Acne is a very common problem for both adults and teenagers and the commonest perception of acne is that it occurs on the face. But, if you have had acne you know only too well that it can occur in other places too such as the back and the chest.

Despite the fact that chest and back acne is not so apparent to the outside observer it can nevertheless be very annoying for those suffering from it. Unluckily, chest and back acne is frequently more difficult to treat than the acne that you have on your face and traditional treatments and cleansers which you buy to treat facial acne are normally less effective when it comes to curing back acne. As if this were not bad enough, as your chest and back are often covered by clothing, you may experience more irritation as your clothes rub against your pimples.

Just as you do with your facial acne you will have to follow a daily treatment routine for your back acne and the majority of common regimens will include a cleanser followed with a moisturizer. Generally, it is harder to put medication on your back acne because of where it is located and so you may require the help of a family member or to use a special applicator.

You must take care over the sort of clothing that you wear. Rough materials or tight-fitting shirts can rub against your skin and irritate your pimples leading to greater oil production and therefore more breakouts. You also need to be careful about the type of washing powder and fabric softener that you use. Sometimes these can irritate back acne and so you may need to try different brands or change to a dye and fragrance free variety.

Watch what you are carrying anything on you back. For children in school, and for those who do a lot of hiking and backpacking, heavy backpacks can make back acne very noticeably worse. If you experience a rise in the number of acne breakouts you may have to stop using a backpack for a while. If this is difficult then a shoulder bag can help until your spots clear up.

Your dermatologist can be a great help with the diagnosis and treatment of your acne and can begin by determining how bad your acne is and also assessing what type of skin you have. Whether your skin is, for example, dry or oily or what is referred to as 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 suffered from acne and how frequently breakouts happen. Armed with this information she can determine the best treatment and medication to deal with your specific case of acne.