Body acne (similar to acne on the face) is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, and to a lesser degree, factors such as stress, diet, and use of the wrong cosmetics and skincare. For body acne, there are additional factors, like sweat, heat, and rubbing of tight clothing (including) backpacks against the skin.
The first line of defense for treating your body acne is to start by tackling it the root of the problem, through prevention! Here are some tips:
Whenever you’re working out, try to avoid wearing tight clothes — those keep the sweat in and rub against your skin.
Wear workout clothes that wick away the sweat and keep your body cool.
Change out of your sweaty clothes ASAP — staying in them can irritate your skin and trigger body acne and folliculitis, which is the name for infected hair follicles.
Always shower at least once a day, and shower immediately after breaking a sweat.
Make sure to pay attention to your bedding. Change your sheets once a week (And while you’re doing laundry, change your pillowcases at least once, if not twice, a week, too!)
Speaking of laundry, make sure you’re always on top of washing your clothes. Items you may not normally wash often, like your hoodies, can harbor dirt and bacteria. Even if you’re only wearing a hoodie for a short period, make sure you wash it — you don’t want any bacteria from it to transfer onto your skin!
Avoid any sources of friction, such as from the straps of your handbag or backpack rubbing on your skin.
Once you have implemented preventative measures, the second step is to seek proper treatment. Similar to face acne, the best “leave on” treatment cream for body acne on the back, chest, and buttocks, are creams with micronized benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide Is a potent antibacterial, unclogs pores and reduces inflammation. The most effective way to treat any body acne is the Body Acne Duo, available for purchase in the MDacne shop (right in your app!).
The Body Acne Duo includes a special medicated Body Acne Cleanser and Body Acne Treatment Cream, formulated specifically to treat acne on the back, chest, and buttocks. It contains natural, plant-based boosters that are synergistic with benzoyl peroxide to boost your body acne treatment.
To learn more about the best treatments for body acne, check out this article on the MDacne blog!