Generality
Pimples on the back are an annoying and unsightly skin disorder.
In most cases, they are a consequence of acne, but can also occur in patients who do not suffer from this condition.
However, the problem of pimples on the back mainly affects adolescents and young adults, while it is rare in middle-aged or elderly people.
Considered by many as a real flaw to fight, the treatment for pimples on the back can vary depending on the cause and the degree of severity with which they occur.
What are
What are Pimples on the Back?
When we talk about pimples on the back, we generally refer to a manifestation or consequence of acne that typically affects the faces of adolescents or young adults. Despite this, the pimples that appear on the back of the trunk do not only and exclusively affect patients affected by the aforementioned acneic disorder, but can also occur singularly or sporadically as simple white spots (closed comedones) or boils . In other cases, however, so-called pimples may appear under the skin .
Did you know that ...
The back is one of the bodily sites on which pimples may also appear during pregnancy .
Causes
What are the Causes of Pimples Formation on the Back?
There is no single cause responsible for the formation of pimples on the back; in fact, it is believed that their formation is caused by a set of factors that contribute to each other in giving rise to the problem. However, among the main factors considered responsible for the onset of spots on the back and pimples in general, we find:
- Genetic predisposition ;
- Hormonal factors : the increase in the levels of circulating hormones - as occurs, for example, during puberty or during pregnancy - can favor an excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands;
- Excessive sebum production by the sebaceous glands due to non-hormonal causes;
- Bacterial infections : in many cases, inflammation typical of pimples is associated with bacterial infections sustained by micro-organisms such as Propionibacterium acnes .
Factors that increase the risk of developing pimples on the back
Among the main risk factors that can favor the appearance of pimples on the back and beyond, we find:
- Presence of mixed or oily skin ;
- Use of cleansing products or cosmetic products (for example, creams) of low quality, irritating and / or occluding the skin;
- Incorrect nutrition, rich in fats and very sweet or sugary foods;
- Stress conditions;
- Excessive sun exposure .
Furthermore, remember that, since the back is covered by clothing for most of the day and during most of the year, this area creates a warm, humid environment that could favor or exacerbate the appearance of pimples and bacterial proliferation.
Manifestations and Symptoms
How do pimples appear on the back?
Pimples on the back can manifest themselves in different ways. More in detail, they can present themselves as solid and reddened skin lesions (as happens, for example, in the case of furuncles), or as pus-infarcted skin lesions (as in the case of white spots and acne).
Pimples on the back can have different sizes and can occur in large numbers (as in the case of acne), or individually. The symptoms can vary depending on the size and severity of the inflammation present at the pimple level. In fact, regardless of the type of pimple that occurs, the inflammatory component is a constant . The latter can affect the hair follicle, the peri-follicular tissues and / or the pilo sebaceous glands. In the same way, even the presence of infections, generally of bacterial type, is a factor almost always present in the pimples on the back and in those that are formed in other areas of skin.
What symptoms cause pimples on the back?
The typical symptom induced by the pimples on the back - as well as by the pimples that occur in any other body area - is the itching that can occur shortly before the onset of the skin lesion. The itching can persist even after the pimples have occurred and can develop into pain, especially when the inflammation is particularly pronounced. Other typical and characteristic symptoms are swelling and redness .
The aforementioned symptoms and the sensation of discomfort caused by pimples on the back could be accentuated by rubbing with the clothes.
Complications of the Pimples on the Back
As with the pimples that develop on the face, even the pimples that appear on the back could be subject to complications giving rise to more serious lesions ( cysts ) which, once healed, can leave scars of greater or lesser dimensions. In such situations, the doctor's intervention is appropriate, as it may be necessary to intervene through appropriate dermatological treatments (pimples incision or cyst removal).
Care and Treatment
Treatments and Treatments Against Pimples on the Back
The treatment that you decide to take to counteract the pimples on your back depends essentially on the causes triggering the disorder and the severity of the latter.
In fact, when the pimples on the back occur in an isolated manner and are not large, they generally tend to self- purge within a few time. If this does not occur, it would be good to go to the doctor or, even better, to the dermatologist.
Cosmetics
In the presence of pimples on the back it is advisable to use mild detergents that are able to clean the skin without irritating it. In addition to this, to promote cell turnover, it may be useful to resort to the use of cosmetics with exfoliating action (chemical scrubs or exfoliators). Naturally, the use of products of this type is indicated in cases of pimples on the back that are not serious and that do not present complications.
With regard to skin hydration, on the other hand, it is good to choose non-fat and light products that are able to hydrate and nourish without clogging the pores.
Pharmacological Treatments
For the treatment of pimples on the back and on other areas of the body, drugs for skin use (ointments or gel) containing active ingredients with comedolytic and / or antibacterial action are available on the market. A classic example of similar active ingredients is benzoyl peroxide (Benzac®). Drugs of this type can be purchased without the need to present the prescription; however, their use should only be done on the advice of the doctor.
When the pimples on the back manifest themselves in severe form, on the other hand, the doctor could decide to intervene by prescribing to the patient the administration of antibiotic drugs (to fight bacterial infections) and / or corticosteroid drugs (powerful anti-inflammatory drugs) for topical use. In this case, however, the prescription is essential for dispensing the medicines in question.
Engraving or Removal
The incision of pimples on the back should only take place when they do not tend to resolve spontaneously, they become large and / or very painful and annoying for the patient.
Similarly, if pimples on the back become complicated and form cysts, their removal may be necessary.
Similar practices should be performed only and exclusively by the dermatologist using specially sterilized instruments.
Do-it-yourself engraving of pimples on the back is an extremely discouraged practice because of the risk of causing serious injuries, favoring the spread of infections and favoring the formation of scars.
Useful Tips
Useful Tips to Prevent Pimples Formation on the Back
If you are particularly predisposed to the appearance of pimples on your back, to prevent their formation, it may be useful to make some changes in your diet and in your lifestyle. Therefore, some useful tips will be briefly reported below.
Behavioral tricks and personal hygiene
- Avoid crushing, pressing, breaking or cutting pimples on your back; this practice - in addition to increasing the risk of scarring - can, in fact, favor the spread of infection to the surrounding pores.
- Wash your back daily with soap and water using high quality cleansing products that are not overly degreasing. In fact, if on the one hand cleansing serves to remove excess sebum and dirt; on the other hand, using products that are too aggressive and degreasing can dry out and irritate the skin, causing it to produce more sebum in an attempt to restore normal conditions.
- In the presence of many pimples on the back, especially if very inflamed, after cleansing it is good to dry the skin by dabbing and not rubbing. This prevents further irritation of the skin, as it reduces the risk of breaking the pimples.
- Preferably wear breathable clothing made from natural fibers (such as cotton).
- Avoid exposing yourself to excessive UV rays, taking care to use special sunscreens.
- Do not use drugs of any kind (not even if purchased without a prescription) unless specifically prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid the use of do-it-yourself remedies of dubious utility and of doubtful safety of use, such as, for example, the use of toothpaste on pimples.
Nutrition and Lifestyle
- Adopt a balanced diet trying, as far as possible, to avoid fatty foods and excessively sweet or sugary foods.
- Avoid dangerous vices such as smoking and alcohol abuse.
- Try to reduce stress as much as possible.
Please note
Of course, the aforementioned recommendations do not guarantee the complete disappearance of the pimples and cannot guarantee that these will no longer occur. However, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the maintenance of an optimal level of personal hygiene can not only be valid preventive tools for the formation of pimples on the back, but without a doubt they can be useful for maintaining good health of the whole organism.
