How To Get Rid Of Bacne Fast

Countless studies have shown the very real psychological harm that chronic skin conditions can cause, from depression and anxiety to a general low mood and feelings of low self-worth. When people talk about acne, we tend to talk more about the face but as your letter demonstrates, it doesn't have to be contained to your complexion to be distressing. One of the hardest things about any chronic skin condition is the cyclical nature of it, as you noted – seemingly unpredictable flare-ups, weeks without relief, and the occasional "good skin day" which in itself can be disquieting if you don't know what you did to get there. In your longer letter you mentioned being laughed at by a doctor, which made me very angry. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

I reached out to Dr Amiee Vyas, who's one of the most positive and soothing people in aesthetics (seriously – browsing her Instagram gives me that post-yoga feeling of relaxation) to get you some practical help. Firstly, you're not alone. "It is very common to get breakouts on the back, tops of the shoulders and sometimes the chest because like the face we have a large number of hair follicles and associated sebaceous (oil) glands in these areas," explained Dr Vyas. "Acne anywhere on the body is caused by overactive sebaceous glands and a build-up of dead cell debris, which creates the ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria (P. acnes) to flourish. This then causes inflammation and the bumps we see as acne." While you say you're oily all over, lifestyle factors (which I'll touch on in a moment) might be what's causing spots to form more commonly on your back than on your face.

I'm sure you've researched this heavily but a quick primer on why you're oily in the first place. "The two main causes of acne anywhere on the body are genetics and hormones. How oily our skin is and how active our oil glands are tend to run in families in most cases," said Dr Vyas. (Yay! One more thing to blame your parents for!) Hormonal factors, namely puberty and PMS, can also cause breakouts as testosterone production surges. If you have polycystic ovaries, you might be more acne-prone, as androgen levels are higher then. Stress hormones play a role, too. "Cortisol also increases sebaceous gland oil production and thus acne," said Dr Vyas. "I saw this all the time during my online consultations during lockdown. Always ensure you take some stress-busting measures – meditation, yoga, whatever works for you – and be kind to yourself. It can sometimes be a vicious cycle with stress and acne flare-ups."

Now, lifestyle factors. If you're a gym bunny, listen up. "Make sure your gym kit or athleisure is made of a breathable material and isn't causing too much friction while you're exercising," said Dr Vyas. "Change immediately after working out, shower as soon as possible and wash every item of clothing after a workout." I know that after a heavy session it's tempting to just crash and browse Instagram while psyching yourself up to move but it's really important to get out of your kit sharpish and into the shower. Dr Vyas also said to minimise your use of back weights and bars resting on your shoulders; if you are using these regularly, make sure you wipe them down first and again afterwards. "Also, think about minimising backpack use. The straps are occlusive and will trap oil and cell debris, said Dr Vyas. "Similarly, take breaks if you are sitting at a computer all day long with your back pressed to a high-backed chair." 

Likewise, think about your hair – do you use lots of conditioning treatments? "If you have long hair and apply things like coconut oil or serums, these will also be occlusive and can cause breakouts on the skin where the hair falls – I see this commonly on the tops of the shoulders and back. In the same way, always rewash your body in the shower after washing the conditioner out of your hair," added Dr Vyas.

You've no doubt read various things about the impact of diet on acne and, unfortunately, we don't have any definitive answers about exactly which food groups cause breakouts. Instead of going hell for leather and starting an elimination diet (which is a bad idea for many reasons), Dr Vyas suggested a softer approach. "Diet can have an impact on breakouts but far less than hormones and other factors; for this reason I suggest only limiting food groups such as dairy for two to three weeks. If there's no improvement, reintroduce these items. Sugar can cause flare-ups on the face, so be sensible with consumption if you know this is a trigger for you personally," she advised.

Her favourite product for tackling the back breakouts when you have them is the Clinisept + Aftercare Spray. "In my opinion, you can’t use this enough for bacne. This spray contains a hypochlorous antimicrobial agent which tackles bacterial overgrowth, and it's also extremely cooling and calming on the skin. The spray mechanism means you can easily use it in the shower to wash your back and it's convenient to take with you when exercising, so you can spray it onto your back before your workout and also use it to clean the skin immediately afterwards," explained Dr Vyas. Another similar R29 favourite is ETTO's Body Foam which uses the purest form of tea tree oil, making the most of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Otherwise, she suggested using exfoliating acid cleansers or pads and lotions in the shower, such as NeoStrata Foaming Glycolic Wash and Ultra Smoothing Lotion or the Murad AHA/BHA Cleanser. For darker skin types or sensitive skin, try mandelic acid as it’s less irritating: NeoStrata also makes a Mandelic Clarifying Cleanser.

I really hope some of this helps. Quick fixes are unlikely and Dr Vyas noted that there may even be a "gets worse before it gets better" phase but that consistency and perseverance is key. Oh, she also said that you still need to wear SPF on the affected areas! Just go for something light and oil-free like Heliocare Gel Oil-Free SPF 50. And if you’re ready to see another specialist? Dr Vyas' door is always open.

Good luck,

Daniela