POPSUGAR

Struggling With Back Acne? Your Workouts Could Be to Blame, but These Tips Can Help

Jan 21 2020 - 6:50am

Athlete Woman Exercising Rope Climbing At Gym

If you hit the gym regularly, you know that breakouts can be as much a part of an active lifestyle [1] as those muscle gains. Particularly common? "Bacne [2]," the painful bumps that can crop up on your back and make wearing things like tanks and swimsuits unnerving. "If you're prone to acne, you might experience breakouts on the face [3], chest, or back, and even all of these areas at the same time," Rajani Katta, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Glow: The Dermatologist's Guide to a Whole Foods, Younger Skin Diet [4], told POPSUGAR. While hormones and genetics play a role, there are some steps you can take to get your workout-driven breakouts under control.

What Causes Bacne?

"Acne on the back is caused by the same factors that lead to breakouts on the face," Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, told POPSUGAR. "Skin cells sit together and block the follicles, leading to an accumulation of oil and an overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria. This collectively leads to inflammation within the pores, which is what we call acne."

Unfortunately, a good sweat session can make that more likely. "Sweat itself is not associated with acne," Dr. Zeichner explained. "However, when you experience heavy sweating, you're usually exercising and wearing tight-fitting clothing against your skin. This may trap dirt and oil and promote inflammation, leading to acne breakouts."

To make matters worse, it can be difficult to care for your skin in those hard-to-reach places. "The back is challenging to treat because it is a large surface area and may be difficult to reach by yourself," Dr. Katta said.

How to Prevent Bacne While Working Out

The good news is there are many ways to keep your skin clear. Here are several strategies, straight from the doctors:


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Bacne-Unpleasant-Side-Effect-Working-Out-183203