Warning: Trying to access array offset on false in /home/bcsaid/shunoyona.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-word-count/public/class-wpwc-public.php on line 123
Acne is a very common skin condition that occurs to everyone more or less irrespective of age nowadays. But Body Acne is more complicated.
Hey! I am Sayema Khanam and Today I have Manami Dey as my pharmacist.
Here we will talk about “how to get rid of body acne?”
This can bring huge changes to our body skin and many people have experienced this especially during the quarantine.
If you are facing acne on your face or body or some unexpected breakouts, IT IS COMPLETELY ALRIGHT!
We are here to let you know that you can fix this problem if you just follow a standard lifestyle.
But you should also know that stress is an inducer for dullness and breakouts on your body and for this reason this acne problem has increased a lot during this pandemic period.
For this reason, we suggest calming yourself by doing a lot of soothing activities like relax showers, aromatherapy, using masks, body massage, meditation, and yoga.
It is easier said than done, but to reduce the extent of the blemishes, you need to control the raging anxiety in your mind and help to treat your body.
Because we all know that a sound mind keeps a sound body. Acne doesn’t just occur on the skin. It can happen on your back, chest, arms, butt, legs, feet, etc.
In this article, I will let you know deep details about acne, its causes, and how to treat those pesky pimples which you are so eager to get rid of.
What Is Acne?
Our skin has three layers
- Epidermis,
- Dermis, and
- Hypodermis.
On these layers, there are hair follicles that produce hair and protect the skin from foreign particles.
Sometimes, dirt and oil get accumulated on these follicles and the pores become plugged which leads to the formation of zits or pimples. Acne is a disease and pimples are the symptoms of the disease.
This outbreak usually occurs in the face but it can also attack other parts of the body.
Usually, in your thirties, you can get rid of it but for most people, this can be an embarrassment or a reason to be shy, or sometimes, you can even lose your self-confidence due to these pesky little zits.
But for back acne, people tend to keep it as it is since when we go out, our clothes cover our back. But this might get serious if you keep on having pimples and it irritates you.
For this reason, you should try to fix it when you see you are experiencing any radical change in your body.
Breakout or Allergic Reaction?
Sometimes you can feel like a pimple outbreak on your body but it can also be an allergic reaction.
Yes, it can happen! For this reason, you should know the visual representation of pimples and the visual representation of an allergic response.
An allergenic response is depicted as red, itchy, and scaly marks on your body.
This is generally induced by food, pollen, dust, dirt, or sometimes metals. When you feel itchy wearing a neckpiece, take it off immediately!
In the triceps and chest area, if you experience redness, it might not even be a breakout.
Acne breakouts are expressed as red-yellow angry bumps on your skin that have pus inside and doesn’t cause any itching or irritations but more of a burning sensation.
It can occur in any part of your body, but mostly on the face, back and butt.
However, an allergic reaction can turn to a pimple breakout which is very rare.
First, you will face a normal allergenic response which are red patches that will be very itchy.
After some time, you might discover that this patch has converted to a bump with pus inside.
The exact reason due to this is not known but it is usually known as Allergic contact dermatitis.
Why Body Acne! Body Acne Causes
Before going to treatment, you should know why there are zits on your body.
There are variously internal and external factors that contribute to causing acne in your body.
I have already mentioned that acne occurs when hair follicles get clogged due to dirt or oil accumulation. So, it means that pimples can occur wherever hair grows on our body.
Hence, we should always maintain clean pores and exfoliate them.
Before going to that part, I will just discuss the basic causes of acne in the following points-
Excess Production of Sebum
The hair follicles connect the pores to oil-producing glands. This oily liquid is known as sebum.
It carries the dead cells through the follicles and excretes them on the surface of the skin. If there is an excess production of sebum, then this sebum and hair form a plug which gradually forms a zit.
Bacterial Infection
In our skin, there is a bacterium named Propionibacterium acnes which resides on the layer where sebum and hair might get clogged.
This bacterium infects the already existent clump and contributes to inflammation and formation of pus which produces a huge bump on the surface of the skin. From this, a pimple starts to develop, and gradually the severity increases.
Glycemic Diet
High glycemic diets and dairy can also contribute to acne breakout
Dirt & Oil
Excessive sweating, dirt, or excessive oil can increase sebum production and cause a breakout
Hormonal Issues (Men & Women)
In the case of women, there are some hormonal changes that might lead to a breakout. It is very common to have one or two pimples during the menstrual cycle.
