Acne on the back and shoulders, though common, can actually be more difficult to treat than acne on the face. The skin on the back is tougher and has thousands of oil-producing glands, called sebaceous glands, which are also larger than similar glands found on the face. The acne that develops on the back and shoulders tend to be larger and more severe than other areas of the body, and thus, more difficult to treat.
Step 1
Don't wear bags, jewelry or clothing that rub against the skin. Anything that consistently rubs and clings to your skin can be irritating, including massages and exercise machines. When the skin is irritated, it aggravates the oil-producing glands that cause acne. When your skin is sweaty from tight-fitting clothing and materials like leather and plastic, it causes the pores to become clogged and develop pimples. If you're prone to shoulder and back acne, wear breathable cotton clothing. Resist wearing backpacks. Shower after workouts and other activities that cause you to sweat.
Step 2
Use a gentle cleansing product in the shower to exfoliate and prepare your back for a topical treatment. Cleansing will remove surface oils, dry skin and dead skin cells that clog pores.
Step 3
Apply a topical ointment with 10 percent alpha hydroxy acid after showering. Be sure your back is completely dry. Unlike your face and spot-on-treatments, you will rub the medication on the affected areas of your back and shoulders.
Step 4
Stop taking medications known to cause acne. An article reviewed by Karen McKoy, MD in the Merck Manual, a medical journal, states that "anabolic steroid use typically causes acne on the shoulders and upper back." If you're taking other medications, check with your doctor to see if acne is one of its side effects. Medications for depression have been known to cause acne while birth control can actually prevent breakouts.
Step 5
Take an oral medication if you have moderate to severe acne on your back and shoulders. Your physician or dermatologist can prescribe a topical antibiotic like tretinoin after examining your skin. Women who have severe breakouts around her period may benefit by using oral contraceptives, which take about two to four months to begin working.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have dry skin on your back (yes, you can have dry and oily skin), use a cleansing product with 10 percent alpha hydroxy acid and licochalcone.
- Even though birth control is often prescribed to treat aggressive acne, women who are over the age of 35 and those who smoke are at greater risk for medical complications when they take these drugs.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle cleansing soap
- Over-the-counter, topical medication with benzoyl peroxide or 10 percent alpha hydroxy acid
- Physician or dermatologist (optional)
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