Choose The Right Body Moisturiser
You don’t have to give up the moisturiser to keep breakouts at arms length – just make sure you choose the right one – that means ditching the thick creams.
‘Applying a moisturiser will soothe and repair your skin barrier, but make sure that any products you leave on your skin are labelled ‘non-comedogenic,’ advises Dr. Kluk. ‘This means that they wonât clog your pores.’
It’s also important to be aware of oils. ‘Some oil based products can cause acne, switching to âlighterâ creams is beneficial. Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid containing products are recommended treatments,’ explains Dr Danso.
How To Get Rid Of Back Acne Once And For All
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The first thing to know about how to get rid of back acne is that it’s not like the pimples you get on your face. Yes, its similar in that the pores clog and bacteria is often to blame, and also you get incredibly confused and angry and emotional about it . But it’s different in that it comes with its own rulebook for treating and preventing it.
Luckily bacne is very treatable and very preventable. And I didnt know all the ways to keep it at bay until I sourced a bunch of board-certified dermatologists for the answers. We got the advice they often give their own patients in regards to back acne, and now theyve got your back, too: Here’s how to get rid of back acne.
Causes Of Chest Acne And Back Acne
Acne is thought to be related to the sensitivity of your sebaceous glands. These are glands that produce sebum, an oily substance that keeps the skin lubricated.
In people with acne, the sebaceous glands produce too much sebum. This excess sebum plugs the hair follicles in the skin and mixes with dead skin cells. Bacteria on the skin that is otherwise harmless can infect these plugged follicles and cause painful, pus-filled spots.
BreakoutsIf you have acne, youll probably live with spots most of the time simply because thats how your skin works. However, you might notice that certain things trigger worse breakouts, or cause particularly severe spots like nodules or cysts.
Breakouts of chest or back acne might be triggered if the skin in those areas is rubbed or put under pressure. One example would be wearing a backpack, or a bag with a strap that goes across your chest.
You might also have more severe acne on your back and chest because you treat these areas differently to your face. Because your back and chest can be harder to see and reach, and because they arent usually on display, its easy to end up neglecting the skin here.
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What Causes Acne Scars
Inflammatory acne can cause painful, swollen, red, and deep skin lesions that damage the skin and underlying collagen. As these lesions heal, the body produces collagen. Too much or too little collagen production results in acne scars that dont look like the surrounding skin.
A few factors can increase the risk of scarring, including:
- genetics
- delaying treatment for inflammatory acne
- picking or popping acne
- severity of the acne, which usually correlates to the amount of scarring a person will experience
Hyperpigmentation is a darkened patch where skin has healed. It occurs when inflammatory acne increases the amount of melanin in skin. This pigment gives skin its color. Dark spots usually affect people with darker skin.
Using Aloe Vera To Get Rid Of Bacne
The gel of the aloe vera plant has vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids that can help treat and prevent the bacteria and inflammation of bacne. You can apply the gel directly on the affected back region twice a day.
Another treatment using aloe vera gel is to mix one tablespoon with half a teaspoon of raw honey and turmeric powder to form a paste for the acne. Rinse it off after 15 to 20 minutes, and repeat daily.
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Other Body Acne Causes
Sweat from exercise is a huge trigger, but it isnt the only one. Research shows that there is a link between stress and acne flare-ups, especially on your back, while the hormones that cause facial breakouts also play a part. Too much androgen the male sex hormone is often the case in both male and females, explains Marshall. For women, whether we are about to start our menstrual cycle, pregnant or nursing, or have PCOS, we will experience shifts in our hormones. When oestrogen is dipping it means androgen is in abundance and can send messages to our sebaceous glands to produce more oil. And once your pores are blocked with oil the bacteria can get to work on the skin surface causing inflammation and spots.
Other lifestyle aspects should also be examined. Just like workout gear can aggravate the issue, so too can dirty bedsheets, so wash them weekly to see if that makes a difference. Whey protein shakes are another culprit that Marshall looks for as they can spark androgen stimulation. How you wash yourself is something else to consider. Another very common reason for body acne is due to hair conditioner as its formulated to adhere to the hair follicle so often for people with this type of acne, we just change the way they shower so the body gets washed after all the hair conditioner is rinsed out, she says.
How To Prevent Chest Acne:
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How To Get Rid Of Back Acne
Acne is an irritating and painful skin problem. However, the problem can be much worse if you suffer from back acne. Acne on your back can make it difficult for you to sleep and slow the healing process.Plus, as you cannot easily see the acne on your own, you cannot analyze the severity of the condition.
