Back acne can be quite common and difficult to treat because the back contains thousands of sebaceous glands that produce a lot of oil. Consequently there is more opportunity for follicles to become blocked and so produce acne. In severe cases, acne on the back can produce cysts and nodules and so normal treatment may not be sufficient to rid your skin of it.

Mild to moderate acne on the back can probably be treated normally, using a combination of cleansing, moisturizing and applying a treatment for the condition. That is, non invasive cleansing, and then using a lotion that includes glycolic acid (8-10%). Following that, apply benzoyl peroxide 2.5%) generously and then moisturize if needed.

Tip: This regimen is not recommended for other areas of the body. The skin on the back is quite tough and so is able to handle this. Also, 1-3% of the population are allergic the benzoyl peroxide so it may be useful to test a small spot before applying generously.

Additionally, benzoyl peroxide will bleach your clothing so make sure that you are wearing white to avoid bleaching your favorite clothing. Even after it has been applied for several hours it may still bleach your clothing, so be very careful.

Try to avoid wearing backpacks that can cause irritation to your back as this will worsen your acne. Tight fitting clothing can also be an irritant, causing further problems with your acne.

Other areas of the body where severe acne can develop include the chest and shoulders. In these areas lesions can become very red and painful, causing irritation. A product that has proven to be very successful is accutane. Mild cases can be treated in the normal manner - that is, cleansing, applying treatment (cream with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide) and then moisturizing. The area of the neck is very sensitive, so be careful with the treatment of that area. Apply once a day only to start with, but moisturize twice a day and don't start too quickly with benzoyl peroxide as too much use initially will cause major irritation.