Working out is sweaty business which is great for detoxing your body, but there can be some disconcerting side effects to all that sweating. Bacne - yep acne on your back. The most common piece of advice to avoid bacne is to take off those sweaty clothes as soon as you are done and once naked, shower immediately. Now if you are already doing this and still feel plagued by the acne here are a few new tricks to try.

  • Make sure your bra and your shirt are made of fabric that wicks the sweat away from your body. Cotton, in this instance, is not your friend.
  • If your routine includes cardio followed by strength training, change your shirt and bra in between. Wipe or rinse (much more complicated mid workout) your back before putting on your fresh clothes.
  • Shower post workout and use Cetaphil or some other antibacterial cleanser. Use a back scrubber so you can reach all parts of your back. Do not scrub aggressively as that will only irritate the area even more.
  • Try over the counter acne medication. The skin on your back is tougher than the skin on your face. After showering try glycolic or alpha hydroxy lotion of about 8 or 10 percent strength. Or try 10 percent benzoil peroxide. Remember, benzoil peroxide will bleach your clothes.
  • Stop carrying a heavy backpack, especially if you are trying the regimen above. Backpacks can irritate the skin on your back and promote sweating.
  • If you're really at a loss, make an appointment with a dermatologist and hopefully they will clear things up for you (literally and figuratively).

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