Just how people get facial acne, body acne is also a thing. Body acne refers to the development of acne on the back, chest, upper arms, shoulders or even on the buttocks.
The reasons for body acne can be because of overactive oil glands, excess dead skin cells, hormonal issues, lifestyle, skin type, genetics, improper body hygiene care etc. Acne develops when the pores get clogged with dead skin cells or even dirt and these pores are present all over the body and therefore acne can develop on any part of the body.
It is important to note that when you are undergoing treatment or using remedies to get rid of body acne, the pace at which it heals will be different. The upper torso meaning the chest, upper arms and upper back will heal faster than the lower torso, the lower back and buttocks, because blood circulation is lesser as compared to the upper torso.
Here are some over-the-counter treatments for body acne:
Benzoyl Peroxide:
This product is more effective for people with normal or less sensitive skin type. this product will help treat and prevent acne by killing the bacteria underneath the skin. It can also help unclog the pores and promote shedding of dead skin.
Salicylic Acid:
This product is more effective for people with sensitive skin type, unless your skin is over sensitive and you will have to resort to other product options. This product is helpful in reducing acne by exfoliating the skin and can help in unclogging the pores and also promotes dead skin cell shedding.
Caution: It is advisable to consult a Dermatologist before starting to use any of these treatments, especially if you have reactive or sensitive skin type.
Here are some remedies to help keep body acne at bay:
- Drink more water:
Water can be a go-to solution or remedy to reduce or prevent most problems. Drinking more water will help eliminate and flush out the harmful toxins from the body more easily, in turn a well-hydrated body will be lesser prone to developing body acne and better body complexion and skin appearance. Adults should consume a minimum of 6 to 8 glasses of water on a daily basis.
- Proper body hygiene:
If you’re one who sweats excessively or goes for workouts often, it is essential that you may have to shower more than once a day. When you shower, your pores can get more easily cleaned out from bacteria, dirt, dead skin cells or oil (sebum) in turn reducing the development of acne. Using warm water for body showers is the best and most effective to help open up and unclog the pores.
- Exfoliating body scrubs and sprays:
Exfoliation is the process of the removal of dead skin cells from the skin’s surface in order to enhance the process of cell turnover (where the old and dead skin cells come to the surface and shed, in order to make way for the new cells to emerge). If the dead skin gets clogged in the pores, acne forms. Therefore, using an exfoliating body scrub can help unclog the pores and can help reduce or prevent acne formation.
Apple cider vinegar helps to gently exfoliate the skin and also fight bacteria that causes acne. After shower, mix 1/4 cup of raw apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup and spray it on your back, leave it on for 15 mins and rinse off.
- Mud or charcoal masks:
Mud or charcoal masks can both help reduce and prevent acne, as these substances work by drawing out impurities from the pores and work by helping the pores get unclogged more easily. So, application of these masks on those areas of the body affected by acne, can help reduce and prevent it. READ MORE – MOST POWERFUL FACE AND BODY MASK – fight acne, blackheads, and clear skin
- Wear the right kind of clothing:
This is very essential for those people prone to developing body acne as wearing clothes which are looser gives the skin more room for breathing and will avoid bacteria, dirt and oils from getting easily trapped. So, avoiding fabrics like woollen, nylon, polyester, spandex etc and resorting to more use of cotton clothing is advisable.
- Consider changing your laundry detergent:
Well, this maybe something people consider negligible when it comes to acne breakouts. But this is very essential to note because certain skin types can be more prone to, allergic to or sensitive to certain ingredients used in the laundry detergent that can lead to skin irritation and acne breakouts when we wear the clothing washed using that laundry detergent. AN important tip here is to look out for “hypoallergenic” laundry detergents when you shop for them.