What Is a Back Facial and Who Is It For?

A back facial is exactly what it sounds like: the steps of a facial, done on your back. The skin is cleansed, exfoliated, cleared of clogged pores, massaged and finished with a mask. It is for anyone whose back breaks out, feels rough or bumpy, or simply never gets a proper wash because it is hard to reach.

Why does the back need its own treatment?

The back has a lot of oil glands, and its skin is thicker than the skin on your face. It also spends most of its life under clothing, where sweat and oil stay trapped against it.

Then there is the practical problem. You cannot see it and you can barely reach the middle of it. Most people’s backs get whatever shampoo and conditioner run down them in the shower and not much else. Exfoliating between your shoulder blades on your own is close to impossible.

So dead skin and oil build up, pores clog, and you end up with breakouts or rough, uneven texture in a place you cannot treat well yourself.

What happens during a back facial?

At Spathetics, the Back Facial follows the same order as a facial for the face. You lie face down while Ashley works on your back.

1. Cleansing. The whole back is cleansed to remove oil, sweat and product residue.
2. Exfoliation. Dead skin is loosened and lifted so pores are easier to clear and the skin feels smoother.
3. Extractions. Ashley clears clogged pores and blackheads, which is the step you cannot do for yourself.
4. Massage. This is the part most people look forward to.
5. Mask. A mask finishes the treatment.

The service page shows how long it takes and the current price.

Who is a back facial for?

• People with back and shoulder breakouts. This is the most common reason to book one.
• Anyone who sweats a lot for work or sport. Athletes, people who work outdoors, and anyone who wears a backpack, pads or a uniform for hours.
• Teens. Breakouts on the back often show up in the same years as breakouts on the face.
• People with rough or dull skin on the back who want it to feel smooth.
• Anyone with an open-back dress or a swimsuit in their plans.

Why late summer is a common time to book

By August, your back has been through months of heat, humidity, sunscreen and damp shirts. That is a lot of buildup, and it often shows up as breakouts across the shoulders. (There is more on the causes in why your skin breaks out more in summer.)

It is also the run-up to fall weddings and homecoming, when dresses with open backs come out of the closet. If you are booking for an event, come in about a week ahead, not the day before. Extractions can leave the skin pink for a day or two, and that gives it time to settle.

Does a back facial get rid of back acne?

It helps, and it is honest to say it is not a cure. A back facial clears pores that are clogged right now and removes the buildup that leads to new ones. Many people need more than one visit, and what you do between appointments matters as much as the appointment.

Habits that make a difference at home:

• Shower soon after you sweat, and do not sit around in a damp shirt or sports bra.
• Rinse your back last in the shower, after you have rinsed out your conditioner.
• Wear breathable fabrics when it is hot, and wash workout clothes after each wear.
• Change your sheets regularly.
• Do not pick. The back marks easily and those marks are slow to fade.

If your back acne is deep, painful or leaving scars, see a doctor or dermatologist. That kind of acne usually needs medical treatment, and a facial works alongside it, not in place of it.

How should you prepare?

• Do not come in sunburned. Sunburned skin needs to heal before it is exfoliated or extracted.
• Tell Ashley about any prescription you use on your skin or take for acne, and about any allergies.
• Wear a top that is easy to take off and that you do not mind getting a little product on afterward.
• Skip the heavy body lotion on your back that day.

Afterward, keep the skin out of strong sun for a day or two, hold off on hard workouts and hot tubs for the rest of the day, and do not scrub the area.

Is it right for you?

If your back is the part of your skin you have been ignoring because you cannot reach it, this is the treatment made for that. Read more on the Back Facial page, compare it with the other facials, or book an appointment online when you are ready.