What is Acne?

Acne is a chronic inflammation of the skin, whereby the hair follicles in the skin become blocked by oil and dead skin cells. It usually appears on the face, back, neck, chest and sometimes even on the arms. There are many types of acne, however for the sake of this blog, I am going to discuss two. acne vulgaris and acne rosacea

Acne Vulgaris

Commonly termed as teenage acne,

During the teenage years, the body undergoes changes and with that is the increase in hormonal activity.

Hormonal changes, overacting sebaceous glands can cause blockages in the hair follicles.

These blockages cause inflammation in the skin which can be emotionally devastating for the person.

There are many treatment options available, however it is best to seek professional advise.

The sufferer should remember that picking and squeezing at the pimples is an absolute NO, and can cause the problem to become even more severe.

Acne Rosacea

Commonly coined “adult acne”.

This acne affects people aged between 30 and 50.

Some signs may include skin sensitivity, thickening of the skin, large pores, visible broken capillaries and even breakouts.

The cause of acne rosacea has not been determined however can be linked to spicy foods, smoking, excessive drinking and even stress and bad diet.

Acne rosacea can even affect people who never suffered with acne as teenagers.

Treatment advise should be given by a professional as self medicating the skin may cause severe problems.

When dealing with acne, in any form, it is important to remember that the effects are far deeper that the skin. It can lead to depression, low self esteem, anxiety and a feeling of being alone. When dealing with any form of acne, it is imperative that professional advise is sought and a healthy diet is followed. Apart from taking care of the skin, remember that emotional well being is just as important.

How to treat back acne

Skin conditions can be emotionally draining on the person suffering from it, many fall into a state of depression as they do not respond to treatment. Like anything in life, prevention is better than cure.

Acne first shows its nasty face at puberty, when the hormones begin raging. As a result, the sebaceous glands begin to work over time. During puberty acne first begins to make its appearance on the face and sometimes on the back.

It is important to note that acne as a skin condition can affect teenagers but many adults too suffer from late onset.

Acne is a problem, whether it appears on your face or back.

So, what is acne? Simply put, acne is when the hair follicles become clogged up due to excess oil and dead skin. Unfortunately unlike like acne that appears on your face, back acne can be a little more difficult to treat. The pores on your back are much larger in size, therefore clogging of these pores are very easy.

Face acne can also be seen and treated, however back acne is in an area which can not easily be reached, making treatment a little more difficult.

How to treat back acne?

Use a ph balanced body wash.
Shower regularly and immediately after gym. If you allow the sweat to sit on your skin for too long, the bacteria could cause acne.
Use a body scrub and exfoliate your body at least once a week.
Scrub your back daily, this may seem like common knowledge, however the back is a hard to reach area, therefore many may not spend time scrubbing.
Book a back facial monthly, a good steam will open up the pores and unclog the pores.
Avoid garments that irritate the skin.

It is important to remember that back acne is treatable and if your skin is not responding to home treatments then it is important to seek medical advice.

There are also many natural remedies that can be tried too.

Good Luck!