This model we just saw backstage at the H&M show in Paris has an enviously flawless flip side.
It might seem hard to believe when you look out the window and see nothing but ice, but wedding season's just around the corner—and whether you'll be a bride, a bridesmaid, a guest, or all of the above, now is the time to start working on any skin issues that might make you feel less pretty in a fancy dress. Example: bacne.
Acne's a tricky issue to begin with, but pimples on your back can be even more challenging, for one obvious reason: It's hard to really see and reach back there. As you might already know, getting rid of bacne starts with wearing natural breathable cotton instead of synthetic fabrics, especially when you work up a sweat at the gym, and keeping the area as clean as possible (shower immediately post-workout, using antibacterial soap. Don't sit around in sweaty clothes!). Another crucial tip: Always wash your back after you condition your hair, so the grease from your conditioner doesn't clog your pores.
But here's a totally new trick I just learned from Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch (who just gave us that great tip about wearing incognito black support hose to prevent visible leg veins).
Ranella's easy bacne trick: Get a salicylic-acid spray medication, like Neutrogena Body Clear Spray. Mist it on your shower wall. Shimmy your back all over the mist. Rinse the wall, and let the medication dry/absorb fully before you dress. While a spray will already help you coat the harder-to-reach zones of your back, this method lets you get a much more thorough application all over, so you'll see better results. Note: You can do this with regular non-spray salicylic-acid medication too, but it'll be a bit messier. And while products with benzoyl peroxide would also be effective, I'd be wary of using them on your back because they'll probably turn your shirt a crazy shade of orange.
Pretty smart, no? (Almost as smart as that "turn off your curling iron" doormat I posted about yesterday over on our beauty blog.)
What do you ladies do to combat bacne? What treatments and tricks have worked best for you in the past?