How To Get Sexy Back!

Don’t let niggling problems such as back acne, tan lines and scars bar you from shoulder-baring fashion. Ruth Chew finds out how to achieve a smooth, unblemished back and decolletage.

- Ruth Chew

The bare- and off-the-shoulder trends are showing no signs of abating. (And let’s face it: shoulder-baring clothing and our tropical climate go together like copy and paste.) If you’ve been wanting to give them a go but feel self-conscious about imperfections such as scars, acne and blotchy skin on the back and decolletage, good news: they’re not hard to fix. Here’s how.

BACK ACNE

Back acne, similar to facial acne, occurs when excessive sebum and dead skin cells clog pores and hair follicles. This build-up of oil and dead cells leads to bacteria growth and inflammation, which then manifest as zits.

Treatments for pimples on the back should be the same as those for the face. Dr Lynn Chiam, dermatologist at Children & Adults Skin Hair and Laser Clinic, recommends using topical creams with antibiotics, tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide to treat the acne by reducing the bacteria on the skin.