- Battling Bacne.
Bacne generally happens when the pores on the back are clogged. Here’s a couple of steps that may help you to battle bacne.
1) Get yourself a body brush with a long handle, these are generally available at drug stores/discount stores/beauty stores (sephora/ulta etc.) Before showering lightly scrub the entire back area with the body brush this will exfoliate the area removing oils, dirt, and dead skin cells. You can also use a body wash that contains an ingredient called hydroxy acid or salicylic acid, both of theses are like chemical exfoliants.
2) Let your skin breathe. So wear clothes that help to let your back area breathe, this can be anything from backless dresses, light t-shirts/tank tops or any piece of clothing that has natural fibers, this will help to keep your skin cool and dry. If your working out also try to wear clothes that help the skin breathe and make sure you shower after wards.
3) Have a back facial! It’s kind of like a face facial except on your back. You may need someone to give you a hand with this as it may be a bit tricky to do on your own, you will also need a body mud! After you’ve cleansed and exfoliated your back slather on a body mud onto your back, this works like a purifying mask (I recommend Ahava pure spa dead sea mineral mud). The other thing I recommend doing is getting a spot treatment (Neturogenas rapid clear Eliminating Spot gel is the best I have ever tried) and dabbing the treatment onto the area’s where you have the pimples, keep this up several times a day until the pimples have cleared.
4) Another contributing factor to bacne is long hair. So try to wear your hair up as much as you can, also try not to use to many styling products, especially heavy creams/serums as these may be rubbing onto your back and clogging the pores. Make sure you don’t leave any shampoo or conditioner in your hair and rinse thoroughly to avoid the residue hanging around and clogging your pores.
(I love & highly recommend Urban Rituelle’s Botancial Body Scrub in Lemon Grass, it gets rid of bacne almost instantly without the fuss!
How to Get Rid of Bacne
If you have breakouts on your back, relax—you’re not alone. Even people who don’t have acne on their face can have it on their backs. The skin on the back is much thicker, and has more oil glands than the skin on your face, so breakouts aren’t uncommon. I’m going to share some advice that you may have never heard before. It’s a system I designed myself, based on the principles I learned throughout my esthetics training. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of embarrassing bacne.
• My first suggestion would be to start with a clean slate. One of the best ways to achieve this is toschedule a back facial. After steaming your skin, an esthetician will safely remove any blackheads or whiteheads. If going to a spa isn’t within your budget, you can get a back facial from a beauty school in your area at a discounted price. Do a little research to find the best solution for you.
• Back acne is usually the result of several different factors working against you. Yourhormones are the biggest influence, as they are the determining factor behind the amount of oil secretion in your body. Powdered maca will help balance them. Maca is a natural herbal supplement made from plants. It’s available online or at most health food stores. All you need is ¼ teaspoon daily.
• Taking 50mg of zinc every day will also help. Compounds in the zinc attack the acne bacteria. Zinc can be purchased in any vitamin or health food store.
• Certain prescription medications can cause the skin to break out, particularly on the upper back/shoulder area. If your breakout began after you started taking a medication, you will need to discuss options with your doctor.
• Your age, as well as your genetic background, determines how efficiently your skin cells renew themselves. Slow skin cell turnover can be combated with exfoliation. Use a good back scrubber (I recommend the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber) with a body wash containing gentle acids to dissolve the debris clogging pores. Neutrogena has a few body washes designed to prevent acne, although my personal favorite is Phisoderm Anti-blemish Bodywash.
• Your skin having an unbalanced pH is also a contributing factor. Skin should have a pH of 4.5, but with all of our exposure to chemicals in the water we use, it is often higher. When you shower, chlorine in the water is hitting your back more than anywhere else, causing the pH of your skin to shift to a more alkaline state. Alkalinity allows acne to thrive. I strongly recommend purchasing a Culligan showerhead filter. They run for about $25, and you can easily find them on Amazon. The filter is easy to install, and requires no tools. It removes 99% of the chlorine and contaminants from your water.
• Another tip is to mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water (not tap water—use good drinking water) and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can get Heinz apple cider vinegar for about a dollar. To lower your skin’s pH, spray the mixture onto your back after showering, right before bed. You can substitute witch hazel for the apple cider vinegar, if you prefer. Both work, but the vinegar works better and faster. Be sure to let the skin dry before dressing.
