Acne classification
Pimple is a generalized concept that is used widely among people. Experts use a classification of acne, which divides them according to shape, causes, age and severity.
Determining the type of acne is necessary to select effective treatment.
Depending on the presence of the inflammatory component, acne can be inflammatory or non-inflammatory.
A non-inflammatory pimple is a comedon, which is often the original form of inflammatory acne and is a clogged skin pore with fat containing particles of dust, epithelium, cosmetics, etc.
In turn, comedones are divided into closed and open.
In a closed comedon, the sebaceous plug is located in the deep layers of the skin and has no outlet, so it looks like a white tubercle. An open comedon is localized in the proximal part of the skin pore, so its contents can be evacuated independently.
We will consider the mechanism of comedones formation below.
Inflammatory acne includes the following elements:
- papule is a small red bump that rises above the surface of the skin. Papules are mainly caused by infected acne. Also, this type of acne is often a manifestation of allergies and goes away without a trace, but it can also be an intermediate form of other inflammatory acne. After the papules have regressed, post-acne may remain in the form of a speck;
- pustules are essentially an abscess that rises above the skin, has purulent contents in the center and signs of inflammation (pain, itching, redness). Pustules always leave behind spots, scars or pits;
- nodes are papules that are located in the deep layers of the skin and are characterized by severe pain and a dark red or blue tint to the skin above them. The nodes reach quite large sizes - 10-30 mm and never pass without a trace, leaving scars, atrophy and pigmentation;
- cysts are formed from several suppurating nodes, which are connected to each other by fistulas. This type of acne often leaves behind skin changes in the form of keloid scars.
Depending on the age at which acne appears, they are divided into the following types:
- baby or infant pimples that have the appearance of millet grains, which is why they are called milia. The cause of milia is the effect of mother's hormones on the baby's body. Infant acne is not considered a pathology and goes away on its own and without a trace;
- teenage acne is a consequence of an excess of sex hormones in the body during puberty;
- adult acne almost always reflects the condition of internal organs and can indicate some kind of disease.
Is it possible to squeeze out blackheads?
You must refrain from this with all your might. Firstly, because any mechanical, especially permanent damage to the skin leads to new growths and not always benign ones. Secondly, squeezing, especially with nails, will cause curvature of the excretory ducts for subcutaneous sebum, which will cause inflammatory processes, and instead of blackheads, large, painful ulcers will appear, after which pockmarks will appear, their removal will be much more difficult and expensive.
If this does not stop, you need to squeeze out the blackheads, observing basic antiseptic standards:
- the area of the nipple, breast, chest should be steamed and perfectly clean;
- hands should be thoroughly washed and disinfected with alcohol, vodka, cologne, it is better to wear medical gloves;
- be sure to use a sterile bandage or napkins on the fingers used for squeezing. This will mitigate injury and slightly infection of the place from which the rod is removed;
- Thoroughly disinfect the area after squeezing.
Thus, black spots that appear on the nipples, on the chest, as well as in the chest area, may simply be a feature of the skin, a variant of the norm, and then they must be dealt with with simple peelings and masks. And they can signal serious disturbances in the body’s functioning. In this case, you cannot do without medical help.
Acne on the back: how and why do they appear?
Basically, the pathogenesis of acne on the back consists of increased production of sebum and slower clearance of skin pores from epithelial scales. As a result, plugs are formed in the pores of the skin, consisting of sebum, dust, epithelial cells, cosmetics and other polluting particles.
This is how comedones appear, or, as people say, blackheads. The black color of comedones is due to the fact that fat oxidizes under the influence of oxygen.
Clogged pores prevent the skin from breathing normally and disrupt sweating, and the presence of opportunistic flora and contributing factors leads to comedones becoming inflamed, turning into papule, pustule or other types of acne. But the listed elements of the rash can also occur primarily, and not through inflammation of comedones.
Now let's look at why acne appears on the back.
