Back acne is a common skin condition that can be frustrating to deal with. Being a larger area of skin and more difficult to reach and apply creams to, the approach to treatment may be slightly different to acne on the face.
Note: many treatments for acne need to be discussed with and prescribed by a doctor to check they are safe to use.
Trying to reduce back sweat may help reduce flare-ups. For example: Wearing loose-fitting, breathable tops Changing clothes when possible after they become sweaty eg, after working out or running Using bags that don’t rub against the back eg, handheld or shoulder bags instead of backpacks.
Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin eg, creams, lotions, gels, or cleansers. It may be possible to treat back acne with topical treatments alone, particularly if you have mild back acne without too many pimples.
Examples of topical treatments for back acne include products containing:
If you are having trouble applying treatments to your back, consider trying a back lotion applicator; or asking a friend, partner, or family member to help for spots that are hard to reach.
Systemic treatments include tablets and capsules taken by mouth. If your back acne is widespread or not clearing up with topical treatments, your doctor may suggest trying one of the following treatments:
Other treatments such as laser light therapy are also sometimes used for back acne.
For more information about acne and its treatment, see:
