Acne Back Chest

The face is a common site for acne. And depending on the severity of blemishes, you might avoid showing your face in public.

But your face isn’t the only place where acne can appear. It can affect any body part that has oil-secreting glands or hair follicles, including your back, chest, and shoulders, according to the Mayo Clinic. (1)

While facial acne affects most people at some point in life, some will also struggle with back acne and even chest acne. In fact, back acne affects more than half of people with acne, notes the NHS. (2)

How To Get Rid Of Hormonal Body Acne On The Back, Chest & Shoulders

“Back acne is the result of an accumulation of dead skin cells and oil [sebum] within the pores in the skin, combined with an overgrowth of a common skin bacteria,  

“Acne on the back and shoulders is commonly associated with sports activities that cause increased sweating and friction from athletic gear and clothing, ” she continues. A clogged follicle eventually breaks down and forms an acne lesion, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (4)

You can't always control whether you get back acne because the main factors that predispose one to “bacne” — hormonal fluctuations and genetics — are out of your control.

How To Banish Back And Chest Acne

Some drugs, including androgens (male hormones) and lithium, are known to increase your chances of developing acne. If you take any of these medications, talk with your doctor about possible alternative treatments. (1)

Try not to use skin-care products with oil, including moisturizers and cosmetics, on your back. These can lead to back acne flare-ups. Also, the American Academy of Dermatology advises looking for products labeled noncomedogenic, meaning they are unlikely to clog pores. (6)

“Anything that results in increased sweating and friction on your back, such as backpacks, sports gear, and back braces, can cause back acne, which is often referred to as acne mechanica, ” says Dr. Shah. (1)

Top Causes Of Body Acne—and How To Get Rid Of It

If you wear sports equipment (like shoulder pads) that puts pressure on your back, don’t wear the item for longer than you need to, or wear a clean cotton T-shirt underneath to reduce prolonged pressure and friction. (1)

“Dirty clothes can harbor sweat, oil, and dirt, further irritating the skin and contributing to the development of acne, ” notes Shah. “It’s always best to wear loose clothing during exercise, and to remove sweaty clothing after a workout.”

For mild back acne, over-the-counter acne creams and gels containing ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur can help get rid of blemishes and prevent new ones from popping up. (6, 7, 8)

Chest Acne Treatment

Of course, applying acne creams to your back will likely require assistance from someone. It might be easier to use a body wash with acne-fighting ingredients.

“Regular body washes aren’t strong enough to help with body acne, ” warns Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist and medical director of MDacne in San Francisco. “To have a real effect, you need a medicated body cleanser, preferably with ingredients like salicylic acid that can unclog your skin pores and kill acne bacteria.”

Choose body washes that say, “noncomedogenic” or “oil-free” on the package to avoid clogging your pores. (6) Avoid antibacterial soaps, astringents, and abrasive scrubs that can make your acne worse. And be gentle when cleansing your skin. Harsh scrubs, loofas, and exfoliators can damage the protective layer of the skin and make body acne worse, says Dr. Harth. (6, 7)

The Facts About Chest Acne

If you can’t shower immediately, use an oil-free cleansing wipe to remove as much sweat from your body as possible, and then change your clothes. (6)

Picking or popping a pimple can worsen acne, as well as damage your skin. “The skin on the body heals slower than the skin on the face, and frequent picking can lead to brown spots and scars, ” says Harth. (3, 6, 7)

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can darken acne, triggering scars on your back and body. (6, 7) Always wear sunscreen and reapply as directed. This not only improves acne, it can help protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer.

How I Do It Approaches To Acne Treatment: Nd:yag Laser

Get into a habit of changing or washing your sheets once or twice a week, especially if you’re a back sleeper. This removes bacteria and dead skin cells from bedding, which can clog your pores and prolong back acne. (6)

A skin specialist can evaluate your back, determine whether you have acne or another skin condition, and then prescribe a medication to control lesions, if necessary.

Treatment might include prescription creams, antibiotics, oral acne medication, or your doctor may suggest laser therapy, chemical peels, or steroid injections, depending on the severity of back acne. (7)

How To Prevent Or Treat Chest Acne

Back acne is easier to hide than face acne, but this doesn’t mean you have to live with these lesions. The proper skin-care routine can help lessen breakouts on your back, resulting in clearer, healthier looking skin.

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Looking to get rid of acne? Open your kitchen cabinet. Foods like cucumbers and honey may double as natural complementary acne treatment options. Here...   1. Do You Have Body Acne? Find yourself asking this question? If so, then the obvious answer might be yes, you have body acne.

 This type of acne comes in many different forms which can be located quite literally, anywhere on the body such as on the back is otherwise known as backne . There is also chest acne, neck acne and even arm and scalp acne! These all can be identified as body acne .  We tend to give less care on our body compared to our face and this applies the same when it comes to acne. But it is only when we get embarrassed to wear backless tops or bikini that we regret not giving proper attention to our body and end up with acne scars here and there. And let’s remember, we have less access to some parts of our body thanks to how our body has been created from the beginning.   2. What is causing it?

Okay, so we know we have body acne, but what in the world is causing it?! Causes for back acne, chest acne, arm acne and more can be caused by a few factors such as: - Friction- Clothing detergents/fabric softeners- Hair products- Body wash- Diet- Poor Hygiene- Hormones- Stress- Digestive Issues Just like facial acne, pimples can develop due to excessive oil, the pores becoming clogged, filled with bacteria, irritation, and even poor diet and not showering after sweating or simple to infrequently.  

How To Get Rid Of Chest And Back Acne

  1) Rule out the most common causes first! Backne, chest acne, pimples on arms and even on our booty can be embarrassing, but most of all, it can be uncomfortable. The first step to getting rid of acne in different areas of the body is to solve the simplest causes; friction, detergents, and hair products.   2) If you’re using a hair oil or hair treatments after you shower, stop using them immediately. Hair products are some of the leading causes for acne on the face and upper body including back acne, chest acne, arm acne and even neck acne. So if you are someone that gets done with shower less than 5 minutes, it is very likely that your shampoo or treatment hasn’t been washed off entirely. Hello ACNE! Make sure to wash them off entirely. Also if you’ve been using hair oils in and out of shower, opt for natural hair oils such as Jojoba oil instead of oils and treatments with pore-clogging ingredients such as silicones.   3) Wear loose-fitting clothing for a while. If you tend to wear tightly fitted clothes, heavy knit sweaters of rough fabrics, switch it up and wear some loose fitted and soft cloths instead. Friction on the skin can cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin and pore clogging, which can cause nasty bacne and even pimples on our butts!   4) Sweaty? Take a shower ASAP After a long day of school or work, even if you don’t feel it, our skin has secreted more than enough of sebum and sweat. Especially,