However, that might lead to an outbreak. But hormonal outbreaks usually occur on the face and excessive hormonal imbalance can result in chest, neck, and back acne.
This should be consulted with a medical professional.
In the case of men, hormonal imbalance occurs mostly during puberty and leads to an acne outbreak. Hormonal stressors can cause potential pesky pimples that are painful and stubborn.
For this reason, hormone-induced acne should always be consulted with a doctor.
Side Effects of External Makeup Products
There are certain makeup products like foundation and concealers which can effectively cause a nasty breakout.
Makeup products are very tempting for women but, if you are reading this and you are a makeup lover, think about which type of concealer or foundation you use.
Because using the wrong foundation can cause a breakout in your chin and neck.
Unhygienic Activity
An improper shower routine can also cause acne outbreaks on your body. After a huge long workout, if you don’t take a shower then the sweat accumulates on your body, clogs the pores, and eventually causes acne.
Stress
Stress can facilitate acne indirectly. Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone is a stress-inducing hormone that binds to sebaceous gland receptors and elevates oil production.
This is how excessive stress has an impact on causing acne.
Adverse Medicinal Reactions
Reaction to certain medications can cause a severe breakout. For this reason, before starting any medication read the side effects very carefully.
Can be Genetic Too!!
Some experts suggest that acne can also be genetics.
So if you don’t find any of the following causes matching your present condition, you can ask your mother or father and get to know if it runs in your family.
The Manifestation of Acne on Several Parts of the Body
Chin and Neck Acne
Chin and neck acne is very common nowadays. Chin acne mainly occurs due to hormonal imbalance or due to any bacterial invasion. When the chin acne gets severe, it can spread to the neck.
Usually, we always take care of our faces but forget to care about our chin and neck.
When you wash your face with a cleanser, never forget to apply it regularly on your neck and chin area as well.
The neck and chin should be exfoliated regularly and thoroughly if any zit is observed in those areas. Don’t pick the pimples and avoid touching those areas.
Usually, cystic acne occurs on your chin, jaw, and neck, and lactic acid is suggested to treat cystic acne.
But before starting any treatment, consult with your doctor.
Shoulder Acne
Are you feeling bad because you can’t wear the beautiful off-shoulder top that you bought due to a breakout on your shoulder?
Well, this might be a problem as shoulder acne can be caused due to various reasons and you need to take care of your body.
Very tight clothing or bra straps can cause friction on those areas causing small red bumps.
If you wear very tight clothes during workouts or carry heavy bags then this might induce breakouts on your shoulders.
So, the key is to avoid restrictive clothing and then get to know if it’s a whitehead or a blackhead or papules, pustules, or nodules. You can try some home remedies like
- Tree tea oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Oatmeal baths
- Warm compression
Always try to wear loose-fitting clothes that don’t cause much pressure to your shoulder and in no time, you can wear that off-shoulder top without any embarrassment!
Back Acne
Back acne is very irritating and ruthless at the same time.
Once it starts to manifest, it takes a long time to very normal. The type of acne observed on the back can be characterized as huge cysts with puss which can heal normally or gets ruptured.
Either way, this will leave a mark on your back which can be a problem. If you have acne-prone skin or oily skin in general, then it is very normal to be attacked by acne on your back.
But this can be treated if you take long regular showers, exfoliate your back, wear loose clothes. You can also try tree tea oil and make sure to use a proper sunscreen that matches your body type.
If you have nice long hair, make sure to keep your hair clean because the dirt on your hair can travel all the way to your back and elevate sebum-follicle plug formation.
Try to maintain a healthy diet and avoid foods with a high glycemic index. You can also try some Over Counter drugs which I will discuss later on.
Butt Acne
The butt is a very private area that remains covered most of the time.
During the summer days, the private parts of our body sweat a lot and this sweating causes excessive sebum formation and promotes the formation of troublesome blemishes especially on the butt region.
Another factor for causing butt acne can be due to waxing or wearing very tight-fitting clothes.
If you have painful blemishes on your butt and if it annoys you too much, you can try some over the counter drugs and if it continues, consult with your dermatologist.
Thighs and Legs Acne
Inflammation on the hair follicles is known as folliculitis.
This inflammation makes various types of bacteria invade and facilitate the inflammation even more and the final product is a pus-filled pimple which eventually gets burst out and leaves a scar.
This occurs very often in the thigh area. On the other hand, the severity is a little less on the kegs.