• Make a skin-soothing mask by massaging plain, non-fat Greek yogurt onto your back. This infuses the skin with good bacteria known as probiotics, which overrun the bad bacteria that cause acne. Do this every three days, leaving the mask on for fifteen minutes, before rinsing completely.
• One of the biggest causes of bacne is residue from your hair conditioner not being thoroughly rinsed off after showering. After washing your hair with shampoo, change the water to a cooler temperature to rinse off conditioner. Hot water opens the pores, allowing conditioner to clog them. Always wash your back last, to get any conditioner left behind. If possible, wash your hair every other day. Another option is to stop using regular conditioner and instead use a spray or leave-in conditioner.
• Sweat from working out, playing sports, or not rinsing off immediately after exercise creates a breeding ground for acne bacteria. After working up a sweat, take a shower with lukewarm water. Hot water causes the pores to re-absorb the sweat, while cold water seals it in. If you don’t have access to a shower, bring some wipes with you, and use them to clean yourself as thoroughly as possible.
• Residue from laundry detergent can also aggravate back acne. Most laundry soaps are loaded with dyes, perfumes, and other chemicals. I recommend using a detergent free of scents or dyes, such as Arm & Hammer for Sensitive Skin. Always rinse your laundry twice, to get out as much of the detergent as possible. You can also put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the rinse cycle.
• Clothing fabrics and dyes can be another cause for breakouts. Think of these things as a tent, sealing in humidity and sweat, mixing them with the coloring in the clothes. If you’re wearing polyester or dark clothes, wear an all-cotton undershirt to create a barrier between the fabric and your skin. Also wear the cotton shirts to bed, or any time you’re just hanging around the house. Pima cotton is the best choice.
• Finally, friction from driving or sitting in an office chair for long periods of time can worsen bacne. Often, these things are unavoidable, but it is something to be aware of. Take breaks throughout the day, and be aware of the way you are sitting.
Bacne won’t disappear overnight, but don’t give up on this system. If you use these tips consistently over time you will see results.
body acne
If you’re suffering with back,chest,shoulder acne etc. I highly recommend Shea Moisture’s Olive Oil, Green Tea and Avocado body wash. You can find this product at Target and it cost’s about $8.99-$9.99.
When you shower use it like a regular body wash on the affected areas. I do not use a body loofah of any kind because it lathers well enough and I don’t want it to be too harsh on my skin. I’ve been using this product for about 7 months now and my body acne has improved SO much. Definitely worth a try.
Acne 101!
I wanted to start this post off by welcoming you to my blog, and introducing myself. If you haven’t read the “About Me” section on my blog, my name is Lameka Fox.
I am a model, beauty vlogger on Youtube (link on blog), and now an official beauty blogger. I have a few other blogs such as my fashion blog (link on blog section as well), a beauty vlog that I’m not using anymore, and my personal tumblr. I also have a fandom blog for Pretty Little Liars but that’s another story.
I wanted to start this blog because a) I’m interested in all aspects of beauty from the cosmetic view of it, as well as the business side of it. Here I will talk about a lot of different topics such as health, makeup, hair, nails, skin, fitness and all things related to that “genre”.
I wanted my first post to introduce me but also be helpful, and informative. Which is why today I will discuss all things acne related. As well as tips and other information related to skincare.
I think one of the most valuable pieces of information I’ve learned is what causes acne in specific regions of your face. So I decided to share with you so you can know what you need to work on to control your acne is specific regions.
Forehead: Breakouts in the forehead region can be triggered by stress or sleep deprivation. Some things you can do to relieve stress is to go for a walk when you feel stressed after all nature is the best remedy, another effective way to relieve stress is to listen to some of your favorite songs no matter where I am I always have my headphones with me, I love taking nice candlelit warm baths it’s really relaxing especially when I use some of my new or favorite bath products I love Lush Cosmetics!, that’s all I’ll share with you now. If you’re interested I can share more stress relieving tips. As far as sleep deprivation, it’s simple go to sleep and get at least 7 hours! I like to use a sleep mask, I’m really not a fan of the sun. (Insert Vampire joke here, lol), another thing is I never go to sleep with the TV on it’s very distracting, and if all else fails a glass of sleepy time tea really hits the spot.
Above Brows: Breakouts above the brows are caused by the immune system. Breakouts tend to appear before, after, or during a cold or flu. I think the best tip I can give is to make sure you’re eating healthy and staying as clean as possible. Avoid obtaining germs from your cellphone, public restrooms, car doors, building doors, etc. By carrying hand sanitizer and/or wet wipes.
