It Could Happen to You: BACNE!
It's out there, and it could happen to you. Heck, it's happened to me. That's right, Sparklers, I myself was a victim of such a horrific situation this past summer. I felt like I was livin' a lie, as people were doling out compliments to me on my oh-so-lovely and clear complexion, yet I knew that underneath my long-sleeved hoodie (in 85 degrees!), I had a secret. BACNE. Ewww, bacne. You know, acne on your back. So gross, so terrifying, so... common?! True story. Body acne most commonly occurs on your back, chest, and shoulders, especially through yer early to mid-twenties. Gnarly.
Your back is naturally your strongest muscle, but we put it through hell: ill-fitting bras, unbreathable clothing, lower-back tattoos... The list goes on. I'm bettin' bacne is our punishment, but that's mere speculation. There's no exact cause for bacne, but some theories include:
- Excessive Sweating
- Wearing overly tight clothing for long periods of time (you know who you are)
- Staying in sweaty clothes after an intense workout.
It tends to occur more right before summer (when we're getting used to the heat) and towards the end of summer (when it's ridiculously hot). The back is an oft-neglected place due to its hard-to-reach status, but show a little love and you'll have a back as sexy as Angelina Jolie. Meow.
Bringin' Sexy Back
Yes, I had to say that. Sorry, but the song just keeps going through my head as I write this. So, how to do it: First, ditch the bar soap. It can be excessively drying, which will irritate your skin and cause an eruption of oil production. Check out Neutrogena's Body Clear Body Wash, which contains 2% salicylic acid. If that's not your deal, any kind of moisturizing body wash should do the trick - just keep your back so fresh and so clean. Even more important is EXFOLIATING - slough that dead skin off! This is key in preventing any new breakouts.
Next, treat any current breakouts. One of the best ways (according to my supersmart dermatologist): show some skin. Probably the last thing you want to do in this situation, right? Hang out in the sunshine for awhile and let the sun have its way with you. Obviously, slather on the SPF and don't lay out there for hours, but a good 10-15 minutes will help your skin tremendously.
(Jessica Alba lookin' fierce with her sexy back.)
Product-wise, I discovered my two miracle workers through lots of trial and error, but here's what you need in order to sport backless homecoming (or bridal, or Oscar-Worthy, or whatever) gowns again:
Philosophy's "On a Clear Day" Blemish Serum, a magic maker containing both salicylic and glycolic acids, which can be used as a spot treatment or all over the affected area. It's in one of those fancy mad-scientist eye-dropper containers, so it's pretty easy to apply to your back. Plus, the glycolic acid aids in exfoliation as well. PS: it also works wonders on the face and chest area. Loves it!
My other fave, Murad's Clarifying Body Spray, is so awesome that my local Sephora can't keep it stocked (grr!). It has a 360 degree spray feature that makes it easy to access your back, and contains, you guessed it, salicylic acid (a fave for acne treatment). But it also contains retinol, triclosan (an antibacterial agent), and allantoin (a healing agent) and will keep your back ideally moisturized without causing an oil-spill.
(L to R: Eva Longoria, Kate Walsh, Sarah Michelle Gellar)
Now, the back is tougher than the face and can withstand more product combination, so you can use both products in conjunction to get rid of your acne (the ultimate plan of action), or you can say "Whatever, Bren!" and find your own products.
Just be aware that anything you use containing benzoyl peroxide WILL bleach your clothing, so use it at night with jammies you're not that fond of. Then, go out and buy yourself some sexy tank tops to celebrate your radiant and acne-free back.
Ahem, I printed this to hand out to a few of my friends, and I'm keeping a copy for myself. Damn the summer heat. Now that it's over I'm going to spend all winter getting my back into tip-top shape, yo. Thanks a TON.