Back Acne Treatment

Back acne treatment options include topical creams and ointments which are used to cure acne on back, such as natural or over the counter medicines as well as oral drugs prescribed to those trying to get rid of back acne and also aesthetic surgery treatments for people looking into how to treat back acne through advanced cosmetic procedures.

Each and every treatment for back acne mentioned in this article has its advantages and disadvantages, so before deciding which one suits you the best, it’s recommended to get familiar with the methods and principles on which these treatments are based.

 Topical Remedies for Acne on Back

People wondering how to get rid of body acne for good usually start their attempts with natural or over the counter creams and gels, which provide satisfactory results in the milder forms of back acne. However, if your symptoms are more severe and don’t seem to disappear, prescribed topical acne treatment solutions may be required to get rid of back acne.

Most OTC (over the counter) gels used to treat acne contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic or lactic acid, resorcinol or sulfur. These ingredients are known to be very effective in treating light to moderate acne flare ups, but in over the counter creams they tend to be present only in low concentrations – up to 10% -, so these products aren’t so powerful after all. This is why they have to be applied directly on the affected areas several times a day to provide the expected results. Still, make sure you only use moderate amounts of cream each time you re-apply, as these ingredients have a drying action on the skin. It is also advised that each application should be followed by the use of a good body moisturizer to prevent any skin dryness.

Topical antibiotics are often prescribed by dermatologists as a back acne treatment solution and they are much stronger than the previously mentioned remedies. While OTC creams act only by relieving the symptoms, prescribed topical creams will also kill the harmful bacteria and pathogens on the skin, reduce inflammation and prevent future outbreaks, so they provide better results, although they have some potential side effects, such as irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, fatigue or nausea. Prescribed topical gels or creams containing erythromycin, tetracycline or clindamycin are more effective against pimples, but they provide goods results in blackheads and whiteheads as well.

Another topical treatment for back acne is the use of prescription retinoid creams, applied on cleansed skin once or twice a day. These products are generally prescribed to people affected by mild to moderate forms of acne on back and they are effective in unclogging your pores, destroying acne bacteria and preventing inflammation from worsening. Such products are low-concentration isotretinoin gels, retinoid and adapalene creams, which can be used not only by people wondering how to treat back acne but also by those trying to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads affecting other body areas.

 Oral Medication for Back Acne

To treat moderate to severe back acne symptoms, oral medications are generally needed besides the topical products. These drugs are only available by prescription and they include antibiotics, which are the first effective treatment for this skin disorder as well as oral retinoids.

The most common oral antibiotics used to relieve the symptoms in severe acne forms are tetracycline, erythromycin, minocycline and doxycycline. Still, if your body doesn’t respond to first-line drugs, a more powerful treatment for back acne, such as amoxicillin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be prescribed. Unfortunately, all these alternatives are linked with adverse reactions such as stomach upset, photosensitivity and tooth discoloration, yeast infections and tiredness. Used in long-term treatment schemes, these drugs may lead to antibiotic-resistance so instead of helping you get rid of back acne they’ll completely lose their effectiveness.

In such cases, powerful oral retinoids may be prescribed. These medicines are generally used for treating severe skin disorders such as cystic acne, which is often resistant to other types of medications. Isotretinoin (Accutane), the most well known drug in this category and it is very efficient in treating severe forms of back acne but it is also a highly controversial drug, as it can cause many serious side-effects, which you can read about here: Accutane Side Effects.

 Laser Back Acne Treatment

Cosmetic procedures using laser focus on the sebaceous glands, inhibiting the production of sebum as well as destroying the harmful bacteria forming within the skin.  Besides, these aesthetic treatments remove acne scars, tighten and smooth the skin and prevent future acne outbreaks. The main types of laser procedures recommended to people looking at how to treat back acne faster are ablative and non-ablative acne scar laser treatment methods.

The first technique, consists of rapidly heating the skin’s surface with laser bursts and vaporizing scar tissue, therefore stimulating skin regeneration by damaging the outer layers. The second method is intended to cause damage within the skin layers as well, encouraging native collagen production. Although painless and efficient, these back acne treatment methods are quite expensive so lots of patients prefer opting for oral and topical acne remedies instead.

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