Acne happens when sebum, the natural oils produced by our skin, clog our skin's pores. The trapped dead skin cells, bacteria and hardened sebum later on cause infection in the pores, leading to acne.

Acne infection happens not only in the face, but also on the back. 'Bacne' is the term often used to refer to acne infection occurring on the back. While bacne breakouts are more common among men than women, women have them nonetheless and they are just as unsightly and uncomfortable.

Why does bacne happen? Just like acne, bacne results from trapped dirt and excess sebum on the back, aggravated by too much perspiration from working out at the gym, for example, or doing some running, heavy housework or gardening, and then just leaving the sweat to dry.

The obvious way of preventing bacne infection from happening is to wash off the sweat from your skin right after doing heavy, perspiring work and to exfoliate your skin regularly. But if you are already suffering from it, here is what you should do to treat it. First, keep yourself clean and never let perspiration dry off you. Dried perspiration aids to the clogging of pores. Take a shower to wash the sweat off your skin as soon as you are done with any strenuous, perspiring activity. Even if you did not do anything that made you sweat profusely, make it a point to wash your skin twice a day anyway, using mild soap and warm water.

Use an exfoliant, a toner and a restoring lotion to clean the affected area. It is understandable that the affected area may be a part of your back that you cannot see, so it is best to reach that part using a back scrubber in cleaning it. Your cleanser should be mild; abrasive and harsh cleaners will only worsen the condition rather than alleviate it. After stepping out of the shower, dry your skin thoroughly and apply an ointment over the affected area that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Before doing your workout or any heavy physical activity, change into a clean bra or shirt. Do the same after you are done. Place a towel over the exercise equipment or the mat before doing your workout so you do not acquire additional dirt from them. Also, try to avoid wearing tight clothes, as they will only constrict and irritate the affected area. Wear cotton shirts or tops that will allow your skin to breathe.

In line with keeping your skin clean and to prevent further infection, change your towels, your pillowcases and your sheets frequently. In washing them, do not use detergents and fabric conditioners that contain irritating ingredients.

Sometimes, bacne can get quite stubborn. Stubborn bacne is hereditary. If it proves to be persistent, or is becoming painful or a bane to your self-confidence, you should see a dermatologist about it. The dermatologist may prescribe antibiotics for the condition.

There are oral treatments for back acne, but they contain chemicals that can trigger depression. So they are not recommended for those who are clinically depressed, who are prone to it, or are just going through tough times presently.