Just like acne on your face, back acne is caused by bacteria and excess production of sebum in the pores of the skin. Acne can also develop on the chest, shoulders, arms, legs and buttocks.
Using products like body lotion, massage oil or sunscreen that clog the pores may also lead to acne and skin breakouts. Other risk factors include friction from tight-fitting clothes, an unhealthy diet, stress, hormonal changes in the body and improper skin care, to name a few.
Though painful and difficult to take care of, you can effectively treat back acne with many simple home remedies.
Here are the top 10 natural remedies to get rid of back acne fast.
Contents
Treat Acne From The Inside Out
“Back acne is a real challenge to treat,” says New York Citybased board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman. For one thing, “the thickness of the dermis on the back is the thickest of anywhere on the body, so the penetration of products that you apply topically can only do so much,” she says.If you have been following the above steps for treating bacne, and youre still not seeing improvement, you might want to consult a derm who can prescribe oral antibiotics and in even more severe cases, Accutane. “Some cases of back acne, particularly those with extreme cystic acne, may find that antibiotics are more powerful and may be needed to avoid long-term scarring,” adds Renée.
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Turn To Prescription Oral Medication
In the office, when I see patients with acne on the chest or the back, I commonly discuss the use of oral medications along with topicals, says Dr. Zeichner. These patients benefit from the use of medications, which address the issue from the inside out. Since the surface area of the chest is so big, Dr. Zeichner explains that sometimes its hard to fully treat acne through topical formulas or washes, especially if yours is a more serious chest-acne situation. Make an appointment with your derm to get your hands on a prescription.
Do Not Pop Your Pimples
I know its super tempting, but whatever you do, dont pop! As dermatologists we never recommend popping any pimples because that can lead to scars, more inflammation, and hyper-pigmentation, says Dr. Vega Gonzalez. A mix of the treatments above should be enough to stop your chest breakouts, so do yourself a favor and just leave that whitehead alone. Youre welcome!
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Q I Wash My Face Several Times A Day Why Do I Still Get Acne Or Pimples
A. Its best to use a face wash twice a day, but hard cleansers and washing too frequently can strip the face of its natural oils, making it drier and more prone to acne. Avoid using soap more than twice a day and when you are drying your face, pat it dry instead of rubbing. Constantly washing your face thinking that the dirt and pollution will lead to acne is a big no-no.
Moisturize Your Acne Prone Skin
Some think that avoiding putting anything at all on the face will help get rid of acne fast, but this is a misconception. Failing to moisturize your skin can lead to over-drying, which can cause excess oil production. Keeping your skin hydrated with an oil-free moisturizer designed for acne-prone skin is an important step toward clear skin.
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How To Get Rid Of Hormonal Body Acne On The Back Chest & Shoulders
Body acne, including acne on the back , chest, and shoulders can be more aggressive than face acne, however, the process of acne formation is the same. The pores become filled with excess sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt which clogs the skins pores and hosts bacteria, leading to pimples. Whitehead pimples form when the hair follicle wall swells out. Blackhead pimples form when the clogged pore gets exposed to air.
Many factors contribute to body acne including genetics, medications, sweat, stress, and hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy. Dairy and foods high on the Glycemic Index can also trigger body acne. Adhering to a consistent acne treatment regimen and incorporating healthy lifestyle changes can help eliminate and prevent hormonal body acne.
Do Birth Control Pills Cause Or Cure Acne
Birth control pills may help some women control acne. The hormones in birth control pills can help block androgen hormones. Androgen puts oil glands into overdrive. Some birth control pills, though, can make acne worse. So even if you take birth control pills, youll still need a good acne skin care routine.
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Is It Bad To Pick At Back Acne
Picking at acne anywhere on your body or face isnt advised because it can lead to an increased risk of infection by pushing bacteria deeper into the skin, cautioned Aslam. Additionally, squeezing your pimples can lead to more breakouts or acne scars.
If youre still tempted to prod at your body acne, you can take a page from our guide to teen acne and opt for an acne spot treatment such as Differin Gel or pimple patches like the popular Hero Cosmetics Invisible Mighty Patch. You can also book an appointment with your local board-certified dermatologist and ask them to evaluate your bacne and they can decide if your pimples should be popped or not.
Dont Try To Pop It Seriously
Cystic zits literally cannot be popped, since the problem is so deep within your skin. Trying to manipulate or squeeze the cyst will only push the inflammation out further, leading to more severe scarring and a possible infection, says Shari Marchbein, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. Even if it has the tiniest of whiteheads on top, dont trust itthat sh*t is deep, and youll never get it out. You will always make it worse.
