How To Get Rid Of Stubborn Acne

How Does Chest Acne Differ From The Acne You May Experience On Your Face

• Chest acne is more often due to the Pityrosporum yeast.
• The pimples tend to be bright red and both itchy and tender at the same time.
• The skin is often studded with tiny bumps that are actually closed-over blocked pores.
• The bacteria that cause classic teenage acne, called C. acnes can play a role too, often working with the Pityrosporum yeast to cause the pimples.
• Chest acne tends to leave post inflammatory hyperpigmentation , meaning dark marks on your skin after the pimples heal. There are also tiny white scars left behind too.

Facial acne can be caused by the Pityrosporum yeast or the C. acnes germ. This latter type of acne is the classic teenage acne where blackheads form along the t-zone and eventually the cheeks and entire face. Pimples tend to be sore and can become cystic. Lesions often heal with scars and skin indentations.

Try Aloe Vera If Your Breakout Is Inflamed

Aloe vera isnt only beneficial for sunburned skin. According to Green, the natural ingredient is a godsend for all types of inflammationincluding the type associated with acne. As such, she recommends the ingredient as an add-on for any zit-zapping routines.

One of my favorite remedies is Peace Out Acne spot patches, she shares. These patches contain a mixture of salicylic acid, vitamin A, and aloe vera. The combination of these three ingredients works to eliminate pimples and redness overnight.

How To Get Rid Of Back Acne Once And For All

All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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.

Recommended Reading: How Can You Get Rid Of Chest Acne

Easy Home Remedies For Acne

Is the secret to clearer skin hiding in your kitchen? Homemade acne treatments from foods such as honey, cucumbers, and grapes may help complement professional treatment from a dermatologist.

Mihajlo Ckovric/Stocksy

Acne can be stubborn and seem to pop up at the worst times. The good news is that over-the-counter and prescription medications can zap pimples and help stop new breakouts. The bad news is that some acne products can cause side effects like redness, discoloration, or dryness, notes the Mayo Clinic. For this reason, some people prefer treating acne at home with natural solutions.

Typically, the more mild the acne, the more easily it can be treated at home, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In more severe cases, though especially if there are cysts or nodules professional treatments often are necessary.

For mild acne, you might be surprised to learn that you already have several acne remedies in your own home and in your kitchen of all places.

You can mix common foods and ingredients, such as cucumbers, oatmeal, grapes, and yeast, into a facial mask and create an acne treatment. A homemade facial may help prevent or clear acne, as well as keep your skin glowing, moisturized, and healthy.

When You Feel It Coming On Ice It Like A Sprained Ankle To Reduce Swelling

Whether the cystic acne is on your forehead or on your nose, the type of pimples we’re talking about here are rooted deep beneath the skin, so you will usually be able to feel it starting to form. When you do, don’t panic. Instead, grab an ice cube and apply it to the area for several seconds.

“Applying an ice cube directly to your pimple will constrict the small blood vessels that are feeding the cyst and will immediately decrease the redness and size,” Nazarian says.

Zeichner echoes the advice: “Ice-cold temperatures help constrict blood vessels, so wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it against the bump to reduce pimple redness and bring down the swelling a bit,” he says. He recommends icing three times an hour in 10-minute intervals . You want to do this after you wash your face since washing after icing would warm the skin right back up.

This trick is especially helpful if you aren’t able to follow the next steps right away and you need something that will calm the oncoming redness and swelling before you cover it up with concealer and get on with your day.

Read Also: Do Certain Foods Cause Acne

Swap Out Your Shower Products

Start with a benzoyl peroxide body wash:

Nearly all of the dermatologists cited benzoyl peroxide body wash as their top suggestion for clearing bacne, since it aggressively kills the bacteria that cause you to break out back there. But be warned: It can stain your towels and clothing, so rinse thoroughly when done, and maybe wear a white t-shirt to bed afterwards.

See A Dermatologist For Acne Surgery

When at-home treatments aren’t helping, especially if you’ve had that blemish for more than a few weeks, it’s time to call in the pros. Those deep cystic breakouts sometimes need to be lanced and drained by a medical professional.

Called acne surgery, the dermatologist will make a small incision in the skin and carefully drain the debris from the blemish. It’s a bit uncomfortable but not as bad as it sounds. And once done, your skin can begin healing.

It’s important that you only let a physician do this. Your esthetician can’t lance a deep blemish. And this is definitely not a DIY job.

Recommended Reading: Does Retinol Help With Acne Scars

What Causes Stubborn Acne

While the direct cause of pimples is usually the same pores become blocked with oil or dirt, including dead skin cells or makeup, and sometimes acne-causing bacteria build up different factors can make this happen more easily.