Between Brows: This spot is definitely where I breakout the most. And the cause is overindulgence. Which makes a lot of sense if you know me. I am forever tempted by chocolate, and I cave in and get something from a fast food restaurant because it’s quick and easy. Lately, I’ve been tracking what I eat with an iPhone app and it definitely has been helping with those pesky pimples between my eyebrows. I would recommend actually thinking about what you’re putting into your body before actually putting it into your body. I think it’s something every girl can relate to no matter how fast their metabolism is. We will always see an outcome, I have a super fast metabolism because of this I am naturally thin instead of adding weight I add a breakout here and there.
On your cheeks: Your cheeks are affected by your lung quality. So if you’re surrounded by pollution, smoke or you do smoke. This would be the cause of breakouts on your cheeks. My grandfather and father smoke, and when they do I tell them not to around me. Which isn’t that hard seeing as my cousin and little brother have asthma. Another thing I do is when I go out to eat and I eat outdoors I ask to move away from the restaurant due to the smoke, or someone smoking around us.
Side of your chin: This is another region I get most of my breakouts. And what is the cause? Hormones. Every time it’s that dreadful time of the month a breakout will appear somewhere on my chin. There really isn’t much you can do about hormonal acne because it’s a natural part of growing up and being a teenager. I would just recommend investing in a good acne cream that’s potent enough to get you through this time.
Back Acne: This is pretty much self-explanatory. Everyday your body is covered with layers of fabric, and your back is covered with oil producing pores. This concludes in body acne, back acne, or ‘bacne’ as some call it. It is however fairly easy to combat by basically washing your back everyday. I use a Clarisonic Mia 2 with a body attachment. I use this for my face and body but have two different brush heads for each region. Now seeing as this is definitely an investment. Another good, and affordable option would be to purchase a plastic-bristle brush (plastic won’t breed bacteria like a natural bristled one would).You can also treat body acne with a topical benzoyal peroxide, but be careful benzoyl peroxide ruins everything it touches. Think of it as King Midas, a blessing and a curse. So be sure not to wear you’re favorite PJ’s or sleep on your favorite sheets after you put it on.
Chest Acne: This is definitely the trickier version of the body acne variety. Since your décolletage is quite delicate. I usually use a loofah for this part of my body, seeing as my Clarisonic could cause irritation and/or reddness. Breakouts are highly hormonal in this region and can be relieved without treatment.
Now that you know what to look out for, for specific acne prone regions. I will share with you the actual ingredients to bad skin.
- Fragrance: Studies show synthetic fragrances in skincare products might be carcinogenic. Which basically means it has the potential to cause cancer. So I definitely would stay away from anything with fragrance. It definitely makes you want to think twice about Clean & Clears skincare products. Such as their cleansers..
- Phthalates: Commonly known as Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Dimenthly Phthalate (DMP), or Diethyl Phthalate can be found in some skincare products, hair sprays, and nail polishes. They are constantly mentioned by the FDA. And is the reason so many young girls are hitting puberty so early nowadays. Also they are the reason it is suggested pregnant women don’t use nail polish. Why is that? Because they are hormone disrupting. I suggest staying away and actually reading the ingredients Phthalates are found in.
Some other harmful ingredients include Diethanolamine, formaldehyde, coal-tar colors & hair dyes, parabens, and last but certainly not least aluminum.
Blackheads & Whiteheads
Blackheads: Blackheads occur when your pores get clogged and a clogged oil known as, Sebum interacts with the air and turns black. They are really pesky and relentless. If you squeeze one, expect it to appear back soon. And if the problem becomes persistent see a dermatologist.
Whiteheads: In order to prevent and treat whiteheads ice is your best friend. Take a piece of ice and a paper towel or some sort of cloth and apply it to the affected area. This will reduce inflammation and redness. It also kills bacteria, so this several times a day and after a few times it should get better or hopefully vanish all together.
SPF & The Sun
The last tip I can give you would be to use SPF everyday. There are so many great self tanners out there the whole old-fashion bake in the sun tanning is so out of trend & unhealthy! Anything from SPF 15 to 30 should be enough for everyday use. But definitely raise the stakes in the summertime.
I hope I helped, and I hope you follow my new blog. I am really looking forward to posting on here. Talk to you all later. And message me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Xoxo, Lameka Fox
