Beauty 101: Body Acne & How To Treat It

Body Acne Has No Single Cause 

“Body acne is a skin condition that can affect anyone, of any age, but it’s most common among teenagers and pregnant women,” says skincare expert, Dr Rekha Tailor. “Body acne can be caused by hormones, but it’s also often hereditary. A common misconception is that it’s caused by eating chocolate, greasy foods or being dirty, however none of these are true.” Consultant dermatologist at skin55 and author of The Skincare Bible, Dr Anjali Mahto agrees: “It’s a complex interplay between hormones, genetics, excess sebum or oil production, and bacteria that can create inflammation on the skin’s surface. The face, chest and back are all common sites for acne as these areas have the highest density of oil glands.” 

Sweat & Friction Can Make It Worse

“Acne forms in the same way on the body as it does on the face,” says Dr Rekha. “However, the key difference is that the skin of the body is tougher and less flexible around the pores. We have pores all over our bodies but they’re more noticeable on our faces, where the sebaceous glands are bigger. Like the face, the upper half of the body has many sebaceous glands, which is why body acne is often on the chest and back. Aside from the location of the acne, body breakouts are often caused by sweat and can be exacerbated by clothes rubbing against the skin. This creates an inflamed environment which makes breakouts and red patches worse.” Dr Anjali adds: “Heat, sweat and occlusion from tight-fitting lycra sports bras can create spots at this site. One way of reducing this is to limit ‘athleisure’ wear and ensure you shower immediately after any exercise or heavy sweating. Swap out your tops where possible after your workout and change your bed sheets regularly.” 

Scratching Is A No-No

“If you want to prevent body acne from spreading, it’s best you don’t touch or scratch it,” says Dr Rekha. “Doing this will only spread the bacteria that causes acne. It’s paramount you keep the area as clean as you possibly can and also wear clothes that allow your skin to breathe, including natural cotton fibres. While scratching is a no-go, you can gently exfoliate the body with chemical exfoliators. This is better than body brushing, as often people overdo it and traumatise the skin. Look for chemical exfoliators that contain glycolic, lactic, malic and salicylic acid to break down bacteria and dead cells. Ideally, you would use an exfoliator two to three times a week to really see the benefits.” 

Finally, It Could Be Worth Asking For Professional Advice 

“If you feel you’ve tried every product and remedy under the sun without seeing results, don’t be afraid to seek out professional advice,” recommends Dr Anjali. “It can affect your self-esteem as it may leave behind some scarring, so it’s important to find medical help early – you do not need to suffer in silence. Just like the face, it’s treatable and can be prevented, so don’t lose hope.” Dr Rekha agrees: “Book a consultation with your medical practitioner who will be able to prescribe you a suitable treatment plan, often combined with treatments like laser therapy. The combined oral contraceptive pill can help, too, but each patient must be treated on an individual basis.”

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DISCLAIMER: Features published by SheerLuxe are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme.