(4) Home Medications

® One simple treatment is to mix some camphor, almonds, sandalwood in rose water. 1 tola of sandalwood is first crushed with 2 tolas of almonds. Then 2 rattis of camphor extract are added to the mixture, and this is finally dissolved in 30 tolas of rosewater. Applying 1 tola of this paste of the face every morning will provide the necessary benefits.

® The Indian plum or jamuna is also a very beneficial remedy. Its seeds must be exuded in water till all the extract is obtained in the solution. This paste is to be applied on the face. This is one of the fastest ways to get relief from pimples and blackheads.

® Chiraunji (Buchanania latifolia) must be ground to a very fine consistency with yellow split lentils (masoor ki daal) and yellow mustard. Warm this mixture every morning and apply it on the face. Let it remain overnight. Each successive morning you will find some reduction in the severity of the blackheads.

® Prepare a mixture of lemon, honey and yoghurt. Add salt in it. The grainy salt will make a scrub out of the mixture. Scrub this on the face for five minutes everyday. This will remove the blackheads.

® A simple ice pack treatment on the face can also show results. This will help to contract the pores.

® Cucumber slices must be put on the face. Alternatively, face packs with cucumber as the major ingredient can also be used on the face. This helps to constrict the pores.



Thanks to Dr John Anne for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

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