To choose the best products for back acne, the severity of your acne and the type of back acne you have are key considerations. Generally, products for back acne have one of several main active ingredients, which allows each product to focus on a different type of acne. Some products eliminate bacteria, while others remove oil and dead skin cells. It's important to find a product with the proper concentration of medication, as many of the active ingredients in acne products can irritate skin or cause inflammation when used excessively. The skin on your back is typically tougher and thicker than the skin on your face, so you can usually use a product with a higher percentage of medication than you would use to treat facial acne.
Many products for back acne include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as their main active ingredients. Benzoyl peroxide is typically used to treat surface acne, as it works to remove excess oil and dead skin cells from pores and kills main acne-causing bacteria. You can find benzoyl peroxide in a number of concentrations, though it might be best to choose a product with a lower concentration if you experience dry skin or redness. Salicylic acid works similarly to benzoyl peroxide and other products for back acne, helping to keep pores unclogged and eliminating whiteheads and blackheads. If you experience moderate or severe back acne, you might want to choose a product with a higher concentration if it does not irritate your skin.
A back acne product that contains alpha hydroxy acid can be used in conjunction with other chemical products for back acne in order to exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are commonly used forms of these acids that may aid in preventing back acne by stimulating the growth of new skin on your back. Treatments containing them are some of the most popular products for back acne, as they treat the problem while also promoting good skincare and helping to prevent future outbreaks.
When treating back acne, it is important to use a mild cleanser and to avoid using products that can irritate the skin. Mild exfoliating products help to bring new skin cells to the surface, which smooths skin and makes it easier to clean. Using multiple products for back acne simultaneously can cause further damage to your skin and could worsen your acne, particularly if you are already susceptible to dry skin. You can also use most products for back acne in order to treat other forms of body acne, such as those found on the chest, arms or legs.