What does back acne mean?

Why does acne appear on your back?

Hair follicles are the openings where hair grows out of your skin. When oil and dead skin cells clog a follicle, bacteria can contribute to swelling and a painful pimple. Acne is not simply a reason to wash harder: scrubbing irritates skin and can make acne worse.14

Acne can continue into your 30s, 40s and 50s, including on the back and shoulders. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause can contribute. Stress can worsen existing acne, while greasy hair and skin products can plug follicles. Hair products can therefore belong on your list of possible triggers, despite their department on the bathroom shelf.5

New adult breakouts are also worth discussing with your doctor if they began after starting or stopping a medicine. Testosterone treatments, anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, some seizure medicines and lithium can contribute to acne. Stopping birth control containing estrogen can also bring breakouts as hormone levels change. Tell your doctor about that timing rather than assuming the spots have one particular hormonal cause.5

Are all bumps on your back acne?

Acne can include whiteheads, blackheads, raised bumps, pus filled spots and deeper painful lumps called nodules or cysts. Raised bumps can look pink or red on white skin, or brown or purple on brown and black skin. You can have several types at once.1

Other conditions can look like acne, including folliculitis, a condition involving hair follicles. If the bumps remain stubborn despite acne treatment, a dermatologist can check whether they are actually acne. Appearance and persistence are reasons to get an assessment, not enough to diagnose yourself.3

What should you do next?

• Wash gently twice a day. Do not scrub, pick or squeeze spots.
• Choose products labelled noncomedogenic, meaning they do not clog pores.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing, especially during exercise or sweating.
• Ask a pharmacist about treatments applied to the skin, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Treatment and suitable skin care can help back acne clear more quickly than waiting for it to disappear. For adult skin, do not automatically choose the strongest acne product: strong treatments can be too drying or irritating. A dermatologist can assess the cause and choose targeted treatment when shop bought options are not helping.35

When should you see a doctor?

See a doctor if treatment is not helping, spots are numerous, deep or painful, scars are developing, or acne affects your mental health. Hot, swollen or red skin can signal infection and also needs medical assessment.1

Very large painful lumps, bumps connected beneath the skin or areas draining pus need a dermatologist's attention. A rare severe form called acne conglobata can affect the back and cause deep connected bumps and scarring. It does not clear without treatment. Do not wait for those symptoms to settle on their own.6

For a baby, the advice is different. Newborn acne can appear on the back and usually clears without treatment. Acne beginning after six weeks of age needs assessment by a dermatologist because other conditions can resemble it and scarring is possible. Never use acne medicine or acne wash on a baby's skin unless their dermatologist or pediatrician recommends it.7