Acne can be caused by the following factors:
- disturbance of heat exchange, which occurs due to poor-quality clothing, as a result of which comedones appear on the back, and over time, papules and pustules;
- incorrect or irrational peeling of the back skin leads to damage to existing comedones, papules or pustules, resulting in acne appearing on healthy areas of the back skin;
- low-quality skin care products can clog pores, interfere with the release of sebum, change the pH of the skin, and this, in turn, will cause acne;
- unhealthy and unbalanced diet: consumption of large amounts of animal fats and proteins, as well as sweets, fast food, spices, etc.;
- bad habits: alcohol abuse, smoking, etc.;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules contributes to contamination of skin pores, which can become inflamed and turn into acne;
- hypersensitization of the body upon contact with an allergen or, simply put, allergic dermatitis. Acne of an allergic nature is characterized by small red papules, which can sometimes become infected and turn into pustules. Allergens in this case can be food, cosmetics, dust, pollen, animal hair, synthetic clothing, etc.;
- diseases of internal organs, which can affect the condition of the skin. Diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines and female genital organs are most often the causes of acne on the back;
- infectious diseases: chicken pox, rubella, measles and others;
- hormonal imbalance in the body. For example, during puberty in adolescents, hormonal changes in the body begin, which contributes to the appearance of acne. Rashes are also very often observed on the face, back, shoulders and other areas of the skin in women during menstruation. If we talk about men, their desire to gain muscle mass with the help of anabolic hormones and proteins often results in red pimples on the back;
- genetic predisposition to acne;
- disorders in the psycho-emotional sphere, such as prolonged depression, chronic stress, systematic mental overstrain, etc.;
- Vitamin deficiency, especially deficiency of pantothenic acid, contributes to acne on the back and others.
Review of the best products
Expert opinion Ekaterina Anatolyevna Smirnova General category therapist. Work experience - 7 years. Annually improves qualifications within educational programs
The cosmetics listed below are the best of their kind, according to Skin.ru, and will be useful to those who are planning to get rid of blackheads and/or do not want to allow them to appear.
Scrub “Pure Zone Deep cleansing 7 in 1”, L'Oréal Paris where to find?
Does everything to reduce the number of blackheads and prevent their reappearance. Salicylic acid and abrasives are responsible for the success of the event. Can be used continuously as a cleanser, just remove your makeup first.
Mask for instant skin radiance, Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque, Kiehl's
Turmeric is known for its antiseptic, cleansing and cleansing properties, while cranberry seeds gently remove dead cells when the mask is washed off. Apply for 5-10 minutes until completely dry, and then wash off.
Mineral peeling mask “Double Radiance”, Vichy where to find?
The double effect is provided by a combination of two types of exfoliating agents: chemical (fruit acids) and mechanical (abrasive particles of volcanic origin). Apply to cleansed skin for 5 minutes, massage and rinse.
Ultra Facial Oil Free Gel Cream, Kiehl's, where to find it?
Does not contain anything that could make the texture sticky. But there are more than enough moisturizing and protecting components: antarcticine, glycerin, desert plant extract.
A solution with glycolic and salicylic acids helps rid the skin of dead skin cells that cause clogged pores already at the cleansing stage. It is recommended to use in combination with a cleansing gel of the same line.
Cleansing gel “Clean Skin” against blackheads and oily shine, Garnier
Fights blackheads, freeing pores from impurities and excess sebum. The active ingredients are salicylic acid and zinc.
Corrective emulsion for oily skin Effaclar K(+), La Roche-Posay
The daily care product has a solid arsenal of components against blackheads, they also improve skin texture and visually tighten pores: LHA and salicylic acid, mattifying agents, vitamin E - protector and antioxidant.
The mask against blackheads effectively cleanses pores of impurities. Additional components in the composition moisturize and nourish the skin. Black dots on the face are not only unsightly. Their presence disrupts the nutrition of the skin, which leads to inflammatory processes.
What is the danger of acne?
