While back and chest acne is not as apparent to outside observers it can nevertheless be extremely annoying for those suffering from it. Unfortunately, back and chest acne is usually more difficult to treat than facial acne and the traditional cleaners and treatments which you purchase for the treatment of facial acne will often not work as effectively when it comes to dealing with back acne. As if this were not bad enough, since your back and chest are usually covered by clothing, you might experience more irritation from the rubbing of material against your spots.

Just as you do with your facial acne you will need to follow a daily treatment routine for acne on your back and the majority of common regimens will include a cleanser followed by a moisturizer. Usually, it is of course more difficult to put medication on your back acne because of where it is located and so you might need help from a family member or to use a lotion applicator.

You must take care over the sort of clothing you wear. Tight-fitting shirts or rough material will rub against your skin and irritate your spots causing greater oil production and thus more breakouts. You also have to pay attention to the type of detergent and fabric softener you use. Occasionally these will irritate back acne and so you might need to try different brands or change to a dye and fragrance free variety.

Also, watch out if you carry anything on you back. For young people in school, as well as those who do a lot of backpacking and hiking, backpacks can make back acne very noticeably worse. If you see a rise in the number of acne breakouts you may need to stop carrying a backpack for a while. If this causes difficulties then a shoulder bag can help until your acne subsides.

A dermatologist can help you with the diagnosis and treatment of back acne and will be able to start by determining just how bad your acne is and also assessing what type of skin you have. Whether your skin is, for example, oily or dry or what is termed a combination skin is important in deciding upon the best treatment. Your dermatologist will also want to have a history of your acne condition, covering such as how long you have had it and how often breakouts happen. Armed with this information he will be able to work out the best treatment and medication to clear up your specific case of acne.