Bacne, or back acne, can be embarrassing. How to deal with it?

Dealing with acne on the face is already tough.

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Those painful pimples, the marks, and the redness can snatch away anyone's confidence. But things get even worse when it comes to dealing with bacne, also known as back acne. This type of acne is more troublesome, painful, and visually unappealing.

It can be embarrassing to experience bacne, but experts are here to guide you on how to deal with it.

How is it different from face acne?

"Bacne differs from facial acne in terms of the severity of outbreaks on account of the numerous sebaceous glands present on the back compared to the face," Dr Gurveen Waraich Garekar, dermatologist and founder of Garekars MD Dermatology Clinic, Gurugram. The doctor further explains that, unlike the face, the back is susceptible to more sweating, which, when combined with oil and friction from clothing, culminates in clogging of pores, leading to acne.

Moreover, the difficulty in accessing the back can account for inadequate cleansing, further amplifying the pore-clogging and acne development.

Dr Garekar adds that bacne can be painful, depending on the severity. In the case of cystic acne with deep lesions, it is very painful, stemming from the depth of the acne, which causes immense inflammation.

What are the causes?

Dr Akanksha Singh Cornuit, Bengaluru-based aesthetic physician and founder of Promed Aesthetics, says that several factors can lead to bacne.

Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormone levels, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills, can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil (sebum), which can clog pores and lead to acne.

Genetics: A family history of acne can increase the likelihood of developing back acne.

Excessive sweating: Sweat can mix with oils and dead skin cells, leading to clogged pores and acne breakouts, especially if the sweat is not promptly washed away.