Bacne Tips and Tricks: Plus, our go-to products to quickly — and gently — treat breakouts.

I pride myself on taking really good care of my skin, and I usually get compliments on how well the texture of it looks and feels. However, this past spring, meteorite-like clusters of acne spread like wildfire on my back. What’s worse: It all started spiraling just weeks before the start of summer a.k.a. the season for swimsuits, tank tops, and backless dresses. 

I automatically began researching causes, treatments, and the best products to combat my not-so-fabulous flare-up all while trying my hardest not to be insecure or impatient about it. I consulted top dermatologists, estheticians, skin experts, and also became my own guinea pig for products to see what really works. It has been a bumpy road, literally, but I now know how to approach this sketchy skin situation like an OG if it ever happens again. In this article, you’ll learn how bacne forms and how to get rid of it once and for all.

In a hurry? Here’s a sneak peek at the top dermatologist recommended OTC products that will be A++ for your back acne:

Top 3 – Editor’s Picks If you’re in a rush, here’s our top picks for clearing back acne.
#1 – Misumi Blemish Clear Body Wash
	Great for Body acne, including back, chest, arms, neck Helps to clear up acne fast Removes impurities that clog up pores and cause acne Results easily beats big brands and tough competition like Proactiv 60-Day money back guarantee 5.0 stars out of 5   Read Review CLICK HERE FOR THE PRICE
#2 – Paula’s Choice-CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray
	Suitable for: Sensitive skin It works surprisingly well Great for hard to reach spots Minimize appearance of pores 4.5 stars out of 5   Read Review CLICK HERE FOR THE PRICE
#3 – Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser
	Suitable for: All skin types Powerful blend of Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid, and Lactic acid Works fast on body and face Does not dry out skin 4.5 stars out of 5   Read Review CLICK HERE FOR THE PRICE

Tips and Tricks to Banish Bacne & Keep It at Bay

1. Exfoliate Regularly

“Like the face, one’s upper torso and back have more sebaceous (oil producing) glands than any other area of the body, which means it produces more of the skin’s natural oil, increasing the likelihood of developing body acne in these areas. Exfoliating on a regular basis is also important since the skin cells on the back may not slough off as efficiently as needed and that pile-up can aggravate acne,” says Doris Day, a New York City dermatologist and Olay Professional Alliance member. Try Misumi Blemish Clear Body Wash, $23.95.

2. Spot-Treat Bacne

Spot treatments and masks aren’t just for your face — they can be a targeted way to tackle bacne breakouts, too. Esthetician and skin-care expert Renée Rouleau recommends using a mask with ingredients like sulfur, camphor, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and clay, like her Rapid Response Detox Masque. You can also use spot treatments that you would normally use on your face on your bod. For breakouts that are close to the surface, try Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion for an overnight fix. If your bacne is the cystic kind, Rouleau’s Anti-Cyst Treatment is a great option.

3. Use an Acne Spray to Hit Weird Angles on Your Back

Getting acne medication on your back can be tricky, but this simple spray can propel its treatment from any angle. Try Murad Clarifying Body Spray, $43.

4. Shower Right After Working Out

One of the reasons bacne happens is because we’re busy being so awesome and healthy working up a sweat! “Breakouts on the back and body can be exacerbated by working out or sweating more,” explains skin expert Rouleau. Whenever possible, shower right after exercising to help remove sweat that may be irritating the skin and causing clogged pores on your back.

5. Use Specially Formulated Cleansers

Take advantage of cleansers made specifically to fight bacne, like the Blemish Clear Body Wash, which deposits salicylic acid wherever you need it most, leaving you feeling ultraclean and helping you to fight acne all over your body. 

6. Use a Cleansing Brush

Scrubbing your back seems basically impossible, until you try Clarisonic’s body brush — it deep cleans even tough skin around your upper shoulders. The extending handle allows you to easily get to hard-to-reach areas. Try the Clarisonic Mia Smart Deluxe Acne Prevention Kit, $199.

7. Don’t Let Conditioner Sit on Your Back

Sometimes how we wash our hair is is to blame for bacne. When conditioner-coated hair sits directly on our backs, it seeps into the skin — and that can actually be the cause of back and body acne. So the answer to how to get rid of bacne might be as simple as clipping your hair up if you’re going to let a conditioner sit in it for a bit. It’s also important to keep it off your back after the shower, too. Even though you’ve rinsed, the freshly conditioned hair can irritate sensitive, acne-prone skin.

8. Don’t Pick

As with regular acne, avoid picking any bacne or body acne. Just like with your face, picking acne on your body can spread bacteria and cause more pimples, as well as lead to scarring (and no one wants to deal with that).

9. Wash Your Sheets and Workout Gear Regularly

Sheets and recycled workout gear can be a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Make sure to wash your sheets frequently and avoid the temptation to rewear your sports bra or tank for more than one sweat sesh.