The danger of acne is that it not only leaves acne behind, but also increases the risk of infection entering the blood.
Post-acne is skin changes that appear after acne regression and are pigment spots, hypertrophic and atrophic scars. The worst post-acne scar is considered to be a keloid scar, which can only be removed surgically.
Acne spots on the back can be red, brown, blue, burgundy or brown.
A hypertrophic scar is formed due to increased collagen formation and has the appearance of a formation protruding above the surface of the skin, which can have different shapes and sizes. An atrophic scar appears as a local retraction of the skin, that is, a pit.
Acne spots on the back, like on any other part of the body, go away in 3-4 weeks, but scars are difficult or completely impossible to get rid of. It happens that having cured acne, we get rid of their scars much longer.
The most dangerous complication of acne is sepsis - the penetration of pathogenic microbes into the bloodstream. The risk of getting blood poisoning is increased in those people who constantly squeeze pimples, because this is absolutely forbidden to do. It is better to entrust this procedure to a cosmetologist.
How to get rid of acne marks on your back?
Post-acne treatment can be carried out in special clinics and beauty salons. But such a service is quite expensive, so most patients try to cope with acne marks on their own. Undoubtedly, this can be done at home, but you should definitely consult a dermatologist or cosmetologist.
Post-acne treatment is carried out using the following cosmetic procedures:
- ultrasonic, mechanical, combined and other types of back skin cleansing;
- peelings;
- laser therapy;
- mesotherapy;
- quartzing;
- photodynamic therapy;
- Darsonvalization and others.
In the fight against acne scars, a number of drugs are used, namely:
- Contratubeks;
- Sledocite;
- Dermatix;
- Gel and spray Kelo-kot;
- Kelofibrase and others.
The listed drugs resolve scar tissue, normalize the production of collagen fibers, smooth the skin, normalize microcirculation in the post-acne area and eliminate inflammation.
At home, to treat red spots on the back after acne, you can use the following methods:
- clay and rosemary oil : 1 tablespoon of green powder is diluted with 100 ml of water and 3-4 drops of rosemary oil are added. The mask is applied to the skin of the back every day for 20 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water;
- bodyaga : 1 tablespoon of bodyaga powder diluted with 20 ml of a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and applied pointwise with a cotton swab to the spots 2-3 times a day until the skin is restored;
- apple cider vinegar : 100 grams of apple cider vinegar diluted with 300 ml of water. Wipe the skin of the back with the prepared solution every day 3-4 times a day;
- tea tree oil : mix 1 tablespoon of ether and lemon juice, then lubricate acne spots 2-3 times a day;
- parsley decoction : the specified decoction is poured into ice molds and frozen. Use ice cubes to wipe away acne marks several times a day.
Acne on the back in men and women: how to get rid of it?
The main thing in treating acne in both men and women is to establish the cause of the rash. To do this, during the diagnostic process, patients should be examined by an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist, and others, and men must be referred for a consultation with a urologist if there is a suspicion that acne is caused by a hormonal imbalance.
Treatment of acne in men and women is carried out according to the principles described above.
You can get rid of acne on your back effectively and without harm to your health only under the guidance of a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to squeeze pimples, as this threatens to spread the process to healthy areas of the skin and blood poisoning.
Back acne is a delicate problem that affects many people. The fact is that it is this area that is most susceptible to acne formation - the sebaceous glands work most actively here, and the pores are susceptible to contamination. Follow our tips and let your skin be perfectly smooth!
How to get rid of acne on your back
Start simple
The causes of acne on the back can be external (for example, improper skin care) or internal (hormonal imbalance). To get rid of these nasty rashes, start with simple rules of hygiene and body skin care.
Wash your head correctly
Sometimes acne on a woman's back occurs because you wash your hair in the shower. How does all the dirty (sorry, but it really is dirty) water drain? That's right, on the back. And the conditioner clogs the pores even more.
