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Of all the areas on your body to have acne, one of the most frustrating would be on your back. Bacne, also known as back acne, is difficult to avoid especially in hot and humid Singapore where it’s easy to break a sweat once you step out of your house.

Yes, sweating, albeit beneficial for your body and regulating its temperature, can be bad for your skin when the sweat gets trapped in your skin’s pores along with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells.

If you don’t have the habit of checking your back in the mirror, it’s high time to start lest your bacne problems have been growing unknowingly.

Other than having a harrowing effect on your confidence, as it’s a bit harder to be comfortable in your own skin with bacne issues, you might find yourself avoiding wearing or purchasing backless tops and dresses to hide those unsightly pimples.

prevent and cure bacne

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What beauty and lifestyle habits cause bacne?

@jessicalta

@Jessica | esthetician @Jessica | esthetician How to clear up your back acne. These are some things that could be causing her back acne and solutions! #backacne #bodyacnetreatment #acnetreatment #acneskin #clinicalestician #greenscreen

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Sometimes, even when you think you’re taking good care of your body and back to prevent bacne, there are several daily lifestyle habits you may not know that are causing back pimples.

Letting hair conditioner touch your back

how to prevent back acne, bacne

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If you have long hair cascading down your back, be extra careful when you use conditioner or hair masks. These products are usually creamy and can leave a film on your skin which clogs the pores and lead to bacne.

Instead, try putting your conditioned hair up into a shower cap while you wait for the products to nourish your hair. This will keep the products on just your hair and prevent them from touching your back and shoulders.

When washing your hair, try bending your head towards the side or bending forward with your hair in the front so that any water and product don’t come into contact with your body either.

Be mindful of any hair oils or serums you’re using, as those products can clog your pores throughout the day too if your hair’s down and resting on your exposed back.

Not exfoliating when showering

bacne prevention

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Just like how you would exfoliate your face to get rid of dead skin cells and improve the appearance of the skin, the same concept applies to your body and back too!

Invest in a good loofah or body brush and add that to your shower routine. Be careful not to over-exfoliate — just two to three times a week will do the trick.

For those with shorter arms or who have difficulty reaching certain areas of their body, opt for a long-handled loofah or bath sponge.

Using the same towel for your face and body

bacne

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Although we’re clean and fresh after a shower, there are possible leftover oil and bacteria that can be transferred from one area of your body to another.

Acne and facial sebum can spread to your body and vice versa if you’re not careful enough. So take the safe route and use separate towels for your face and body, especially if your face is prone to acne.

In going the extra mile, you may also want to use a third towel for your hair.

Wearing tight gym clothes or athleisure wear

bacne

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Some clothing for exercise is typically skin tight and with synthetic fabric, which traps moisture and leads to a build-up of grime and clogged pores.

From sports bras to tights and biker shorts, go for looser and lighter fabrics with moisture-wicking properties or provides ventilation.

That will make sure your skin can breathe and isn’t compressed while you’re sweating it out.

Skipping the shower after exercising

bacne

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Not only does the accumulation of sweat on damp clothes cause bacne and irritation, but it can also lead to fungal infections.

Refrain from sitting around in your dirty gym clothes and shower immediately after a workout!

However, if you’re unable to shower right away, make sure to wipe yourself off with a clean towel or unscented body wipes before changing into new, dry clothes.

Sitting on chairs or leaning against walls in public spaces

lifestyle habits that cause bacne

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Whether you’re on your way home from work on public transport or enjoying a movie in the cinema, public areas are shared and can have dirt or bacteria around.

Just think about the bacne you can avoid by being more aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re donning clothes where your back and shoulders are exposed.

Not washing your sheets regularly

bacne prevention

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Make it a habit to wash your bedsheets and pillowcases once every two weeks to prevent them from lying in your dead skin cells.

Just like how a dirty pillowcase can cause acne breakouts on your face, stale, unchanged sheets can also do the same to your back and body.

You can also invest in cooling and sweat-wicking sleepwear and sheets so you’ll head to bed comfortably and assured knowing that you’re not giving any chances to bacne.

Re-wearing your clothes

bacne solutions

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You may be saving water by not doing your laundry as often when you re-wear clothes, but you won’t be doing your skin any favours!

Even if you’ve been cooped up in an air-conditioned room all day or staying at home, your clothes still collect sweat, germs, and dead skin cells.

By wearing clean clothes each time after you shower, you’ll ensure that none of that nasty dirt is transferred onto your clean skin. Hence, fending off possible bacne from forming.

How to clear your bacne with beauty products

Use an acne cleanser

bacne

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Don’t underestimate the power of a good acne cleanser!

