How to Get Rid of Bacne

Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Oh, great! Another pimple—said no one ever. Acne isn’t just limited to your face and can actually pop up on other parts of your body, including your back. If you’re dealing with acne on your back, a.k.a. bacne, you may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed showing your skin. Fortunately, there are things you can do to clear up your bacne and keep it from coming back.

1

Use a scrubbing brush with a long arm when you bathe.

It’ll make it easier for you to reach and scrub your back. One of the most difficult parts of cleaning your back is reaching it! Use a scrub brush with a handle and gently scrub your entire back whenever you shower or bathe to remove dirt and excess oil from your pores, which can help keep it clean and clear up any bacne you’re dealing with.^{[1]
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- Don’t scrub your back too hard or you could irritate your skin.

2

Apply a benzoyl peroxide cleanser to your back.

Use an emollient foam wash daily to kill acne-causing bacteria. A benzoyl peroxide emollient foam wash is a specially designed body wash that will unclog the pores on your back and clear out any bacteria that could potentially cause acne. Add some to your scrubbing brush when you bathe and scrub your back well with it to help control bacne and reduce flare-ups.^{[2]
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- You can find a benzoyl peroxide emollient foam wash at your local pharmacy or department store.
- A few popular emollient foam wash brands include Panoxyl, GOJO, and Cetaphil.

3

Try a salicylic acid cleanser as an alternative to benzoyl peroxide.

It also works to unclog pores and destroy acne-causing bacteria. A salicylic acid cleanser penetrates deep into your pores and dissolves dead skin-cell buildup. Apply some cleanser to your scrubbing brush and scrub the skin on your back well whenever you bathe to help get rid of bacne.^{[3]
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- Some people may react differently to benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, so choose whichever one works best for you and doesn’t cause any skin irritation.

4

Leave the cleanser on your skin for a few minutes.

You can rinse it off after to prevent bleached fabrics. No matter what cleanser you use, allow it to sit on your skin for 3-4 minutes after you apply it so it has plenty of time to kill acne-causing bacteria. Then, rinse your back entirely to prevent potential skin irritation and to avoid possibly staining or discoloring your towels and clothing.^{[4]
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- Waiting a few minutes allows the cleanser to soak deeper into your pores, which can both help treat and prevent bacne.

5

Exfoliate your back a couple of times a week.

Choose a scrub that will remove oil, dead skin, and grime. Look for one that combines a chemical exfoliator, like lactic acid and a physical exfoliator, such as micro-dermabrasion granules. Gently massage the scrub into your damp skin just before you shower 2-3 times a week to help prevent breakouts.^{[5]
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- If your skin is irritated, stop using a scrub and allow it to heal.

6

Wipe your skin with cleansing pads for a quick cleaning.

Remove trapped dirt and oil from your pores. Choose cleansing pads saturated with salicylic acid to help fight breakouts. Wipe your back in between showers to clean your skin and treat any existing bacne you may have.^{[6]
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- If you have trouble reaching your back with the cleansing pads, try asking a friend to help you!

7

Spot-treat bacne breakouts.

Use an acne mask to treat bacne before it gets worse. If you only have a few pimples, you can target them directly to knock them out. Choose a skincare mask that contains ingredients such as sulfur, camphor, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil. Apply the mask directly to the affected area according to the directions on the packaging.^{[7]
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- You may need a friend to help apply the mask if you can’t reach your bacne.

8

Try a chemical peel for a quick fix.

You can go to a dermatologist or use an over-the-counter option. A chemical peel is a procedure that removes the outermost layers of your skin and can be an effective way to treat bacne quickly. For the best results, make an appointment with a licensed dermatologist. But you can use OTC chemical peels as well. Just follow the directions on the packaging carefully when you apply the chemical peel to avoid injuring or irritating your skin.^{[8]
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9

Add more probiotics to your diet.

They can help boost your skin’s health and fight off bacne. Fermented foods such as kimchi, yogurt, miso, and kefir are chock full of probiotics, which can really improve the health of your skin’s biome. If your skin is healthy, it can fight off bacne and keep it from coming back.^{[9]
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- You can also take probiotic supplements to add more to your diet.

10

Wear loose, breathable clothing.

Materials like cotton or moisture-wicking items can help prevent bacne. Tight or non-breathable clothing can actually trap sweat, oil, and bacteria inside your pores. It can also cause friction that can further irritate your hair follicles. To avoid getting bacne, swap out your clothes for looser materials that allow your skin to breathe.^{[10]
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11

Don’t leave sweat on your skin for too long.

Rinse or towel off after a workout or if you’ve been sweating. Sweat can clog your pores and make your bacne worse. Whenever you work up a good sweat, take a quick shower to rinse it off. If you can’t bathe, at least wipe your skin with a clean cloth to dry it off so you aren’t soaking in your sweat for too long.^{[11]
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- You can also change clothes if you worked up a good sweat so you aren’t leaving sweat on your skin for too long.

12

Avoid popping or picking at pimples.

It can cause scars and could lead to an infection. It may be tempting to pick at your bacne, but you can actually make the problem worse. You could introduce additional bacteria that could lead to a more serious problem such as an infection. Use cleansing products and allow your body to fight off the acne on its own.^{[12]
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- Popping pimples on your back can also be really painful and irritate your skin.

13

See a dermatologist if your bacne gets worse.

If you can’t get rid of it on your own, see a professional. If you’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to be working, make an appointment to see a dermatologist or ask your doctor for a referral. They may be able to recommend treatments or prescribe stronger medication that can help get rid of your bacne.^{[13]
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- For instance, your doctor may prescribe an acne medication such as Accutane, which can help treat serious cases of bacne.

Expert Q&A

Question

My acne isn't that bad. How long do you think it can take to go away?

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS
Registered Nurse
Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

You may start to see improvement after about 2 - 4 weeks of using the lifestyle changes and the over-the-counter remedies mentioned above. If you are not noticing a change, you can contact your healthcare provider.