How to get rid of body acne?
Body acne is a common problem that affects almost 10% of people at some point in their lives. It usually starts during puberty, but it is more common in adults. The neck, chest, shoulders, and upper arms are familiar places to get body acne.
Acne is an inflammation caused by a buildup of fatty substances produced by the skin’s oil glands in the hair follicles. It generally develops on the face, upper chest, and back because these are the places where oil glands are concentrated.
What is body acne?
Body acne is a common dermatological problem and most people with acne experience breakouts. Acne blemishes happen due to clogged pores, which might become irritated and infected later. People with oily skin or who suffer from hormonal disorders like polycystic ovarian syndrome are more prone to acne.
Body acne is a common dermatological problem and most people with acne experience breakouts. Acne blemishes happen due to clogged pores, which might become irritated and infected later.
Oil from the skin, known as sebum, and dead skin cells clog pores, causing swelling, bumps, redness, and inflammation. Body acne might comprise different types of infected and clogged pores, including cysts, blackheads, pimples, whiteheads, and acne lesions. These can cluster across your upper arms, face, back, and chest.
Not everyone who suffers from facial acne will have body acne, but these two conditions occur together often. Most people experience body acne from puberty because unstable hormone levels cause the skin to produce more oil. If left untreated, severe acne might cause scarring.
Though body acne is common and not a dangerous condition, it is a source of embarrassment for several people, mainly those who experience frequent flare-ups.
Causes of body acne
You should know that acne can break out anywhere, but everyone is different. Some people experience pimples only on the back of their neck; some get chest acne, while others can find acne all over their bodies.
Just like the cause of facial acne, body acne causes are similar. Here are some factors which contribute to the causes of body acne:
- Overactive oil glands that cause excessive oil production
- Medicines
- Excessive dead skin cells
- Age
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Consuming alcohol
- Genetics
- Menstrual cycles
- Diet
How do pimples develop?
Pimples commonly appear on the face, chest, neck, and shoulders. Although acne can also appear on the lower body, this is uncommon. The number of sebaceous glands is responsible for where body acne appears. Due to this reason, most teenagers with acne can have an oily complexion.
Pimples in any area of your body develop due to the following reasons:
- When oil and dead skin cells get stuck within your skin’s follicles, they cause a clogged pore.
- If bacteria enter the follicle, it causes a pimple or cystic acne. Inflammation is responsible for causing the reddish colour of pimples.
What is Acne Mechanica?
Body acne refers to any form of acne that occurs on the body. Acne mechanica is another type of body acne.
Acne mechanica inflames follicles when combined with heat and sweat, sports gear, tight clothing, and other pressure on the skin. By changing the clothing you wear, acne mechanica can be prevented.
Several people do not realize that their acne mechanica is caused by artificial pressure on their skin. Check to see if you develop acne on the chest or shoulders after wearing certain clothes.
When trying to heal body acne, it is essential to avoid sources of friction, including:
- Backpacks
- Tight-fitting clothing
- Athletic pads or gear
- Too-snug collars
- Purse straps
What are the risk factors for developing body acne?
Body acne can happen to anyone, but a few things increase your risk of developing this disorder. Below-stated are some risk factors of body acne:
Constant physical pressure
You might develop body acne when you wear things with a chin strap and pressure from shoulder pads, bra straps, or other tight clothing.
Sweating
If sweat is trapped under tight clothing or unbreathable fabric, it can lead to body acne.
Certain cosmetic products
Cosmetic items like heavy foundations can block your pores. Makeup products that you use to cover acne might make it difficult for your acne to heal and cause flare-ups. When shopping, look for cosmetic products that are oil-free, noncomedogenic, and acnegenic.
Menstrual cycle
Your menstrual cycle can also cause body acne. Increased hormone levels before the start of your menstrual cycle might cause flare-ups.
Medicines
Certain medicines, such as corticosteroids, might cause body acne as a side effect.
Treatment of body acne
It is essential to seek the proper treatment on time to treat body acne. However, several people do not require prescription treatments or regular visits to the dermatologist to treat body acne. This is especially true for young people experiencing hormonal changes linked with puberty, and their body acne clears with time.
Several body acne treatments can help prevent and clear acne:
Over-the-counter treatments
OTC treatments are the first option for people experiencing body acne. However, no OTC treatment will work overnight. To see the results, you should wait for at least three months.
The best OCT medicines contain glycolic, salicylic acid, and hydroxy acids. These cleansing agents exfoliate the skin and treat severe body acne.
Medicated sprays/lotions
Cleansers are not always the best treatment for mild body acne. Some people find that cleansers do not offer the desired effect on clearing body acne. It is better to try medicated lotions and sprays.
Sprays are widely recommended because they are easy to use in areas that are hard to reach, like the middle of your back. While all sprays and lotions available in the market contain different ingredients, search for the ones that contain aloe vera.
Aloe vera is an effective ingredient for protecting the skin against dryness because it nourishes and moisturizes your skin.
Prescription treatments
You might get frustrated with body acne because it is stubborn, and OTC treatments may not always be successful. A vital prescription treatment might be needed to control severe body acne breakouts.
Prescription treatments are available in several forms, such as oral and topical medicines. Some common prescription medicines for body acne treatment include:
- Isotretinoin
- Prescription-strength face wash
- Topical retinoids
- Prescription benzoyl peroxide
- Oral antibiotics
Summary
Therefore, body acne is common and can be caused by several reasons, such as friction, sweating, etc. To treat body acne effectively, you need to address the leading cause and get timely treatment for treating body acne.
To prevent body acne, take showers regularly, use an oil-free cleansing wipe to keep your skin clean, stop popping pimples, wear loose-fitting clothes, and take care of your skin.
Acne scars can take some time to heal. In some cases, they might become permanent.
It is always advised to treat body acne with a selection of products. Using too many products together can make the acne severe.
Acne usually lasts from the early teens to the mid-20s and often starts to improve with age. It is most common in girls aged 14-17 and boys aged 16-19. However, some people may continue to experience acne into adulthood.
Acne usually clears up on its own in one to two weeks. Medicated treatment and a good skincare routine can help speed up healing. Severe acne can take several weeks to go away, even with treatment.
