How To Get Rid of Bacne

VITAMAN is not just a run-of-the-mill skincare company. Our goal is to be your partner on the journey to clear, confident, healthy skin. We believe that every Aussie bloke should be able to put his skin forward without acne whether it’s on the face or the back. Despite how common ‘backne’ is, it’s rarely spoken about, and that’s why we’re addressing it in today’s article.

Picture this: You're chilling at the beach, ready to show off your beach bod. However, there’s one problem. Your confidence has taken a serious hit because of a nasty bacne breakout. Don’t worry bro, you're not the only one.

The fight against bacne is real and most men deal with it at some point. Yes, we've all struggled with acne during those incredibly awkward teenage years, but let's not underestimate how much bacne can impact a man’s confidence. 

In a world where we can easily find information online, finding real solutions for bacne can be agonising. In fact, searching online often just leaves you with some half-baked advice. Before you stress anymore, let’s shine a light on what causes bacne and provide you with actionable steps to restore your skin's natural health.

Unlocking the Origins of Bacne

Bacne, or those annoying back pimples, mainly come from a mix of sweat, dead skin cells, and clogged pores. If you've ever had a post-workout breakout, you know what we’re talking about. There are many factors that lead to bacne and cause it to become worse:

Genetics: A family history of acne increases the likelihood of bacne due to genetic predisposition. In other words, if acne runs in your family, you're more likely to get bacne too. Unfortunately, it's in your genes and there’s not a lot you can do about that!

Hormones: Listen up teenagers! Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, trigger excess testosterone and cortisol production, leading to increased sebum (skin oil) production and clogged pores. Excess testosterone and cortisol stress hormones can cause bacne problems.

Medications: Some medications like antidepressants have been shown to impact hormones. An unfortunate side effect can be bacne. 

Sweating: Although a strenuous workout is great for fitness, it can be rough on your skin. Too much sweat, especially in tight clothes, allows bacteria to grow, increasing the likelihood of bacne.

Certain Products: Shampoos, conditioners, and even sunscreen can damage skin and make bacne worse if they are not gentle. This is why it is so important that you always use natural skincare products, like VITAMAN’S range of Face & Body Cleanser, Body Moisturiser, and Sea Salt Body Scrub, that adhere to the highest purity and quality standards.

Stress: There is no denying that stress takes a real toll on our skin! While stress does not directly cause bacne, research has shown that it can make existing breakouts significantly worse. 

Sleep: Think of sleep as the ‘fountain of youth’ for your skin. A lack of sleep doesn't just lead to irritability, it is incredibly detrimental to your physical and mental well-being. Too little sleep disrupts the natural flow of hormones, and this can often lead to breakouts, including bacne. During sleep, cortisol levels naturally decline. However, insufficient or disrupted sleep can disrupt this pattern, heightening stress and exacerbating acne issues.

Demystifying the Testosterone Connection

Along with cortisol, testosterone hormones cause an excess of sebum production – your skin's natural oil. While sebum is important, there is always a limit. When your sebaceous glands go into overdrive, this ends in clogged pores and you guessed it, bacne.  

How to Conquer Bacne

Thankfully, you don't need to be a skincare expert or see a dermatologist to fight bacne. Simple lifestyle and skincare changes can work wonders, and it’s not as complicated as you may think. 

Get Your Products Right: Your haircare products and sunscreen can inadvertently contribute to bacne. Be mindful of what you're using. Also, exfoliate regularly to remove the buildup of dead skin. 

Mind Your Sugar: While not all dermatologists support dietary changes for acne, studies have suggested that what you eat matters. Cutting back on sugars and refined carbs might be the game-changer you’ve been looking for. 

Excessive consumption of sugars and specific carbohydrates can lead to an upsurge in bacne. Notably, any foods characterised by a high glycemic index can be linked to an augmentation in bacne occurrences.

This occurs due to the way these ingredients prompt rapid spikes in your blood sugar levels. Subsequently, your body generates substantial quantities of insulin and other hormones to regulate your blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, this insulin surge also triggers a rise in sebum production, ultimately culminating in an increase in skin breakouts.

Eat a Balanced Diet: Consider incorporating whole grains, oats, and starchy vegetables like carrots, broccoli, parsnips, and sweet potatoes into your diet. These foods are classified as slow-release carbohydrates, in contrast to refined carbs, and require more time for your body to process.

