How To Get Rid Of Back Acne

I get this question so much –

What causes back acne?

There are several places on the body where there are a higher number of sebaceous glands in the skin – the face, the chest and the back. And because these areas tend to produce more oil, they can also erupt in acne when there is an imbalance in the body.

The cause of acne is the same all over the body – there is an imbalance within. These imbalances include insulin resistance, poor diet, poor detoxification, poor gut health and unmanaged stress. Because we do not typically use skincare products on our body this is not usually the cause of body acne.

I do find, however, that when back acne is present there is usually a deeper dysbiosis, or imbalance in the microbiome, than those that do not experience body acne. This means that a lot of attention needs to put on healing the gut and the microbiome. And, I also find that typically facial acne will clear before body acne when balancing the body from the inside out.

How do you heal body acne?

1. You need to balance the body from the inside out.
2. Eat a diet rich in whole foods and nutrients and avoid foods that cause inflammation in the body
3. Heal your insulin levels, because high insulin levels can trigger the hormone IGF-1, which directly leads to acne.
4. Support detoxification in the body, especially the lymphatic system.
5. Heal the gut. If you experience gas, bloating, irregular bowel movements – this is a priority! An imbalanced microbiome and a leaky gut will trigger inflammation in the body. And remember – acne is inflammation!
6. Manage stress. When cortisol is released 3 different biochemical pathways are triggered that lead directly to acne.

Are there any topical solutions?

Back acne and body acne are sure signs that there is an imbalance in the body. Healing your body is the only way to truly solve back acne.

When my clients are suffering though, there are a few topical solutions that can help.

1. Natural body wash containing tea tree oil
2. Green tea and colloidal silver spray
3. Aloe vera gel with tea tree and lavender essential oil

Do not use topical preparations that are drying to the skin. This can actually dry out the skin and create more oil production. These products can also damage the moisture barrier, the pH of the skin and the microbiome, which can leave the skin more vulnerable to more break-outs, scarring and hyper-pigmentation. Keep topical products very gentle and nourishing.

Body acne is a really big sign that your body needs to be balanced! Don’t rely on topical products to solve your back acne – you will be fiddling with different products for years. Instead, balance your body, solve your acne from the inside out and stop allowing acne to get in the way of your life.