Back and body acne is a common problem for many acne sufferers. Unfortunately, there are not as many treatment options available for those that suffer from body acne, and just as with normal acne treatment, most of these treatments simply do not work. In order to put an end to stubborn back and body acne, you need to understand your skin and treat it effectively.

Body acne is different from facial acne.

Because the skin on areas such as your back is different from the skin on your face, the type of acne you suffer from can be different as well. Generally, almost all cases of facial acne are caused by an excessive production of skin oil (sebum) by the glands in your pores. This is largely the case for body acne as well. However, besides skin oil, your pores can also be clogged by a build-up of dead cells. The important thing to understand is that areas such as your back may be much more susceptible to this later cause of acne.

The layer of skin on your back is thicker than on your face, and is less frequently exposed to the elements and other factors that could aid in exfoliation (the process of shedding dead skin cells). Many people only half-heartedly wash their backs in the shower, and this may simply not be enough to scrape away those dead cells.

To make sure you're exfoliating your entire body properly, leave that bar of soap alone. Buy some gentle body wash and a bath sponge with some texture to it. Wash thoroughly every day in those hard-to-reach places. If you need to purchase a back-scrubber to reach everywhere, then get one. Keep in mind that you shouldn't need to scrape hard against your skin. Any sponge will usually exfoliate the top layer of your skin much better than your hands.

Once you begin exfoliating properly, you'll probably notice results fast, but there's still the matter of preventing acne from forming in the first place.

Take a moment to consider if you are doing anything that causes acne. If you frequently wear clothing that isn't quite clean, you may be giving bacteria an extra opportunity to form. This is especially important for clothing that hugs close to your skin and doesn't breath well. If you wear tight clothes and exercise, make sure not to sit around in sweaty clothes for long.

Can acne treatments help?

Chances are that many of the same acne treatments that work on your face will work on your back and body, but they may not be quite as potent on the thicker skin of your back. Reading the reviews for some acne skin care products may help you learn which one is right for you. However, if you really want to prevent acne from forming, you need to prevent your oil glands from over-producing. Internal acne treatments are the best choice for this, as they are the only treatments that can really prevent acne, and it's also just easier to take a pill rather than trying to apply a cream in a place such as your back. There are a few vitamin supplements that can help with acne prevention.

Vitamin A can help by strengthening your skin cells and reducing the production levels of your oil glands. However, too much vitamin A can have serious side effects, so it's best to take it simply with a multivitamin so that you are sure to get your recommended daily value. Zinc is a mineral that also aids in regulating your oil glands, and is a powerful antioxidant that can eliminate toxins in your skin cells. Taking a zinc supplement every day has been shown to reduce acne for many. Too much zinc can cause stomach pain, so just be sure to listen to your body.

Vitamin B5 is the safest and most effective vitamin for acne treatment. The doses required are higher than for other vitamins, but since B5 is water-soluble there is no health risk at all. Vitamin B5 assists oil regulation by enhancing the rate at which your body metabolizes skin oil, and thus can prevent most cases of acne when taken in sufficient doses.

By exfoliating properly on the outside and preventing acne on the inside, almost anyone can be rid of body acne in just a few weeks.

About the author:

Don Amodeo is the webmaster of Acne-Vitamins.com, where you can find vitamin B5 acne products and a free guide to vitamins for acne. This article may be republished provided that the author's information and all active links are left intact.