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The Back Regimen Perform twice per day
- Effective
- Detailed
- Back acne treatment guide
(click here for the light to moderate regimen)
The moderate to severe Back Regimen is a three step process that uses over-the-counter products. The products you use are important, but how you apply them and how much you use is of equal importance.
To get started you'll need a gentle cleanser, lots of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, and plenty of 10% alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). These products, when applied correctly using the step-by-step instructions on this page should dramatically clear up your back in short order.
Wash Gently (in the shower works best)
- Vital: When washing, your fingers should gently glide over your skin.
[Medical research shows reducing irritation is vital to clear acne.]
A.
Dispense a generous amount of cleanser into your palm and get a good lather going. If using Acne.org Cleanser, use 2 full pumps.
Using a generous amount of cleanser will allow you to generate a good lather. The more lather you generate, the more easily your hands will glide across your skin, thereby reducing irritation.
B.
Gently wash each side of your back for only about 5 seconds and with a gentle touch.
Cleansing is necessary because it removes surface oils which allows the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to penetrate, but you can easily achieve this goal with bare hands and only a few seconds of washing. Washing for this short a period of time reduces irritation and is one of the most important steps in The Back Regimen.
C.
Upon exiting the shower, gently dry your back. Do not rub. Just let the towel sit on your skin and absorb the wetness. You may not get it completely dry with the towel this way, but that's preferable to irritating rubbing.
Anything which rubs, scratches, or scrubs the skin can cause irritation. Stay very gentle with your towel.
D.
Wait 10-15 minutes until your skin is completely dry. Feel free to do other normal daily activities during this time.
Do not begin Step 2 until your skin is completely dry. This will allow your skin to better absorb the benoyl peroxide.
A.
Wash and dry hands.
This helps remove any oils that may have accumulated on your hands. Exposure to oils can aggravate acne.
B.
Dispense a very generous amount of benzoyl peroxide onto your palm. If you're using Acne.org Treatment (2.5% benzoyl peroxide) use 2 full pumps. When in doubt, use more benzoyl peroxide. The back is a tough area and can take it.
Using a large amount of benzoyl peroxide allows for deep penetration into the skin. When in doubt, use more!
C.
Spread it on one side of your back very gently. Do not rub. Just allow your hand to gently glide over the back until the benzoyl peroxide is more or less absorbed. Dispense 2 more pumps of benzoyl peroxide and repeat on the other side of your back.
Staying super gentle reduces irritation.
D.
Wait 5-15 minutes until your skin is completely dry. Feel free to do other normal daily activities during this time. Note: Read below for more on how benzoyl peroxide can bleach fabric.
Benzoyl peroxide oxygenates skin, and dries and peels inside the pore. It is important to give it the time it needs to properly medicate and treat acne.
A.
Wash and dry hands.
This helps remove any oils that may have accumulated on your hands. Exposure to oils can aggravate acne.
B.
Dispense one thick finger's length worth of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cream or gel to each side of the back.
The back is a large area and requires a lot of AHA to properly treat. Don't skimp!
C.
Apply very gently, allowing your hand to gently glide over the back until the AHA is more or less absorbed.
Staying super gentle reduces irritation.
Tips
Benzoyl peroxide tends to bleach fabric. This is the most annoying part of this regimen. Even after the benzoyl peroxide is dry, even a slight sweat during the day can reactivate the benzoyl peroxide and ruin your favorite colored shirts. I recommend wearing a white undershirt while on this regimen. I currently have very light back acne and a regimen which uses only alpha hydroxy acid has proved sufficient. When I had more moderate to severe back acne, the benzoyl peroxide was required to get me clear, and I just wore white under shirts.
Backpacks: Reducing irritation is important in clearing acne. But let's face it, you have to sit in chairs and wear clothes, so something will be touching your back much of the day and there's no need to obsess about it. Backpacks in particular, however, can create more direct and ongoing irritation which may aggravate back acne in some people. You may want to try carrying your belongings in something other than a backpack until you are clear on this regimen. At that point, you can start wearing your backpack and see if you stay clear.
The neck is much more sensitive than the back. If you are treating the back of your neck with this regimen, it is vital that you start with a small amount of benzoyl peroxide and work up the dosage over time to avoid unnecessary redness, dryness, and itchiness. I recommend strongly that when treating the neck, you start only once a day for the first week and use only a pea sized amount of benzoyl peroxide and AHA. Go to a pea sized amount twice a day the second week, and slowly work up the amount until you are using a generous coating by week four. See the full Neck Regimen.
Armpits: The skin right around the armpit can be sensitive. If you experience some redness or dryness in this area, try being a bit more careful to avoid this area when applying products.
Fabric softener: Fabric softener can leave a waxy residue on clothing and while there exists no research on the topic, this theoretically may aggravate acne. Anti-static balls may be an alternative. You can google "anti-static balls" to find them.
