What Causes Body Acne? (And How Can I Avoid it?)

Facial acne is common and a quick trip to the doctor’s office can result in recommendations and prescriptions that will have skin clearing up quickly. Unfortunately, body acne can be different. It’s less common in conversation, leaving many feeling embarrassed by the condition.

A Daily Makeover article recently explored some of the main causes of body acne, and it might not be quite what you think.

What’s to blame for body acne?

Many people assume that sweating or being unhygienic are the main culprits when it comes to body acne. And while these things may be a factor in some cases, it’s only part of the story.

Here are a few things that may be to blame for your acne:

• Your clothing habits. Whether you workout or not, the combination of natural body oils, sweat, and the way clothing rubs against your skin, pushes in debris or bacteria, or traps in moisture can lead to breakouts on your arms, back, butt, and chest—particularly if you wear tight-fitting clothes made out of synthetic, non-breathable materials. Stick with loose, lightweight clothing when you can.

• Your baggage. Notice a line of pimples where your purse or backpack strap lays on your shoulder? Particularly during the summer months, bag straps can irritate your skin as it rubs back and forth, leaving you open for inflammation.

• Your hair. Whether it’s your long locks rubbing your shoulders and back when you work out or the ingrown hairs you don’t see, hair can definitely contribute to pimples appearing in acne prone areas. Wear your hair up when doing any physical activity and make sure to gently exfoliate and cleanse areas where you have recently shaved or waxed.

How to treat body acne

Over the counter acne treatment products can be beneficial, but it’s important that you don’t irritate already inflamed skin. Talking to a doctor about medical-grade products with proven acne-fighting ingredients is the safest and most effective way to treat body acne once a flare up has occurred. In addition, your best defense is a great offense—and preventative treatments can greatly decrease your risk of developing acne.

If you are in Reading, we offer a wide range of professional grade products and treatments to address a variety of skin conditions and concerns. So if you’ve been struggling with body acne (or the scars left behind), don’t hesitate to contact our office for a consultation. We look forward to working with you to make sure you’re able to show off beautiful, clear, acne-free skin this spring.