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BACK ACNE

Back Acne
Back acne (“bacne”) is acne that develops on
your back. It happens when sweat, oil, dead
skin cells and bacteria get trapped in your skin’s
pores. Backpacks, sweaty shirts or sports
equipment can create friction on your back and
worsen back acne. You can treat back acne by
keeping your skin clean and using acne-Cghting
skin creams.

Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests

Management and Treatment Prevention

Outlook / Prognosis Living With

OV E RV I E W

Back acne appears as red bumps, whiteheads or blackheads

on your back.

What is back acne?

Back acne (or “bacne”) is acne that develops
on your back. It causes pimples that appear
as red bumps, whiteheads or blackheads.
These zits can be unsightly, annoying and
painful.

Acne happens when oil, dirt, dead skin cells

and bacteria clog your skin’s pores. Back
acne usually results when sweat gets trapped
under a shirt or athletic gear during exercise
or strenuous activity. Clothing rubs against
your sweaty skin, which leads to zits or
makes them worse.

Several over-the-counter and prescription

treatments can clear up back acne. But it may
take a few months for skin to clear.

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Who might get back acne?

Anyone can get back acne. It can appear at
any age and in people of all sexes. But it’s
more common in teenagers and young adults
assigned male at birth (AMAB).

How common is back acne?

Acne is the most common skin condition in
the United States. Around 50 million people in
the U.S. have acne. It can develop anywhere
on your body. Most often, acne appears on
your face. But it’s also common on your back,
shoulders, chest, neck and bottom.

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S Y M P TO M S A N D C AU S E S

What causes back acne?

Back acne develops like other types of zits.
Your skin’s pores (tiny holes) get clogged with
dirt, dead skin cells, sweat and an oil called
sebum. Your body makes sebum to keep your
skin and hair from getting too dry.

If your body makes too much sebum or you

don’t clean your skin properly, you can get
clogged pores. This can result from:

Family history: You’re more likely to

develop pimples if you have a family
history of acne.
Friction: Shirts, backpacks, sporting
equipment and other clothing that rubs
against sweaty skin can cause or worsen
back acne.
Hormones: People who are pregnant and
young people going through adolescent
development (puberty) are more likely to
get acne breakouts as hormone levels
change.
Medications: Some drugs, including
corticosteroids, can cause back acne or
make it worse.
Poor hygiene: People with unclean hair
can get back acne when oils from their hair
rub against their back. Back acne can also
result from dirty sheets, towels or clothing.
Skin care products: Certain lotions and
creams can clog pores and lead to acne.
Stress and anxiety: When you have a lot of
anxiety or stress, your body makes more of
the hormone cortisol. As cortisol levels
rise, your body produces more sebum.
Trapped sweat: Sweat can get trapped
between your skin and your clothing. When
it does, your pores can get clogged. People
who have excessive sweating
(hyperhidrosis) have a higher chance of
developing back acne.

What are the symptoms of

back acne?
You may have pimples only along your
shoulders and upper back. Or they may
develop all over your back and torso down to
your waist. These zits can be painful and may
develop in clusters. You might have one type
of pimple or a combination of:

Blackheads.
Cysts, which result from a type of acne
called cystic acne. The cysts form bumps
deep below your skin’s surface.
Nodules, which result from a severe type
of acne called nodular acne. Acne nodules
form hard lumps under your skin.
Red bumps that don’t have a “head.”
Whiteheads.

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D I AG N O S I S A N D T E S TS

How is back acne diagnosed?

You can usually recognize signs of back acne
on your own. If you have a lot of pimples on
your back or they keep coming back, see your
healthcare provider. They’ll examine your
skin. They may recommend seeing a
dermatologist (a provider who specializes in
caring for skin).

M A N AG E M E NT A N D T R E AT M E NT

How can I treat back acne?

You can treat mild back acne at home. You
should:

Avoid popping or squeezing the pimples:

You can damage your skin by popping zits.
Squeezing or popping them can also lead
to acne scars, which can be severe.
Picking at a zit can also lead to an infected
pimple.
Keep your skin clean: Use an oil-free body
wash that’s “noncomedogenic,” which
means it won’t clog your pores. Shower
and change into clean clothes after
exercise. Resist the urge to scrub your skin
with harsh cleansers. Scrubbing can make
acne worse.
Try topical creams, gels and cleansers:
Benzoyl peroxide products can clear up
back acne. When using a benzoyl peroxide
cleanser, allow the medicine to stay on the
pimples for up to Mve minutes before
rinsing it off. You may also try a retinoid gel
or an acne sticker that releases salicylic
acid medication into the zit over several
hours.
Use clean linens: It’s important to use
clean towels, sheets and pillowcases so
bacteria don’t build up. Try to wash your
sheets and towels at least once a week.

If back acne lingers or keeps coming back,

see your dermatologist. They may
recommend other prescription skin care
products to treat severe acne. Or you may
need antibiotics or other oral medications.

P R E V E NT I O N

How can I prevent back acne?

You may not be able to prevent back acne.
But ask your healthcare provider if any
medications you take (such as
corticosteroids) may be causing back acne.
You can also lower your risk of getting back
acne by:

Changing your clothes after you sweat.

Keeping your skin clean.
Limiting the use of sports equipment (like
football pads) and heavy backpacks.
Managing stress levels.
Remembering to use sunscreen.
Using noncomedogenic products.
Wearing loose-Mtting, sweat-wicking or
cotton shirts.

O U T LO O K / P R O G N O S I S

What can I expect if I have

back acne?
Most of the time, back acne gets better with
at-home treatments. If these pimples don’t
respond to over-the-counter products,
dermatologists can treat severe back acne
with prescription medications.

Depending on how many zits you have on

your back, you may need to try different types
of treatments. It might take several weeks for
them to clear up. Your healthcare provider
may recommend a combination of
medications to get the results you want.

L I V I N G W IT H

When should I see my

healthcare provider about back
acne?
See your healthcare provider if:

Back acne is severe, or if it goes away and

comes back.
You feel hard or painful nodules or have
pimples deep under your skin.
You have severe pain or inYammation.
You have signs of an infection, such as a
fever.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Back acne can range from mildly annoying to

very painful. These back zits can take time to
treat, especially if you play a sport that
requires you to wear heavy equipment or
padding on your back. To prevent back acne,
always clean your skin after you sweat and
change into a clean, dry shirt after a workout.
Also, try to limit the friction and pressure on
your back by avoiding equipment that rubs
against your skin. If back pimples are painful
or they keep returning, see your healthcare
provider.

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Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on

04/15/2022.

References

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