10. Schedule a Back Facial

“As someone who has struggled with back acne during my teenage years, I am very familiar with this troubling condition,” says Rouleau. “While there are great things you can do for yourself at home, to get even better results, schedule an appointment to get a back treatment with a skin-care professional.” Unlike a DIY treatment, a back facial with a licensed esthetician will deep-clean clogged pores, as well as give a powerful, professional-strength exfoliation to boost the results of your home care.

Best OTC Treatments for Back Acne 2021

#1 Best Overall: Misumi Blemish Clear Body Wash

Click for Best Price

After evaluating hundreds of products from the best rated acne brands, our top pick for best back acne treatment is Misumi’s Blemish Clear Body Wash. It’s salicylic acid-based to treat everything from blackheads to breakouts. The formula combines three essential acne-fighting ingredients including Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Salicylic Acid to create a powerful treatment that deeply exfoliates the skin, removing impurities and unclogging pores. Misumi adds Lavender to the formula to help calm breakouts and reduce redness and swelling. This natural ingredient also helps to even out skin tone and prevent severe acne scar.

Developed specifically to tackle problematic skin on the back, chest, neck, shoulders, and even intimate areas, the Salicylic acid based body wash will help clear skin and prevent future breakouts. The body wash works by clearing the skin from the inside out. It helps to remove sweat, sebum, dirt, and impurities that clog up the pores and cause pimples and comedones.

Pros

• Specifically designed to target calm breakouts on back area
• High quality natural ingredients
• Amazing properties for acne-prone and oily skin
• Additional anti-aging benefits
• Helps reduce redness and swelling
• Evens out skin tone and helps prevent severe acne scar
• 60 Day Money Back Guarantee

Best Leave On Treatment: Paula’s Choice-CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray-w/2% Salicylic Acid-Leave-On Exfoliant

Paula’s Choice Clear Back and Body Acne Spray is designed for those hard-to-reach places. It has the goods: It’s salicylic acid-based to treat everything from blackheads to breakouts. It’s water base and very convenient to use. Overall, we gaurantee this is a great supplemental treatment to pair with a powerful body wash.

Best for Clearing Body & Facial Acne: Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser

This powerful wash uses salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin by unclogging pores to remove dead cells, dirt, makeup, and excess oil. Salicylic acid also helps to accelerate the turnover of new cells, while speeding up the shredding of old, damaged cells. This ensures that a sustainable and lasting clear skin as the result. It’s also relatively soothing, however, as the formula includes lavender extract, which soothes the skin and reduces inflammation and redness. The non-greasy formula doesn’t leave behind any trace of residue and is free of fragrance and parabens. With daily use, you’ll get smooth, soft, clear skin with a youthful glow and minimized pores

Pros

• Can be used both on body areas and face
• Clears breakouts and unclogs pores
• 60 Day money back guarantee

• Naturally Derived

• Sulfate Free

• Cruelty Free

Cons

X  Does not lather

MAGGIFT Removable Natural Boar Bristle Long Handle Body Brush

Work your cleanser of choice into a lather with one of two scrub brushes.

Best Back Spray for those who can splurge: Murad Clarifying Body Spray

Clarifying Body Spray helps fight breakouts and prevent new breakouts from forming. This quick-drying formula is convenient to use. This leave on spot treatment contains Salicylic Acid which penetrates pores to clear up acne and prevent new breakouts from forming. 

Best for all-over breakouts: PanOxyl Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Creamy Wash

Another BP cleanser with a moderate 4 percent strength. It’s wrapped up in a creamy formulation, which provides additional moisture so you’re left with soft skin—not that super-tight feeling. You can even use this on your body to treat bacne.

Best for redness: Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash

The 2 percent salicylic acid cleanser is tough enough to tackle breakouts and remove a day’s worth of makeup, but it’s still gentle on your skin thanks to allantoin, an ingredient that eases potential sensitivity, and pro vitamin B5, which helps skin stay supple and redness-free.

Best exfoliating scrub: St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub

If a clean face means getting gritty and scrubby with it…you need this one from St. Ives. The salicylic acid clears out excess oil, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, while manual exfoliators remove pore-clogging dead skin cells.

Conclusion

Picking the right product to fight back acne is hard, especially when there are hundreds of options at the store and online. Our skincare experts have narrowed down to a shortlist of the very best, tried and true, acne-fighting products that will help clear your back and get your confidence up fast.

Our number 1 pick is Misumi’s Blemish Clear Body Wash. Although they’ve been around for over 25 years as big players in the premium skincare industry, Misumi products has only recently been made available for the public to buy over the counter online. They made all their products in the USA in an FDA-licensed facility and use natural ingredients as the backbone of their formula. Try their  Blemish Clear Body Wash risk-free today and enjoy 60 Money Back Guarantee. If you’re dealing with both body acne and blemishes on the face, opt for their Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser for a more targeted treatment.