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Acne is so annoying. Whether you’re a teenager navigating inflammatory and cystic acne, in your 20s dealing with hormonal acne, or an adult acne sufferer trying to fade acne scars, nobody actually wants a pimple. And it’s not just a facial issue—acne can affect your chest, back, and shoulders too.
While there are tons of products and advice dedicated to clearing facial acne, we couldn’t help but notice the lack of information about clearing stubborn chest and back acne once and for all.
We consulted double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp on how to manage acne-prone skin, body breakouts, and treatment options to help you get a handle on your body acne.
Why does body acne happen?
According to Dr. Camp, acne occurs most often in areas of the body with a high concentration of oil glands.
That means places like your face, chest, and back are common sites for acne to form and cause breakouts. Sure, acne on your face can result from oily skin, dry skin, hormones, inflammation, or not removing your makeup. But why can acne happen on the rest of your skin? And is it any different from a pimple on your face?
“Back acne, just like facial acne, can be associated with increased oil production, hormonal changes, exercise, and sweat accumulation,” Dr. Camp explains.
“Body acne, such as chest acne and body breakouts on your back and shoulders, can also be triggered by friction, tight clothing, and anabolic steroid use.”
What is the simplest routine to help treat acne on your back and chest?
To prevent body acne, Dr. Camp recommends showering after exercise and other sweaty activities to help prevent the buildup of oil, grime, and residue.
“Use a medicated cleanser in the shower to clear the skin of excess oil and aid in exfoliation,” he says. “Some suggest avoiding the use of backpacks, as the friction can contribute to a type of acne called acne mechanica.”
If you’re on a journey for clear skin that goes beyond just rinsing off acne-causing bacteria and want to incorporate skincare products, Dr. Camp highlighted the acne-fighting ingredients you need to look for.
“Consider using products containing exfoliating ingredients to reveal brighter, healthier skin,” he shares.
The dermatologist highlights salicylic acid as a hero ingredient. Dr. Camp explains that it is a “beta-hydroxy acid that penetrates pores to remove excess oil and dead skin cells.”
Dr. Camp also recommends including lactic acid and glycolic acid in your body care routine to help remove dead skin cells and reduce the chances of breakouts.
“[These] alpha-hydroxy acids gently exfoliate skin to limit the formation of clogged pores,” he says.
If you’re looking for more natural ingredients to improve skin texture and fade acne scars, Dr. Camp suggests “fruit enzymes, like papaya and pineapple, [which can] gently break apart the bonds of dead skin cells to facilitate exfoliation.”
Is there a way to safely pop a pimple on your chest or back?
Of course, if you’ve got a major pimple or acne cyst on your chest, back, or anywhere on your body, it may be tempting to pop it.
We asked Dr. Camp if there’s a safe way to do exactly that.
“It is not recommended to pop a pimple because of the risk of causing an infection, scar, or hyperpigmentation,” he explains.
“As an alternative, consider using a warm, wet compress on the site to allow the pimple to come to a head and drain on its own, or use a pimple patch.”
Ready to start your journey to clear skin? Try incorporating these body acne-tackling products below.
We even found some pimple patches that will keep you from picking and popping your spots. They’re only $6!
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