Acne on the chest and back is very common (especially if you experience skin breakouts on your face), but there are several steps you can take to get clear skin from head to toe.
Clear Up Body Acne in Time for Warmer Weather
Warmer weather is (finally!) upon us, and if body acne makes you anxious about wearing more revealing clothing or taking your shirt off at the pool, you’re not alone. Acne on the chest and back is very common (especially if you experience skin breakouts on your face), but there are several steps you can take to get clear skin from head to toe.
Prevent body acne with these clear skin tips
If you struggle with acne breakouts beyond your face, the first step is taking a look at your habits—and it’s possible that a few small changes might make a big difference.
- Consider these tips to help get rid of acne fast on your back, chest and beyond.
- Shower as soon as possible after exercising, and try to use an acne cleanser with benzoyl peroxide.
- Wash your body with a benzoyl peroxide cleanser after shampooing and conditioning your hair.
- Opt for workout clothes that breathe or wick moisture away from the skin.
- Make time for stress relief. This can be anything that helps you relax, whether exercise, meditation or spending time with friends.
While there’s no concrete proof that French fries or chocolate directly cause breakouts, a healthy diet filled with lean protein, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats (and limiting processed foods) is a step in the right direction. This doesn’t mean you can’t indulge… Just be mindful that what you put in your body may have an effect on the outside of your body, including acne.
How to treat body acne
Odds are you don’t to wait and see if making these adjustments helps improve your body acne—and the right skincare products can put you on the path to clear skin sooner rather than later. Similar to facial acne, a product routine that incorporates ingredients that fight acne and ingredients that care for the skin is essential for minimizing body acne. A combination of benzoyl peroxide to target the bacteria that cause acne and salicylic acid to help exfoliate the skin and keep pores clear goes a long way for keeping breakouts at bay. ( AcneFree’s Oil Free Acne Cleanser is easy to use in the shower, and the Body Clearing Acne Spray helps you treat spots that can be hard to reach with other products.) Also keep an eye out for ingredients like aloe vera to help soothe the skin and help keep it hydrated while battling acne breakouts. And remember to avoid scrubbing or picking because this can lead to scarring after acne breakouts have healed.
What causes body acne
In case you’re curious, body acne and facial acne are essentially the same, although a few other factors play a role in breakouts from the neck down. Bacteria plus pore-clogging oil and dead skin cells are the main contributors no matter where skin breakouts appear, but the chest, back, buttocks and other areas may be more prone to acne because of sweat and friction during exercise—and tight, form-fitting workout clothes doesn’t help. Hair products can lead to acne as well, especially if shampoo and conditioner aren’t thoroughly rinsed off the skin or if you use hairspray before you get dressed. Dirty sheets with lingering oil and bacteria can make body acne worse as well—and don’t underestimate the effects of stress, which prompts our bodies to produce a hormone called cortisol that has been linked to acne breakouts.
Body acne may be more than a nuisance, but starting to take the proper steps now can have you ready to bare all at the beach or by the pool once summer is in full swing. An effective skincare regimen with proven, dermatologist-recommended ingredients is key for fighting body acne and any type of acne for that matter—and maintaining clear skin from head to toe year-round.