Most of us will be familiar with, and are likely to have suffered from, the condition of facial acne. However, bacne – acne on the back -is far less understood, despite the stigma and embarrassment it can cause for the significant number of people of all ages who suffer from it everywhere.

Bacne, like facial acne, is caused by a build-up of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells that can block the pores, thus leading to the development of unsightly pimples. Bacne can be harder to treat than regular acne, as the skin on the back is far thicker than that on the face, and the spots can be correspondingly deeper and therefore more stubborn.

The back is obviously a much larger area than the face to treat, and there are far more sebaceous glands present, so the problem can be significant. Clothes often rub against the affected skin, causing irritation, reinfection and sometimes even pain, and many of those afflicted find themselves consciously avoiding clothes that may expose their backs.

There are several ways to approach the treatment of bacne. When the problem is considerable, a doctor may prescribe an oral drug regime such as antibiotics, or, in really bad cases, Accutane. Milder cases can be treated at home, and the key to this is keeping the skin perfectly clean, while avoiding drying it out. This can be achieved via a regiment that combines gentle exfoliation and cleansing with a mild anti-bacterial cleanser. Always make sure your back is dry, and always use a clean towel. These should be washed at a high temperature to ensure there is no cross contamination and changed daily.

Once the back is perfectly dry, you can apply bacne lotion or cream. Products to look out for include those containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, but do be warned, these can be very drying so apply with caution until you can gauge how your skin reacts. It is important to be consistent in your approach. It may take several weeks before you start to see results. Some people find having a chemical peel or microdermabrasion before starting their home-care plan can speed up the process.

Suffering from bacne can be embarrassing, and has often proved a hard condition to treat without help, as the back is such a difficult area to reach. This has led to a self-perpetuating cycle. Sufferers are to embarrassed to ask for help, so their bacne worsens, leaving them even more embarrassed. Luckily, there is now a simple way to apply bacne lotion by yourself.

The unique design of the BackBliss back applicator allows you to exfoliate, cleanse and apply treatments evenly to your entire back, without requiring any help at all. Providing you maintain a systematic approach, it is likely that your back will be clear and glowing within just a few months, giving you the freedom to hit the beach or go swimming without worrying about showing your back.