Nearly every human has to deal with an acne problem at least once. Acne is a problem that occurs all over the world with no exceptions. Though it is nothing more than a skin condition that occurs for normal reasons and is easily cured, it is the embarrassment caused during the teenage years that gives it such a powerful image. At an age when people are becoming increasingly aware of their looks, an acne outbreak is a cause of major concern. Though acne is mostly considered and, indeed, advertised as a facial problem, it can also appear on other areas of the body.
Similar to facial acne, there is no single known cause for back acne and it is believed to be caused by some of the same factors, or a similar combination, that result in facial acne. This involves overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands in the skin. The excessive oil production in these glands is triggered by hormonal changes experienced during puberty and also by females during pregnancy. Regardless of the hormonal triggers, any changes, even those associated with stress, can trigger an acne attack.
However, acne on other parts of the body besides the face, is suspected to have other contributing factors that are based on the local cell structure of that body area, as well as lifestyle factors. For example, tight clothing could result in acne development as the skin is not allowed to breathe properly. Tight clothing prevents perspiration from evaporating and the retained moisture clogs skin pores, inviting bacterial infection. A similar affect is created when carrying something heavy strapped to the back. This creates irritation in the back and shoulders where the strap presses into the skin. Movement also causes irritation through constant rubbing and this may also lead to back acne.
A major difference between back acne and other forms is that diet is not known to have any connection with it. However, there is a good chance that having back acne means you are likely to develop acne on body areas if you do not watch what you eat. Since there is no clear verdict on the connection between diet and acne, the only thing to do is experiment with your food and try to pin down the foods that cause an acne breakout and then avoid them.
Mild cases of back acne are treated just like mild cases of facial acne, which is with the aid of over the counter cosmetics or medications. However, even back acne can often lead to cysts and when the problem reaches that level of severity, it becomes important to seek medical aid. Cysts require examination and prescription by a qualified dermatologist. If cysts are not cured in time, they can cause permanent scarring.
Prescription medication can help alleviate the symptoms and cure back acne permanently.