A regular shower gel can help clean your body, but it may not be suitable for banishing bacne. After all, there is the right, specific solutions to tackle specific problems.

Cleansers for acne-prone skin have formulas for regulating sebum production and shed impurities. When looking for an acne body wash, reach for those with salicylic acid that is oil-soluble and great for unclogging pores.

@janethechemist

Replying to @llammarali a bacne update!! This is something I’ve struggled with for so long but it’s looking a lot better now 😊 #cosmeticchemist #bacnejourney

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Other ingredients to look out for are 10% benzoyl peroxide which is ideal for opening up pimples and lowering levels of acne-causing bacteria to reduce inflammation; and tea tree oil to target redness, swelling, and inflammation.

bacne treatment with acne body cleansers

A choice cleanser with salicylic acid is the Murad Acne Body Wash which features a refreshing formula to treat and prevent body acne without over-drying the skin. It also has glycolic acid and date seed powder for clearer, smoother skin.

Murad Acne Body Wash retails for S$79 on Shopee.

Start having a skincare routine for your back

bacne skincare products

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Using just an acne cleanser for your bacne might not be enough to make it go away.

Other than exfoliating with a loofah as mentioned above or using an exfoliating product, you can treat your pimple-ridden back with other topical products like toners, similar to caring for your face.

Applying toners to your bacne helps refresh and hydrate the inflamed skin while balancing its pH and oil production levels. You can end off your bacne regime by using pimple creams on the affected areas if you wish to.

bacne treatments with toner

For a good toner, try Aprilskin’s Real Carrotene Blemish Clear Vita Pad which is a dual-textured toner pad packed with plant-derived salicylic acid and gentle exfoliating PHA. It can remove all the unwanted debris and dead skin that causes acne while revitalising your skin with vitamins.

Aprilskin Real Carrotene Blemish Clear Vita Pad retails for S$28.90 instead of S$45 on Aprilskin.

Stay away from overly thick and fragranced body creams

bacne lifestyle habits

We know that body creams and butters can be irresistible, smell heavenly, and be beneficial in moisturising your skin, but be meticulous about which ones you pick!

You can stick to aromatic body creams and avoid applying them on your back. This will prevent any clogging of pores on your back and ensure your bacne isn’t aggravated.

Bacne treatments and solutions to explore

Amber Beila Back Revival Back Treatment

bacne treatments in singapore

This Oil-Free B-Acne Removal treatment combines the use of Optimal Pulse Technology and P-Acne Solution to effectively remove bacne for a smooth, flawless back.

The former technology penetrates light pulses into skin tissues to rejuvenate the skin while eliminating acne and evening out the skin tone. At the same time, it reduces oil production in your sebaceous glands too.

@amberbeilasg

Get rid of your Back Acne with Amber Beila’s Back Acne Treatment ✨ 💯 #amberbeila #amberbeilagirls #beautytok #skinacne #backtreatment #sgskincare #skincare #sgskin #sgbeauty #sgtiktok #newtreatments #facialtime #backcare #backacne #backacnetreatment #sgskin

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Apart from all those benefits, you can also enjoy a back massage and a soothing mask for your back.

Get the Back Revival Back Treatment for S$58 per session (S$62.64 after GST) on Salon Finder.

See here for the full list of outlets and contact numbers.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Ample Life Luminous Clear Bacne Skin Therapy (Full Back)

bacne treatments in singapore

This skin therapy features four steps to help clear up your bacne and promises a luminous back.

After a consultation and physical check by Ample Life’s beautician, you’ll be taken through a back double cleansing, a back scrub, extraction with antiseptic, and a bacne treatment mask.

The procedures will help to reduce blemishes, unclog the pores, calm irritations, purify your skin, and remove excess oil and sebum.

Get the Luminous Clear Bacne Skin Therapy (Full Back) for S$98 instead of S$398 on Salon Finder.

Address: 103 Irrawaddy Road, Royal Square @ Novena, #02-19, Singapore 329566
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 7pm (Sat) | 10am – 6pm (Sun & PH)
Contact: +65 69701155/69701157 or email [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Peachy Skin Bar Sexy Back – Acne (Trial Promotion)

bacne treatments in singapore

Peachy Skin Bar’s bacne treatment will zap the zits (and your bacne struggles) away, leaving you with a clear, sexy back.

The treatment includes a back cleansing, apple back scrub, extraction, intense light pulse for acne, mini detox massage to help with blood circulation, and a dead sea mud mask and purifying ampoule.

See here for the full list of outlets and contact numbers.
Opening hours: 11am – 9.30pm (Mon to Sun)
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Feature image credit: @janethechemist/TikTok, @amberbeilasg/TikTok