Back Acne (‘Bacne’): Why Pimples Pop Up and How to Prevent and Get Rid of Them

Back acne — sometimes referred to as “bacne” — can be particularly troublesome.

“Back acne is the result of an accumulation of dead skin cells and oil [sebum] within the pores in the skin, combined with an overgrowth of a common skin bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes, which triggers an inflammatory response,” says Kara Shah, MD, a dermatologist in Cincinnati.

• Whiteheads Also referred to as closed comedones, whiteheads develop when a plugged follicle stays closed and underneath your skin, forming a white bump.
• Blackheads When a plugged follicle located on the surface of your skin opens, it forms a blackhead, also referred to as an open comedone. The black-tip appearance of blackheads is due to a reaction between sebum and the air, not because dirt has filled your follicle.
• Papules Acne lesions that appear as small pink bumps on your skin, and are sometimes tender, are called papules. This type of acne doesn’t contain pus, and it forms when a clogged hair follicle becomes inflamed.
• Pustules Also called a pimple, a pustule is a white or yellow pus-filled papule with a reddened base. These lesions also result from inflammation in a clogged hair follicle. A buildup of white blood cells causes the pustule to fill with pus.
• Nodules This type of acne forms when bacteria also become trapped in a hair follicle. These lesions develop deep below the surface of your skin, where it hardens and forms a large, painful nodule. The deeper location of the lesion causes tissue damage, resulting in an inflammatory response.
• Cysts Cysts are larger, pus-filled acne lesions that also form when bacteria become trapped in a hair follicle. With cystic acne, the infection extends deeper into the skin, resulting in a painful lump that can cause a permanent scar.

You can’t always control whether you get back acne because the main factors that predispose one to “bacne” — hormonal fluctuations and genetics — are out of your control.

You can, however, take steps to reduce your chances of developing these lesions.

1. Avoid Certain Medications

 2. Limit Your Use of Oil-Based Skin-Care Products

3. Eliminate Pressure on Your Back

Shah recommends choosing a backpack that’s lightweight and fits properly to minimize friction and irritation.

4. Wear Clean Clothes

“Dirty clothes can harbor sweat, oil, and dirt, further irritating the skin and contributing to the development of acne,” notes Shah. “It’s always best to wear loose clothing during exercise and to remove sweaty clothing after a workout.”

So what are the best treatments for back acne? Follow these tips.

1. Use an Over-the-Counter Treatment

Of course, applying acne creams to your back will likely require assistance from someone. It might be easier to use a body wash with acne-fighting ingredients.

“Regular body washes aren’t strong enough to help with body acne,” says Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist and medical director of MDacne in San Francisco. “To have a real effect, you need a medicated body cleanser, preferably with ingredients like salicylic acid that can unclog your skin pores and kill acne bacteria.”

2. Regularly Wash Your Skin

3. Shower After Your Workout

4. Don’t Squeeze or Pick Back Lesions

5. Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure

6. Wash Your Sheets 

7. See a Board-Certified Dermatologist

If self-care measures don’t improve back acne, make an appointment with a dermatologist who is board-certified.

A skin specialist can evaluate your back, determine whether you have acne or another skin condition, and then prescribe a medication to control lesions, if necessary.

Back acne, or “bacne,” can result from sweating and friction from clothing, and can lead to whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, or nodules. Reducing exposure to certain medications and oily skin products — as well as keeping loads on your back light, sleeping on clean sheets, and wearing clean clothes — may help you take control of bacne breakouts.

Regular, gentle washes with specialized products, over-the-counter treatments, and showering after exercise might help to unclog pores and counter bacteria, and avoiding picking at or popping back pimples may prevent bacne from getting worse. If a dedicated skincare regimen doesn’t improve symptoms, speak to a board-certified dermatologist about more intensive treatment.