Try washing your hair while leaning over the bathtub - by the way, it’s just convenient and for those with long hair, your hair will be less tangled. And watch for a couple of weeks - it is possible that the acne on your back will take offense and leave you forever.
Depilation at home: main rules and tips
Avoid greasy body lotions
Alas, even the highest quality body lotion can have comedogenic properties if it is too oily or simply does not suit your skin type. Try not to apply the cream to your shoulders and back for a while - there is a chance that it is the cause of the rashes, even if all other parts of your body do not react to the product.
Don't three pimples with a washcloth
A big mistake many girls make: rashes appear - you need to thoroughly rub your back with a washcloth! You get the opposite effect - you injure the skin where there is acne, and spread this crap all over your back, aggravating the inflammation. If there is such a problem, then you should avoid using a hard washcloth in this part of the body altogether.
Use salicylic acid
Lotions with salicylic acid are often recommended by dermatologists to combat facial acne. In fact, this product may turn out to be too “thermonuclear” for delicate facial skin, but if you use it on the back, it’s just right. Wipe problem areas of the skin with this lotion to dry out pimples.
Make masks from clay
Another, more gentle, but no less effective method is blue clay masks. Apply them to the back and shoulders 1-2 times a week. This mask helps to deeply cleanse pores and dry out breakouts. Only after these procedures proceed to the scrub!
Scrub
We have already said that a washcloth is not suitable for getting rid of acne on your back, but you can safely use a scrub after you have dried out your acne with masks or salicylic acid. Attention! Fresh pimples cannot be scrubbed - you risk bruising the skin, spreading acne all over your back, and even getting small scars.
So, remember the correct algorithm: first you need to wait until the acne dries, and only then use a body scrub to cleanse the skin.
If all else fails
If ordinary cosmetic procedures at home do not produce results, then most likely the cause of back acne is internal, which means you need to see a doctor. We talked about this topic with a cosmetologist and found out all the details of how to treat acne on the back.
The causes of inflammatory/non-inflammatory elements on the skin of the back can be both external and internal factors.
External factors include:
- clothes made from low-quality synthetic fabrics or tight-fitting clothes/use of other people's things (bed linen, bath sponge);
- the influence of unfavorable environmental factors - prolonged exposure to sunlight on the skin (in this case, the local immunity of the skin decreases).
In addition, humidity or, conversely, dry air can also negatively affect the condition of the skin;
- improper care - lack of proper hygiene (rare or, on the contrary, too frequent bathing).
Internal factors include:
— excessive secretion of sebum (a product of the sebaceous glands), changes in composition or blockage of pores;
- hormonal imbalance or imbalance (puberty, puberty);
- metabolic disease;
— disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
Skin condition and nutrition
The first thing you should do is analyze your diet. Make a list of what you eat, where and in what quantity. This way you can clearly see what you are eating. Then make a list of foods that should be in your diet. Increase the amount of vegetables and fruits. To avoid intestinal problems, you need to consume fiber. It is better if the vegetables are steamed. Eliminate spicy, salty and fried foods from your diet; these foods are bad for the liver and can cause digestive problems. Food should be light and tasty.
Make it a habit to drink green tea instead of coffee and eat dried fruits and nuts instead of buns and sweets. A small piece of chocolate is all you can afford. Don't let this make you sad. Believe me, your beauty and health are worth some sacrifices. In addition, raisins, dried apricots, figs and dates are very tasty.
Give up chips and fast food for the sake of your skin. Your food should be varied and tasty. Learn to cook and treat yourself to small masterpieces of your culinary art.
A prerequisite for solving skin problems is drinking clean water. By drinking 8 glasses a day, you will normalize your digestive system and notice a significant improvement in your skin condition.
If you have a tendency to allergic reactions, then you need to exclude unwanted foods. To relieve symptoms, use antiallergic medications prescribed by your doctor.
You can take a course of vitamins specifically designed to improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails. You can purchase them at the pharmacy.
Proper nutrition is the best remedy. By changing your diet, you will change your life. Let her be beautiful.