Battling Bacne

Lately I keep seeing commercials promoting products designed to combat acne on the back and chest, something that a few years ago seemed pretty much taboo to discuss. Let’s face it, just the term “bacne” sounds pretty awful. But it’s nothing compared to dealing with all of the frustration and embarrassment that comes with actually having it. And harsh cleanser and drying treatments can only make the whole experience seem worse, as a broken out back is bad enough, without also adding flaky, irritated, peeling skin to the mix.

I had breakouts on my back and chest several years ago. And it was not fun. But by realizing what some of your triggers are, you might be able to clear things up all on your own like I did–without pricey or drying products.

Don’t get me wrong, I tried seeking professional help first. I went to a dermatologist, a doctor, an acupuncturist, an aesthetician, but nothing helped. Doctors even told me that the strongest, most severe types of acne medication would not have even helped my horrible breakouts–thank goodness, considering all of the dangers now linked to some of these products.

Then I was diagnosed with intolerances to gluten and casein. So I went gluten-free in my diet, but I took it further still. I was already using only natural, paraben free products for my hair care, skin care and cosmetics, but I wondered if gluten in these products was also sabotaging my skin.

And guess what . . . it was! But there are still other ingredients that I avoid as well to keep my back and chest ready for strapless, backless and whatever kinds of outfits fit my mood.

I actually still receive emails from people all the time who are also suffering from acne on their chest, back or face, and here is the advice I usually share:

Top Tips for Battling Acne on Your Back, Chest and Face

• Start With Diet: If you suspect that you might have a food intolerance, try doing an elimination diet for a few weeks to see if you can target any trigger foods. The top eight food allergens are wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, dairy, fish, shellfish, eggs.
• Check Your Shampoo: If you are sensitive to any foods, you may need to purchase shampoo, conditioner and styling products that are also free of them. Think about it, when you’re in the shower, your hair products rinse right down you back and chest.  It’s also a great idea to wash your body last, so you can wash off hair products like conditioner, which is meant to coat the hair and could be coating your back and chest.
• Use a Gentle Cleanser: If you’re sensitive to something like gluten, you may also be sensitive to common irritants like parabens or fragrances. In my case two bars of soap can be exactly the same, but if one has any amount of fragrance oil in it, it’ll be fine on most of my body, but use it on my back, chest or face and I’ll get a zit. So I only use fragrance-free, natural soaps or cleansers on my face, back and chest. Even using your face wash (if it meets the criteria) is fine, but it will cost you more!
• Check Your Laundry Products: Personally, I haven’t had much problem with fabric care products, though I do try to use fragrance free, natural options. For some people, the icky chemicals in fabric softeners can irritate the skin.
• Don’t Over-Treat: Your back and chest are not used to a lot of products, and the less the better for keeping them clear. In my case just putting any type of moisturizer on my neck will cause a pimple–even if it has built in acne fighting power! Think more about what you put in your body and what you cleanse it with, and then you shouldn’t have to use any topical creams or treatments on your back and chest. These can just irritate and dry the area–over drying of acne prone areas can result in your skin just producing more oil and more acne.
• Be Patient: It took a while for me to figure all of this out, and the time I spent with the breakouts was pretty unpleasant. But I did figure it all out, and now everything’s clear! I do still get one or two spots on my chest or face at a certain time each month from time to time, but now if I do, I just make sure that I’m cleansing the area with a good, gentle cleanser, and if it’s on my face I make sure I’m using my Facial Moisture Serum twice a day to balance. But I also know that it will pass and one pimple every couple of months I can handle!!

Tags: Gluten Free Skin Care, Natural Skin Care