How to Treat and Prevent Back Acne for Clear, Smooth Skin

Acne is a universal skin condition most of us experience at some point or another. While facial acne is certainly the most popular type, breakouts on our back (AKA bacne) is also incredibly common. And unfortunately for us that deal with it, bacne can often lead to scars.

While all acne can be a drag to treat, bacne offers a unique set of challenges as it's a large area that you can't easily see or reach by yourself. Hydrocolloid patches can help, but you need to use larger ones that cover more space and it can be tough trying to contort yourself and get the sticker just right. Often, treating bacne requires a holistic approach, a little imagination, and expert advice. That's where we come in.

To best understand the ins and outs of bacne, we tapped four skincare experts and asked them what causes it, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. From using a medicated body wash and acne-fighting skincare to eating a balanced diet and getting LED light therapy to keep inflammation at bay, keep scrolling to learn how to achieve a clear, spotless back.

What Is Back Acne?

Bacne is, to put it simply, a breakout on your back. Like the skin on the face, the back has lots of sebaceous glands that excrete oil known as sebum. When bacteria, dead cells, and sebum build-up, they can inflame the pores, leading to a breakout.

According to dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, because the back is home to a dense collection of sweat and oil glands, it's more susceptible to breakouts—plus, the area is almost always covered by clothing, which can cause further damage to the skin (more on that, below).

Causes of Back Acne

• Excess oil and hormones: “It largely stems from changes of hormones within the body,” says Sally Penford, Sales Director at Dermalogica. “This can lead to increased oil production in the skin, and the oil, coupled with dead skin cells and bacteria, then promotes congestion and pimples.”

• Friction from clothing and accessories: If you’ve noticed spots are more prominent on one shoulder, the breakout could be caused by friction from your bag strap. Take a look at your laundry detergent too, recommends dermatologist Gary Goldfaden. Spots that come on suddenly could be cropping up because you’ve recently changed the way you wash your clothes. 

• Failure to wash the skin frequently: Exercise gets a lot of flack as far as acne is concerned, but before you blame your spin class for your breakouts, look at your post-sweat skincare routine. “It’s best to get out of gym clothes post-workout quickly,” says Howard Murad, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Murad skincare. “Then hop in the shower right away to blast away the sweat and bacteria before it clogs up the pores. Make sure you wash your gym gear regularly, too.”

• Genetics: And then there’s the most frustrating one of all. “Genetics,” says Dr. Murad. “Don’t hate your parents for the possibility that you’ve inherited acne. Some people naturally produce more oil and spot-causing bacteria than others.”

How to Prevent Bacne

According to Dr. Nazarian, "Because the back has a high density of sweat and oil glands, and is generally covered with clothing, it’s prone to heat-trapping, occlusion, and pressure." All of these factors increase the chances of back acne formation in addition to scarring once the breakout clears.

• Avoid backpacks: Rubbing and friction can cause a type of acne on the back called acne mechanica.
• Use an acne-medicated body wash: Washing with an acne-specific body cleanser will help to decrease acne pimples and inflammation. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid that break up blocked, clogged pores and decrease back acne inflammation.
• Wear breathable clothing: To avoid trapping sweat and heat, try wearing fabrics such as cotton rather than polyblend fabrics.
• Don’t pick: Even though some of our back acne pimples may be within our reach, picking only increases injury to the skin and makes it even more likely scars will form.
• Don’t sunbathe: Although it may be tempting to camouflage acne pimples with a sun tan, this will increase redness and the pigment that acne leaves behind, leaving those scars around longer and preventing them from fading.

How to Treat Bacne:

1. Cleanse With the Appropriate pH

A cleanser with the appropriate potential Hydrogen (pH, for short) level, which refers to the amount of acid in a substance, is what you should clean your back with. The pH scale ranges from one to 14, and, according to Penford, you should “look for a soap which has a pH in line with your skin, around 5.5.” The lower numbers are acidic, while the upper levels are considered alkaline, or non-acidic.

A wash like Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash ($16) is a good option, as it creates a mild lather that will cleanse without stripping the skin. For even further penetration, keep the cleanser on your back for at least five minutes, almost like you would with a mask for your face.

