Causes of Itchy Back Acne

The causes of itchy back acne are not fully understood, but we do know a portion of the biology behind it. The main culprit is the excess production of an oily substance called sebum whose function is to keep skin and hair lubricated and supple. During the teen years, the body often produces excess amounts of sebum. The sebum combines with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block hair follicles which precludes the sebum from escaping.

The resulting block of oil beneath the surface of the skin provides an pure surrounding for bacteria. The bacteria multiply and the skin area becomes red and inflamed causing what is ordinarily called a pimple.

The excess secretion of sebum is from the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone is observed in both males and females, but during puberty, the body changes the way it reacts to the presence of testosterone. It is this strange reaction, characteristically appearing during the teenage period, that causes the skin (especially on the face and upper torso) to become overly oily. By early adulthood, the body usually adjusts to testosterone and acne clears.

Acne seems to be partly hereditary, but we don't know exactly why some people are more sensitive than others. a few of the agents which seem to aggravate acne problems include stress, diet, skin irritation, certain medications, and hormonal oscillations such as menstrual activities.

Food links seem to be mostly linked to skim milk products. Many people relate items like chocolate and fast food with pimples, but there is no statistical findings that this type of food stimulates or worsens acne.

If you suffer from mild to moderate back acne, you can be treat this condition with over-the-counter acne medications, cleansers, and even homeopathic treatments.  An effective treatment designed especially for body and back acne is ZENMED's Body Acne Combo. It uses botanicals and natural ingredients, rather than the harsher chemicals found in many other treatments that end up just irritating the affected skin. 

With more severe forms of this condition, including cystic back acne, a dermatologist should be consulted to determine the best treatment approach for your itchy back acne condition.  

Because of the varied selection of products available for treating other forms of acne, it can be hard to decide which one to try.  Ingredients you may see in acne medications include resorcinol and sulphur. Resorcinol causes the top layer of skin to peel -- including the dead skin cells which clog the pores. It is often combined with sulphur. It is not known how sulphur affects acne conditions, but it has been used effectively for more than 50 years.