‘I tried expensive creams to treat bacne, nothing worked until this £17 Amazon cleanser’

The new cleanser from Cetaphil is mild yet effective enough to renew the skin and remove impurities from blocked pores and it took me two weeks to see results

Acne is often considered a teenage woe but in my adult years, I have come to realise that spots appear for various reasons but some just won’t go away, particularly those at the back (or as we call them ‘bacne’).

I have tried ointments and blemish creams formulated for the face and they never cleared the spots. It made me feel very self-conscious and every summer I had to stay away from wearing backless tops and low-cut dresses – but my dermatologist found me an affordable over-the-counter cleanser and good news: it’s 20% off on Amazon.

Breakouts on the back are common, and when the weather gets hot, sweat and heat are the culprits – blocking the pores and causing the build-up of oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. Holly Mason, founder of The Skin Investment Clinic, told me it’s best to treat with basics, and she recommended I use Cetaphil’s Gentle Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

Specially formulated to improve skin tone and texture, the cleanser is suitable for acne-prone skin and also shoppers with Keratosis Pilaris (or more commonly known as strawberry legs or chicken skin).

The three gentle acids – BHAs, PHAs and AHAs – are tailored for a gradual skin cell turnover as Holly explained to me: “As the dead skin on the surface peels away, it helps push the impurities out of your skin and that will work to clear up any blocked pores. Over time, you will see fewer spots and calmer skin on your back.”

The Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser is available in two sizes and the bigger one, in 473ml, is on Amazon with a 20% discount so instead of £22, shoppers can get it at £17.60 . The smaller version, in 236ml, is also marked down with 20% off and reduced from £14 to £11.20.

I have been using the cleanser as a shower gel to treat the affected area and it lathered nicely without giving off any fragrance. It is kind to the skin and, most importantly, it does not irritate the spots.

While clinical studies stated that the product ‘improves skin radiance and appearance of pigmentation in seven days’, I would say it takes me about two weeks to notice any improvement.

The reduction in inflammation is the first sign of bacne healing, followed by redness and swelling. I tried to be disciplined and reminded myself not to touch the spots, and in 14 days, it healed, but I could find pigmentation marks on my back.

Compared to ointments and creams, I found myself reaching for the Cetaphil cleanser much more often. There are other brands that offer solutions to bacne, including Paula’s Choice’s 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant. This moisturising exfoliant leaves skin hydrated, smooth, and soft while improving the appearance of hard, clogged pores on arms and legs. It is now reduced from £34 to £28.90.

Holland and Barrett has stocked a Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash and it is available for £6.50. Suitable for vegans, the alcohol-free body wash has a watermelon and agave nectar scent.

On the other hand, the Cetaphil cleanser is suitable for the face and body as the formula also retains moisture and hydrates skin. I stop finding new spots on my back and now all I have to do is to get rid of the marks.