Stubborn pimples can occur when the skin is very oily due to hormones or certain medications, and overexposure to the sun or even the salt from our sweat can inflame the skin as well.

Pimples dont just happen on the face friction from clothing and bags can also trigger breakouts anywhere on the body, including causing stubborn bacne. Chest acne can also happen when hair follicles get clogged with oil and dirt.

Whatever the cause may be, there are steps you can take to get rid of stubborn acne and help prevent it from appearing in the first place.

In A Pinch Get A Cortisone Shot

Have a really big event coming up? Then you probably don’t have time to wait and see if your blemish will disappear on its own. Consider seeing a dermatologist for a true overnight cure. “A cortisone shot is an anti-inflammatory, so it treats the pimple itself,” Dr. Peredo explains.

“If it’s a big, painful pimple, the cortisone diffuses the inflammation and flattens it out, hopefully without leaving a scar,” she says. Of course, this isn’t an easy, at-home DIY fix. It should only be administered by a physician, usually a dermatologist, and it is often covered by insurance if you have acne.

Don’t Miss: Why Does My Newborn Have Acne

How To Treat Stubborn Chin Acne

By Dr. Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC, Double board-certified dermatologist

One of the most common places for acne is the chin. This is for all kinds of reasons: sports, shaving, even lip balm can lead to chin acne. There arent any products specially designed to treat the chin, but thats because you dont need a chin-specific product. Some minor changes to your daily personal care routine could actually do the trick. This article will explain the reasons for chin acne, explore some minor changes that could make a big difference, provide do-it-yourself treatment options, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about chin acne.

Article Table of Contents

How To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Blackheads are a mild form of acne that appear as unsightly, open pores that look darker than the skin surrounding them. They get their dark appearance from a skin pigment called melanin, which oxidizes and turns black when it’s exposed to the air. Blackheads aren’t caused by dirt, but by sebum and dead skin cells blocking the pore. If the pore remains open, it becomes a blackhead if it’s completely blocked and closed, it turns into a whitehead.

Baldwin says squeezing is the best way to get rid of blackheads, but it should be left to a professional if possible. “A good cosmetologist can do an awesome facial,” she says. “Pore strips can also help. But both of these are made much easier by starting on a retinoid first. Prescription retinoids soften the pore contents and make the whole process more successful and less painful. With time they will also eradicate the blackheads.” The best way to get rid of blackheads for good is with a skin care regimen and the best acne products for clearing the pores. Do not try to pop blackheads or dislodge the blockage with your nails, as your hands may introduce new bacteria to the pores. Instead, see how to get rid of zits fast and prevent blackheads with these acne treatments:

Read Also: How To Treat Neck Acne

How To Prevent Stubborn Acne

The right combination of over-the-counter products and prescription medications can usually get rid of even the most stubborn, persistent acne.

However, even if youre prescribed medication to treat acne, its important to maintain good skin care habits. Taking good care of your skin will help to prevent your acne breakouts from coming back. Use the following tips to prevent stubborn acne from returning:

• Be patient with your treatment. Acne treatments can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to begin working. If youre prescribed medication to treat acne, give it at least four weeks to start working before you assess your results.

• Keep using your medication, even if your acne clears up. If you use medication to treat acne, make sure to keep using it even if your skin completely clears up before the end of your course of treatment. If you no longer want to use your medication, talk to your healthcare provider before you make any changes.

• Wash your face two times per day. Try to wash your face two times every day — once when you wake up, and once when youre ready to go to bed. Washing more frequently may irritate your skin and make your acne breakouts more severe.In addition to washing your face every morning and night, make sure to wash your face after you exercise or do anything else that causes you to sweat.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

For those with skin that’s not sensitive or doesn’t get easily dried out, another combo option is to swap in a sulfur-spiked treatment in place of the salicylic acid. “The combination of these three over-the-counter products a sulfur-containing mask , a benzoyl-peroxide cream , and a mild cortisone salve usually proves very effective when mixed and applied two to three times a day over the cyst for seven to 10 days,” says board-certified dermatologist Leyda Bowes, the medical director at Bowes Aesthetics in Miami.

Read Also: Can Eucrisa Be Used For Acne

How Dermatologists Treat Severe Acne

When a patient has severe acne, a dermatologist often recommends treating it with one of the following.

Antibiotic + medicine you apply to the acne: This is often the first treatment recommended for severe acne. Taking an antibiotic can reduce the redness and swelling of acne. The medicine you apply to your skin works on reducing bacteria and clogged pores.

If this treatment fails to clear your skin, your dermatologist may switch your antibiotic or talk with you about isotretinoin .

