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Clean beauty industry maven Mary Futher founded kaia naturals® after spending 20 years working for global beauty companies. Mary now shares her weekly content series, delivering a quick fix, home remedy, or clean beauty product suggestion for a variety of human discomforts that some may find too embarrassing to discuss.
Dark spots and dark patches of skin are not just common on the face or on your armpits. Many people also have dark spots on their back from acne. It’s been reported that 46% of people also get back acne (a.k.a. bacne) while 39% get it on their chest and 16.3% on other areas of the body. After learning about how prominent back acne is I asked my team if they knew anyone who experienced dark spots from body acne and sure enough the team shared stories about their siblings and friends who were inquiring on how to remove the dark spots on their body, especially from their back.
Dark spots from acne is common in people who have darker skin.The dark spots are a result of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). If you’re someone who has melanin-rich skin and tend to get dark spots on your face from acne or on your body from bug-bites, then chances are you will have dark spots on your back from acne.
You may not know you have dark spots on your back until you catch a glimpse of your back in a mirror when wearing a tank-top or a backless dress. After hearing so many stories from customers and friends I know that having dark spots on the body can make one feel insecure especially when wearing certain clothing items. That is why today I’m going to talk about all the reasons why you may have dark spots on the back and share how you can minimize them.
For those who get PIH or dark spots on their back because of acne, you should know they are some things that irritate the acne and can make the pigmentation worse. Here’s what you could be doing that is making your dark spot pigmentation worse.
Those with melanin-rich skin (people who tan when they’re in the sun) are more likely to experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from being in the sun for long periods of time. The UVA and UVB rays are what causes dark spots on the skin if you’re not wearing any sunscreen.
Acne can get irritated from the friction from your clothing and can make the pigmentation worse. Tight clothing, clothes made from synthetic fabrics, and zippers can all contribute to the dark spots on your back. If you’re someone that sweats a lot, the combination of the friction and moisture can further irritate the skin and can make your dark spot pigmentation worse.
Subscribe to our blog, The Little Book Of Human Discomforts, to stay in the know on taboo human body topics that some may find too embarrassing to discuss.
There’s a reason why doctors and dermatologists tell you to wear sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen is not only for reducing wrinkles and preventing sunburns it also protects the skin from forming dark spots. I don’t recommend using aerosol sunscreens because they contain harsh chemical ingredients that are not skin friendly or good for the environment. Lotion sunscreens are generally more effective than a spray. I would recommend using a mineral sunscreen because they contain natural active ingredients and instantly protect the skin from UVA/UVB rays while chemical sunscreen need some time to absorb into the skin and have a questionable ingredient list. So, make sure you get a loved one to apply some lotion on your back if you’re spending the day out in the sun.
If you’re somebody who has acne-prone skin or sweat a lot I recommend using an oil-free sunscreen. The combination of the sweat and the oil can clog your pores and further cause more acne. Oil-free sunscreens are usually more lightweight and will reduce the sebum production on your back or other areas of your body.
Stay away from wearing synthetic fabrics. Instead wear light and breathable fabrics like cotton. These fabrics can absorb moisture and will help stop your clothes from sticking to your body when sweating. Make a habit of changing your sweaty clothing as the moisture can further cause irritation from the salt in sweat. Wearing oversized clothing is also ideal because you won’t experience as much irritation.
When shopping for bra’s you want to buy one that fits you well but doesn’t feel tight or uncomfortable on your body. Try incorporating bras without an underwire in your wardrobe. They are lots of great sport bra’s (made of cotton or bamboo) available that give your breasts the support they need without an underwire. Don’t make the straps so tight on your shoulders to the point where they feel like they’re piercing the skin
To help treat dark spots on the back I developed a one-of-a-kind underarm and body skincare system called the double dose. It’s a natural, safe and effective two-step layering skincare system which includes a wash-off formula that is the kojic acid body bar and a leave-on formula the niacinamide deodorant + body balm. The system is designed to minimize the appearance of dark spot pigmentation caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The kojic acid body bar is a wash off formula that contains anti-inflammatory and skin brightening actives like kojic acid and licorice root extract. A wash-off formula doesn’t mean it removes the benefits of the skincare ingredients from the skin. The formula is designed to leave a barrier on the skin so the ingredients can penetrate the skin long after it is washed off.
First, use the kojic acid body bar daily in the shower. Apply the bar with a back brush and leave it on the skin for 30 seconds to allow the actives to penetrate the skin before rinsing off. Don’t use a back brush made with coarse hairs because that will further irritate the skin.
Then follow with the niacinamide deodorant + body balm to seal in actives. The stick format makes it easy to swipe on but for those harder to reach areas, have a loved one swipe the deodorant onto the areas on your back for speed in brightening results. This multi-use deodorant + body balm is designed for sensitive skin and contain ingredients that will calm and soothe irritation while gently brightening dark spot pigmentation on the body.
By layering the ingredients in the kojic acid body bar and the niacinamide deodorant + body balm you are enhancing the effects of the brightening ingredients.
It’s important to remember how effective the bar is in minimizing the dark spots on your back depends on how dark your pigmentation is, how long you’ve had it and whether you are addressing what is causing the inflammation on your underarms. Patience and steady consistent is what will help you reach your desired results.
Each week on my blog The Little Book of Human Discomforts I share clever solutions for seemingly embarrassing skin, body, and hair issues. Consider subscribing below to be the first to know when new content is live!
I also share lots of body and skincare tips on Instagram @kaianaturals and on my TikTok page @madamesweat.
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