2. Look for Breakout-Busting Ingredients

Sebamed not for you? The good news is that many face washes can double as body wash, provided you rinse the skin with tepid water and blot-dry (don’t rub) with a towel. Reach for cleansers dosed with benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, sulfur, or salicylic acid, as these solutions will mop up oil and dissolve the bacteria that block your pores. The Paula's Choice Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment ($23), which teams benzoyl peroxide with plant extracts to calm irritation, is a great option for those with sore, cystic spots that tend to crop up on shoulders. Be warned, however, that benzoyl peroxide can bleach sheets and clothing—but it's an ideal choice for hard-to-reach, deep pimples, like those so often found on the back.

Retinoids are another all-star ingredient. "These vitamin A derivatives have been shown to improve collagen formation and improve acne scars," Nazarian says. You might need help to apply to your entire back, but a small amount can be used for a large surface area. In Nazarian's experience, scars show improvement in eight to 12 weeks.

If you don't have anyone to enlist in helping you reach your back– not to worry. Another option like as Differin Salicylic Acid Body Spray ($14) can be a game changer thanks to its spray format. It taps known blemish fighters such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid to clear skin.

3. Moisturize Your Back

Body cream is needed to balance your skin after using a deep-cleansing wash, particularly if you're utilizing a back acne treatment with ingredients like those mentioned above. And while it may sound counterintuitive, acne-prone skin needs moisture so cells can continue to turn over rather than dry out and clog pores.

Look for oil-free lotions with a mild hydroxy acid, Penford recommends, as they will “gently offer ongoing exfoliation to prevent buildup of pore-clogging cells.” Try a moisturizer like Ameliorate Body Lotion ($19), which has resurfacing lactic acid and is also great for treating keratosis pilaris.

4. Stay Out of the Sun

There’s a bit of a rumor going around that sunbathing reduces blemishes on the back, and Penford is here to set the record straight: UV rays aren’t the reason your bacne clears on vacation. She says, “It may actually be the relaxation of being away that is the key factor. If stress levels are reduced, testosterone levels lower and so, too, will your acne.”

Be wary of getting sweaty, though, as all that warm weather can stimulate sebum production, resulting in—you guessed it—another body breakout. Keep SPF topped up as well with an oil-free lotion; UV rays can darken acne scars in the same way they make your skin look tanned. For an option that will be kind to your skin, we recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion Spray ($29), which harnesses high protection in a very light spray that won’t feel greasy.

5. Maintain a Balanced Diet

Pretty much every beauty woe in the book requires some internal TLC for treatment and breakouts on your body are no different. Dr. Murad recommends foods that are rich in vitamin A, like sweet potatoes and apricots, to try to help your pores rid themselves of dulling dead skin cells. Other acne-reducing food recommendations from Dr. Murad include “avocado, salmon, black cod, and walnuts, which contain beneficial oils that prevent your skin from drying out as well as breaking out.”

6. Undergo Laser or Light Therapy

Medical spas and dermatologists offer a slew of laser and light treatments geared specifically at clearing the skin. Though it takes time to see results and multiple treatments are usually needed, infrared lights and blue and red light devices can help heal and clear breakouts. Even better, they can target scars in addition to current and future breakouts. "Your board-certified dermatologist can help you find the right laser for the type of scars you have on your back," says Dr. Nazarian. Red scars, black scars, or bumpy scars are all treated differently. 

Other treatments, such as those utilizing LED lights, can work to improve the overall texture of the skin. "LED red light is an anti-inflammatory light that improves circulation and collagen formation, and may improve the appearance of acne scars with continued use," suggests Dr. Nazarian.

7. Try Topical Chemical Peels

Either as a wipe-on pad or a medicated body wash in the shower—which is an easy way to apply to the whole back—topical chemical peels help treat back acne. Usually containing a potent ingredient, such as an alpha or beta hydroxy acid, they work by sloughing off dead surface cells, increasing cell turnover, and revealing fresh skin. "Look for ingredients like glycolic acid," recommends Dr. Nazarian, "as it helps to remove surface skin cells and diminish acne scars with time."

It's important to note that peels often lead to overly sensitive skin, so those who undergo a treatment on their back should take special care to cover their skin from the sun and slather on sunscreen.

8. Turn to Micro-Needling or Dermarolling

Micro-needling is a straightforward treatment: Tiny needles roll over the skin, creating micro-injuries and stimulating the body to create more collagen. "The needles penetrate to varying levels of the skin and stimulate wound healing," Dr. Nazarian says. The result is plumper, more even skin.

If you're derma rolling at home, you’ll need help for the hard-to-reach areas, and with micro-needling, you’ll need to see your dermatologist. If you are using a derma-roller at home, make sure to follow the directions carefully and keep it clean to avoid further damage.