Isotretinoin: This is a potent medicine that attacks all four causes of acnebacteria, clogged pores, excess oil, and inflammation . About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one course of isotretinoin.

Due to possible side effects, you will need to carefully consider whether you want to take this medicine. If you decide to take isotretinoin, you must enroll in a monitoring program.

Birth control pill : A birth control pill can be an effective part of an acne treatment plan. When treating severe acne, a birth control pill may be used along with an antibiotic or a medicine called spironolactone to get the acne under control.

Give treatment time

Give your acne treatment time to work. It can take two to three months to see improvement.

If the pill may be an option for you, its important to tell your dermatologist about all of your medical conditions, including heart disease. Your dermatologist must weigh the risks of using a birth control pill to treat acne against the benefits.

Why Can People Suddenly Develop Acne On Their Chest

Chest acne can happen suddenly when the yeast germs on your skin are given the perfect conditions to thrive such as warm, sweaty skin and a sugary diet. Hot weather, occlusive clothing or a sudden increase in your workout routine can provide just the right heat and moisture for yeast growth. Yeast love sugar too and a high carbohydrate diet is associated with worsening acne. Eating dairy rich foods can cause acne too.

Prickly heat can also mimic acne.

Itchy or tender red bumps, some with white heads, happen from blocked sweat glands. It comes on suddenly. This happens when you wear occlusive fabric against your skin at the same time you sweat.

Don’t Miss: Why Does My Acne Itch

Use An Acne Treatment Medication

If you use topical acne treatments, continue to do so. You can even dab on a bit more on the monster pimple to help it heal more quickly. Don’t confuse a dab with a big blob, though. And limit yourself to a twice-daily application. Using too much medication too often will dry out and irritate the skin instead of healing it.

There are also small “stickers,” called hydrocolloid patches, that you place over a pimple. The medication helps dry out the pimple, while the sticker covers the pimple and keeps you from picking at it.

Be aware that spot treating works best for pustules . It won’t do much for deep nodules or cysts.

If you break out regularly but don’t typically use an acne treatment, now is a good time to start. Consistently using an acne treatment medication will stop pimples from forming before they appear on your skin as a huge blemish.

What you should never do for these large blemishes is try to spot-treat with items not meant for the skin. For example, things like garlic, honey, cinnamon, lemon, or toothpaste won’t treat large acne cysts, contrary to what some online sources say.

Home remedy spot treatments can’t penetrate the skin deeply enough to do any good. At best, they’ll do nothing for the blemish. At worst, you’ll end up with an irritated spot or a case of contact dermatitis.

Many Sports And Musical Instruments Could Be Responsible For Chin Acne

There is a specific kind of acne that can appear anywhere on the face or body called acne mechanica. This particular acne isnt necessarily caused by oil or bacteria, although they play a part. Instead, this acne is caused by excessive friction.

Friction is definitely not good for acne. Friction irritates the skin, and when the skin is irritated two things happen: it produces extra sebum, and it becomes inflamed.

The extra sebum obviously isnt great for acne, but its especially problematic when combined with inflammation. When the skin is inflamed, it swells slightly and closes pores. This traps all that excess sebum under the skin and leads to increased acne.

Certain sports or musical instruments have an element that is continuously pressed against the chin, like the chin strap on football helmets or the lip plate of a flute. The constant pressure presses acne-causing agents like sebum, perspiration, and acne-causing bacteria into your pores, and leads to acne.

The two best ways to prevent sports or music-related chin acne are cleansing your skin right after practice, a game, or a performance, and keeping your equipment or instrument clean.

You May Like: What Vitamins Can Help With Acne

Get An Cortisone Injection

A cortisone injection may be an option if you have deep, painful zits and cystic breakouts that dont want to heal. Keep in mind that cortisone injections arent meant to be used as a regular treatment for acne , but theyre helpful and get rid of acne fast.

For this procedure, diluted cortisone is injected into the pimple and within a few hours, the swelling and pain go away. Ideally, youll want to speak with your doctor or dermatologist about this option before you need one.

Stop Breakouts Before They Start

If youre constantly breaking out, then your ultimate goal is to stop acne from forming in the first place. For this, youll need a good skincare routine consisting of either professional products, homemade skincare products or DIY beauty products that target, treat and heal acne.

Most over-the-counter products can work for mild acne, but, if your acne is inflamed, stubborn, or severe youll need a prescription medication. If thats the case dont hesitate to get advice from a dermatologist. A dermatologist can help you with a treatment plan to clear your skin.

For some great tips and effective ways to clear up your acne read 21 Proven Ways To Get Rid Of Embarrassing Face Acne For Good

Also Check: Is My Pillowcase Giving Me Acne