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What Causes Acne On Your Chest And Back
Body acne develops the same way as face acne, but there are some factors that lead to the development of acne on your chest and back.
Genetics, hormones and diet are likely some of the bigger triggers for acne, Dr. Thompson said. Other contributors to truncal acne can include use of androgens, such as testosterone or dihydrotestosterone , among male or transgender patients or androgenic anabolic steroids in body builders.
How To Treat It: Products For Body Acne
Body breakouts may be caused by the same triggers as facial acne, but they can be more challenging to treat. Because hair follicles and pores are spaced further apart, the skin tends to be tougher in these areas, it can be difficult for topical products to penetrate the skin and work as quickly as they do for facial acne. On the other hand, the skin on your back is more resilient, and can better handle potent treatments that may be irritating to your face. Here are a few ways you can adjust your body care routine to battle breakouts on your back, shoulders and chest:
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How To Get Rid Of Back Acne With 12 Natural Remedies
Other than the face, acne or pimples may also occur on the midsection, neck, shoulders, upper arms, or back. The main cause of back acne is the excess sebum secretion by the oil glands connected to your hair follicles. There are some small pores on your skin that help in perspiration. Back acne usually forms when the pores are clogged with dead skin cells, dust, and extra sebum, leading to infection and swelling.
It does not matter if you clean up yourself daily. These pimples may appear because of the pollution in the environment, such as smog, dust, etc. On many occasions, you may do not realize that your hands are dirty and touch the skin, which will result in the appearance of back acne. If you have long hair, there is a high probability that acne may appear on your back.
How To Prevent Chest Acne
Even once youâve got your blemishes under control, the key is prevention. Knowing that all acne starts with a clogged pore, itâs important to cleanse the area to remove sebum and dead skin cells. âBy removing the oily layer, one may reduce the plugs in the pores,â Dr. Polla said. âThis will allow an effective drainage of the sebum and bacteria, preventing them from penetrating into the follicles and creating more inflammation.â
Exfoliating once or twice a week with a gentle scrub will remove dead skin cells that could create pore-blocking buildup, leading to breakouts. Then, if youâve just worked out and are not near a shower, bring a change of clothes and wipe down your chest with a cleansing wipe.
Dr. Polla also recommends avoiding comedogenic skin-care products as they can cause blackheads, as well as acnegenic ingredients, which can cause pustules. A lot of body lotions and shower gels are filled with fragrances that might smell amazing but may actually cause irritation or clog the pores. As always, when in doubt, see a dermatologist for more in depth treatment.
Scalp acne can appear throughout your hair or along your hairline. Common symptoms include:
- Tiny bumps along your forehead or the back of your neck
- Tiny bumps you can feel but canât see
- Tiny bumps packed together that you can see
- Whiteheads on your scalp or hairline
- Flesh-colored bumps on your scalp or hairline
- Painful bumps on your scalp
- Deep cysts under your skin with no headâ
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Body Acne: Causes Treatments How To Get Rid Of It
Acne on your chest or back is also called truncal acne or body acne. Experts estimate that more than half of people who experience facial acne also have body acne. Acne-like bumps on your butt and legs are likely folliculitis, hair follicle inflammation, and not actual acne. Bumps along your bikini line are often either ingrown hairs or folliculitis from shaving or waxing. Several topical treatments can help breakouts on the chest and back, while lifestyle changes are generally enough to treat bumps on the legs, butt, and bikini line.
Are Products A Problem
Products that block the pores can worsen the breakouts and spur on inflammation but often theyre not the sole cause. If you do want to be diligent with what youre using its important to avoid ingredients that are potentially comedogenic . This includes oils, silicone, fragrance, lanolin, petrochemicals and sodium chloride. You wouldnt think salt would be used in formulations but its sometimes used as a thickening agent, especially in body make-up, explains Dr Charlene DeHaven, Clinical Director of iS Clinical.
Product-wise, the repeat offenders are likely to be fragranced body lotions and oils, and mineral SPFs that dont contain micronised formulations of zinc and titanium dioxide. Take care with body make-up too which is growing in popularity as we seek to contour limbs. Choose water-based formulas where possible and avoid ingredients like bismuth oxychloride and mica, silica and talc which can be found in bronzers and can irritate already inflamed skin, she continues. Something to consider if you like to use products on your décolletage but are prone to spots in that area too.
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