The legs are prone to having small cysts that leave a small scar.
Maintaining proper hygiene reduces the severity of this breakout and always try some OTC drugs like benzoyl peroxide to reduce the extent. Keep wearing loose clothes during this time and exfoliate regularly.
Body Acne Treatment – How to Get Rid of Body Acne!
Home Remedies
Before popping pills like candies or starting medication you should try some home remedies because these are equally effective and have less chance of causing any harmful side effects.
Here are some home remedies-
Apply Apple Cider Vinegar
You can apply apple cider vinegar because it contains organic acids which effectively kills the bacteria that causes acne.
Mix it with water and gently apply it to your skin.
If you have pesky angry pimples, then it might hurt a little but don’t get too worried about it because eventually, it will become alright.
Make a Mask
You can make a mask composed of honey and cinnamon and apply it to your body. Take some honey and half amount of cinnamon and mix it to form a thick mask.
Then apply on your body and leave for ten to fifteen minutes. Then rinse your body thoroughly.
Honey and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the bumps on your skin.
Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has been considered to be very effective in terms of treating acne. You can use a tea tree clay mask, night mask, tea tree oil, tea tree scrubs, or tea tree toners.
Tea tree has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the severity of pimples on your body.
However, there are various people who experienced certain negative effects of using tea tree oil and you can use seaweed products as a good replacement if you have very oily skin.
Use of Green Tea
You can also use green tea as it is very rich in antioxidants and possess anti-bacterial activity. Applying green tea is very easy.
You can soak the tea bag in warm water and gently press on your skin of the body and then rinse completely.
Drinking also helps but use it on your zits for a better result.
Use Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a soothing agent. When your blemishes are burning inside, you can use this to ease your pain and burns.
Applying aloe gel can treat your wounds and effectively fight inflammation.
Exfoliation
If you are new to the skincare world, you might think about what exfoliation is.
Exfoliation is a method of removing the dead skin cells from the outermost surface of your skin.
Now, you might get an idea of the importance of exfoliation.
If you want to prevent acne breakouts, exfoliate regularly. You can buy scrubs from drugstores or you can also make a scrub at home.
You just need to mix the same amounts of sugar and honey or coconut oil and rub it on your body very gently for a while and then rinse it completely.
Regular exfoliation can also reduce scars and spots which the pimple leaves on the body after healing.
Maintain Diet
Make sure to follow a balanced diet and always avoid processed food. This is not only for treating your skin but also helps you maintain your health.
Because high glycemic foods can facilitate the production of sebum and eventually increase the formation of plugs ultimately resulting in pimples.
Avoid These Things!!
Some studies suggest that dairy products can induce the formation of acne.
More research is required in this field. Meanwhile, you can just reduce your dairy intake like cheese and milk till you get to know more details.
Exercise and Hygiene
You should exercise regularly and then take a proper long shower.
When you work out, the dirt from inside your body comes out through sweat, and during a shower, this dirt can be rinsed off which declines the severity of blemishes.
Stay Calm Always!
Always try to keep your composure and try staying stress-free.
Some OTC Drugs to Treat Body Acne
Benzoyl Peroxide
This can be considered a first-class drug to treat acne. This ingredient effectively kills bacteria and reduces oil production.
But if you’re skin is very sensitive, think once or twice before using it.
Salicylic Acid
This active ingredient is very significant to prevent the formation of plugs in the pores.
Low dosage salicylic acids are available as OTC drugs. It can cause mild stinging.
Glycolic acid and Lactic Acid
These two acids are known as Alpha Hydroxy acids.
These acids can be very effective in the depletion of dead cells and enhance a smooth and rejuvenating effect on the skin.
This also helps in tightening of pores and removal of acne induced scars.
Sulfur
This agent is usually combined with other medicines like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and given in case of excessively oily skin.
Sulfur helps to remove dead cells and excess oil.
The side effects of sulfur can be- excessive drying and a slight odor.
Final Verdict
I hope you have got an idea about “how to get rid of body acne?” However, we discussed the body acne cause and body acne treatment.
Body acne can be hard to deal with. This reduces your clothing options and might irritate you as well.
However, if you just try to power through by trying to maintain healthy habits and follow some home remedies, then you can treat this.
Even if this doesn’t work, consult with your doctor.
Every problem comes with a solution and doesn’t feel too embarrassed in the meantime.
Always learn to love your body irrespective of what condition you might have and if you love your body, you can ease the whole process with confidence.
