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Just as the name implies, body acne can appear anywhere on your skin where you have pores… and that’s everywhere! Body breakouts tend to show up on the neck, chest, shoulders, butt, and back — aka "bacne." While it may be tempting to hide body acne with clothes, finding an effective body acne treatment is possible. With a body acne treatment in hand, you can prevent and manage breakouts no matter where they appear — and have the confidence to show some skin every once in a while. Here’s how to get rid of chest and back acne.
The same things that cause facial acne can lead to body acne, too. Genetics, hormones, skincare products, the environment, dirty sheets and towels, and lifestyle habits are all potential culprits for body breakouts. Even if you’ve never had acne before, stress can trigger a reaction due to a rise in cortisol (the stress hormone), which causes the body to produce more oil.
Pimples on the body also tend to occur when pores are blocked for too long (often by tight, sweaty clothes or sports equipment) creating chest acne, bacne, and more. That’s why it’s likely that athletes and people who regularly exercise will experience body acne.
It’s important to know that sweat itself does not cause acne. But, when sweat mixes with bacteria, dirt, oil, and dead skin cells it can end up getting trapped and clogged inside pores. This is especially true when you’re wearing sweat-drenched, tight clothing. By not allowing your skin to breathe and trapping acne-causing debris and bacteria inside your pores, you can accidentally cause chest and back acne. Friction against your body from items like backpacks, hats, and tight collars can also block pores, which can increase breakouts.
Are you wondering how to get rid of chest acne? Or perhaps you want to know how to get rid of back and shoulder acne? Fortunately, the same acne treatments and lifestyle habits that help treat breakouts on your face can also help as a body acne treatment.
Body acne products are vital for keeping breakouts at bay. Look for salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates, keep pores free of debris, and treats and prevents pimples. Glycolic acid is another popular and effective exfoliating ingredient. Proactiv has medicated products specially formulated to treat and prevent body acne.
Acne can pop up anywhere on the body thanks to hormones, stress, the environment, certain skincare products, tight clothing, not washing your body after you sweat, and/or genetics. In addition to showering right after exercise, wearing loose clothing, and regularly cleaning your sheets and towels, you can keep body breakouts at bay by using products for body acne formulated with salicylic and glycolic acids, such as these ones from proactiv.
Try Proactiv+® — for dry or sensitive skin — featuring micronized benzoyl peroxide to dive directly into pores and help kill acne-causing bacteria while minimizing irritation.