Arguably one of the worst types of acne, body acne can be particularly frustrating in the summer months when wearing tank tops, shorts, and swimsuits.
What Causes Body Acne?
Body acne and facial acne are very similar in symptoms and treatments. If you have facial acne, then you’re actually more likely to develop acne on other areas on your body as well.
Acne forms when a pore or hair follicle is clogged with dirt, oil, or dead skin cells. It can be found on any area of the body that has sebaceous glands, hair follicles, or pores – which is basiclly everywhere except our palms and soles of our feet! It is most commonly seen on the back, neck, shoulders, and chest.
Body acne can be harder to control and treat than facial acne. This is because our pores and hair follicles on our body are much larger than the ones on our face. Because of this, dead skin and oil become more easily trapped, and pimples can be larger and take longer to heal.
How to Treat Body Acne
Body Acne can be treated with the same products as Facial Acne. We recommend using a basic skincare routine of cleansing once daily and moisturizing twice daily. Also, when taken in the proper amounts, the following vitamins can help clear acne and prevent future breakouts naturally: Vitamin A, Selenium, Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, and Zinc.
Many of our daily activities can contribute to the formation of body acne, which is why we came up with our top 3 tips to get rid of and prevent body acne for good:
1. Shower Regularly
Showing daily is recommended for anyone who suffers from body acne. In fact, you should shower after any activity that leaves you sweaty or dirty (i.e. gym, beach, sporting event, concert, etc.) This will keep any dirt, oil, or sweat from settling into your pores and staying there, possibly causing a breakout.
If you’re like many of us, you head to the gym in the wee-morning hours before your work day kicks off. If you don’t have time to shower, at the very least wipe yourself down with a washcloth and soap – or even more convenient, a makeup wipe.
Make sure that when you shower, you’re using a good cleanser for acne prone skin. Something that is gentle, yet effective against pimples. If you have a facial cleanser you love, it’s fine to use that on your body as well!
When washing your hair, remember to rinse off any hair products completely, as those can sometimes cause irritation and unnecessary breakouts when left on the skin. To avoid this, I generally just wash my body after I have shampooed and conditioned my hair. That way, I can be sure that when I step out of the shower, my skin is squeaky clean with nothing left on it.
After you take a shower, it’s also important to just pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it dry. Rubbing your skin with a bath towel can be too abrasive, and could irritate your already red and inflamed skin. Also, rubbing your skin can deplete it of moisture as well, causing it to dry out more quickly.
2. Wear Breathable Clothing
Tight clothing always seems to be in style - whether it’s leggings, tank tops, or a little black dress, we can’t help ourselves. The problem with tight clothing is it’s not very breathable to our skin. It can trap in moisture, sweat, or dirt on our skin and clog our pores which leads to breakouts in places that are quite inconvenient.
Try to wear clothing that is a little more loose and flowy so your skin has room to breathe. If you normally wear a size small shirt, try a medium instead. Opt for cotton whenever you can. Some gym clothes are made with fabric that specifically promotes air circulation!
3. Use the Correct Products
We use tons of products daily - from hair products, to SPF, fragrance, lotions, etc. Be sure that the products you use on your body are non-comedogenic so that they won’t clog your pores. You can use your facial moisturizer on sensitive areas like your chest where your pores get clogged more easily.
Also, if your skin is sensitive to fragrance, opt for fragrance free. If you can’t live without your favorite perfume, spritz it on your wrists or behind your ears because these are areas that are not likely to breakout. Avoid spraying directly on your chest, back, or shoulders as they can become easily irritated.
The good news is that body acne is both treatable and preventable. With a few easy changes, you can clear your skin and feel the confidence you once felt in your favorite clothes. See how our customers have cleared their own body acne...