This gradual digestion leads to a lack of abrupt spikes in blood sugar levels and subsequently curbs hormone surges. As a result, excessive sebum production is avoided, reducing the likelihood of bacne. It's a straightforward principle!

Salmon, a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, holds significant benefits. Research confirms its ability to mitigate inflammation and diminish the visibility of acne.

You might also consider adding other items to your shopping list, such as fatty fish like tuna and mackerel, as well as fruits like strawberries and cherries. Even spices like turmeric have demonstrated links to inflammation reduction.

Shower Secrets: After an intense workout, don't let sweat stick around. A quick shower with warm water is best recommended. Very hot water triggers your skin's sebaceous glands, prompting them to generate increased oil. This surplus oil translates to a higher likelihood of developing pimples, acne, and bacne! Hence, stick to ‘warm’ water. Finish with a cool rinse to seal those pores and prevent congestion.  

Clothing: Tight workout gear might be trendy but it's a bacne breeding ground. Opt for loose-fitting clothing that allows your skin to breathe and sweat to evaporate. 

If you're reluctant to part with those muscle-revealing t-shirts, there's an alternative approach. You can explore smart fabrics designed to wick away sweat and incorporate mesh materials to support skin ventilation. Nevertheless, it's important to maintain a practice of changing your gym clothes frequently or washing them between uses.

Steer Clear of Harsh Chemicals: When cleansing our hair, shampoos and conditioners often trickle down our backs, and stick to those hard-to-reach areas. 

Even the application of sunscreen can compound the issue bacne (though this shouldn't be used as a reason to forgo it). Men with longer hair should exercise additional caution, as the oils from our hair can exacerbate acne problems.

It’s also worth noting that many shampoos, conditioners, and shower gels contain a blend of abrasive chemicals (like parabens, sulphates, silicones, and even formaldehyde) that have the potential to dehydrate your skin and exacerbate acne conditions.

Don’t Forget to Exfoliate

Dead skin cells not only affect your appearance but also stand as a primary factor behind back acne. The back region can be quite challenging to cleanse effectively during showers, leading to difficulties in thorough scrubbing. Consequently, a buildup of dead skin occurs, culminating in the emergence of bacne.

One remedy is regular exfoliation using a high-quality men's body scrub. This practice effectively eliminates dead skin and dislodges clogged pores, revealing a revitalised layer of skin beneath.

While choosing a suitable body scrub, prioritise those containing natural ingredients. It's advisable to steer clear of products featuring tiny plastic microbeads, as they can obstruct pores and exacerbate bacne issues.

Prioritise Your Sleep: Quality sleep ensures your hormones are happy and stress is kept at bay. Don't underestimate the power of a good night's sleep!

Learn to Better Manage Stress: Stress and acne go together like peas and carrots. Find whatever it is that eases your stress - hobbies, tunes, meditation. Simply by keeping calm, you can do your skin wonders. 

Consistency is King: Just like mastering a perfectly cooked steak, tackling bacne requires consistent effort. It's not an overnight fix, but persistence pays off.

Professional Allies: If your DIY efforts hit a roadblock, don't hesitate to seek expert advice from a doctor or dermatologist.

How To Get Rid of Bacne

Dealing with a breakout of bacne can be extremely distressing, especially as the summer season approaches. However, a comprehensive approach to bacne treatment can yield positive results. This should include adopting a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a balanced diet, ensuring sufficient sleep, refining your shower routine, making sensible clothing choices, and utilising appropriate skincare products. The challenge lies in consistently adhering to these practices to prevent future breakouts.

It's essential to manage your expectations realistically. Much like achieving fitness goals in the gym, resolving bacne is not an overnight process. Dedication over multiple weeks is typically required before noticeable improvements can be seen. 

If you have followed these instructions and you’re still not experiencing substantial progress, seeking expert assistance from a doctor or dermatologist is recommended.

Feeling self-conscious about your back's appearance? Perhaps you're hesitant to bare it at the beach?

If your bacne seems to have taken on a life of its own, consider VITAMAN's Sea Salt Body Scrub. Enriched with natural ingredients such as Australian sea salt, this product is proven to effectively address and prevent bacne.

Australian Sea Salt contains trace minerals that effectively unclog pores and alleviate the congestion contributing to ingrown hairs and acne. Our Sea Salt Body Scrub promotes healthy, smooth, youthful-looking skin that's free from blemishes. With its trace minerals, it clears pores, banishes congestion, and leaves your skin ready to face the world.