

What Is Back Acne & How Do You Get Rid Of Bacne Scars?
When you think about a pesky breakout, a blemish on your face, neck, or cheek may be the first thought that comes to mind. However, troublesome acne and the scars they leave behind take a whole new form of discomfort when they land themselves on your back, of all places.
There’s nothing more unpleasant than feeling soreness from a pimple that’s in a hard-to-reach location like your back. It’s hard to ignore the fact that landing a blemish there can be particularly difficult and stubborn to soothe, but fortunately for us, there are ways to manage, treat, and reduce back acne efficiently.
What Is Back Acne?
According to Cleveland Clinic, back acne, commonly known as "bacne," occurs when sweat, oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria become trapped within the pores of your back's skin. Friction caused by backpacks and purses and excessive sweat can exacerbate this condition, where acne can then form.
With this combination of factors at play, cystic acne bumps, blackheads, or whiteheads can develop and be tender to the touch.
What Causes Back Acne?
Since the back contains numerous sebaceous glands responsible for secreting sebum, an oily substance, bacne can form similarly to that of facial acne. Because the back area has this high concentration of sweat and oil glands, it is more prone to breakouts, with rubbing of clothing and constant coverage of the back playing a factor in the exacerbation of acne forming.
If our skin cells don’t shed properly, they can mix with sebum (oils) and block our pores. That, paired with the presence of the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) on the skin, can contribute to the development of acne — which thrives in clogged pores. Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or when taking certain medications, can also increase sebum production and make you more prone to bacne.
How To Treat and Get Rid of Back Acne:
Managing bacne can be challenging, but certainly doable. With a diligent skincare routine, mindful lifestyle modifications, and, when deemed necessary, recommendations from your dermatologist, preventing or completely eliminating bacne can be achieved. Here’s how:
Topical Treatments: Over-the-counter or prescription topical treatments containing ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids can help unclog pores and reduce inflammation. Consider the application of these topical creams, gels, and cleansers in your skincare routine.
Hormonal Therapy: If hormonal fluctuations are a contributing factor, hormonal therapy like birth control pills or anti-androgen medications may be recommended. Birth control pills, specifically combined hormonal contraceptives containing both estrogen and progestin, can be a valuable option to resolve bacne.
These pills can often assist in reducing sebum production and alleviating acne by counteracting androgens and stabilizing hormonal fluctuations that could be contributing to your back acne. It’s advised to consult your dermatologist before initiating any particular birth control regimen.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate: Regular exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells, prevent clogged pores, and maintain pore clarity for healthy skin. Maintain a gentle circulation during exfoliation, as excessive scrubbing can lead to an over-removal of natural skin oils, potentially triggering another possible breakout.
Maintain Proper Hygiene: Keep the affected area clean by washing gently with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. After sweating, it’s important to remove your clothing to ensure that sweat is not trapped in your skin and thus promotes clogged pores and breakouts.
Avoid Pimple Popping: As satisfying as it may be, resist the urge to pop your breakouts. Squeezing or picking at back acne can increase inflammation and the likelihood of infection. When we break the skin around pimples, the healing process can be prolonged and potentially result in skin discoloration and scarring.
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Featured image by Jordi Salas/Getty Images
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
'I Want To Be The Color In My Home': Jackie Aina Gives Tour Of Her Posh Neutral Tone Pad
Jackie Aina is the embodiment of Black girl luxury, and her crib is no exception. Located in a ritzy area in Los Angeles, CA, Jackie’s home is equipped with all the things every fancy girl needs: an upscale kitchen, elevator, and fabulous pool. Luckily for us, the YouTuber opened up her home with the ultimate house tour. In a video on Tayo Aina’s (no relation) YouTube channel, Jackie goes from room to room, showing us her interior design style while also dishing on her life and career.
Jackie began making beauty content on YouTube in 2009, and from there, she’s grown her empire through collaborations with makeup brands like Too Faced. Now, she is the co-founder of the candle company FORVR Mood. The former Army reservist is known for her colorful personality, but her home is the opposite, which is on purpose. “Personally, because I have such a big, bold, colorful personality, I like to dress big and bold, I want to be the color in my home,” she said. “I don’t want my home to be the color. I want you to see me.”
She continued, “I want the house to be calming, and I want the house to blend in. I don’t want it to attract too much attention.” Her home may not be screaming look at me, but it’s definitely giving quiet luxury. Check it out below:
Breakfast Nook
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie revealed that she and her fiancé, Denis Asamoah, eat their meals at their breakfast nook daily.
Kitchen
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
“When my fiancé and I bought this house, I really wanted a double island kitchen, and the irony is like I don’t cook at all,” she said. Jackie explained that because she’s Black, African, and a woman, she’s expected to cook, and she doesn’t like doing what’s expected. “Why can’t I be good at other things? Like that doesn’t make me a woman if I don’t cook in the [kitchen].
Family Room
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The star of the family room is the big, L-shaped white couch, and according to the YouTube star, her couch is so comfy you can melt into it.
Office
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie’s office houses the trophies and plagues that she received from YouTube and Shopify.
Backyard
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The entrepreneur’s backyard has the same feel as the inside of the house. It has a gigantic pool and comfortable seating. “I’m very big on enjoy it while you have it,” she said.
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Feature image by Tayo Aina/ YouTube