If you think that acne is just limited to the face, think again. We all go through many physical and psychological changes during our adolescent years, and one of the things that most of us probably faced was acne. In my case, I had pimples on neck, chest, back, and bottoms. Although some pimples used to vanish in a few days after the breakout, the scars stayed and became a grim reminder of my dark puberty days. Yes, body acne happens and it’s cruel. Although nobody really sees them, when you find yourself squeezing the pimples, not only does it hurt, you wonder whether there’s a remedy for this. Fortunately, medical science has progressed a lot and there are a few ways that you can follow to prevent and reduce visible body acne.
How Pimples Develop on the Body
Facial acne is enough troubling, but when you see acne in different parts of your body, you know that something is wrong. However, you should know that body acne is completely normal and can happen to anyone at any age. Other than your facial skin, other parts of the body also develop overactive oil production, which often combines with dead skin cells to block pores. This block becomes a blackhead which could undergo inflammation if it comes under bacterial attack. Usually, body acne only happens on the upper portion of the body.
There could be other causes. Certain clothes and equipment can make your skin uncomfortable and lead to body acne. Having pressure on your skin by bags or excess rubbing may trigger body acne. For those who are prone to body acne, they’re often advised to wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid carrying backpacks or athletic gear. One of the main triggers of chest and back acne is sweat. This is exactly why it’s recommended to take a shower after excess sweating.
Body acne is definitely embarrassing. You can’t wear your favorite swimsuit or strapless dresses. But with the right skin care treatments and some preventive measures (e.g. avoiding acne-causing foods, you can actually get rid of it over time and with a little patience.
Neck Acne: Treatment and Prevention
Neck acne is very common. After facial acne, neck acne could occur more frequently and may extend up to the back and chest areas. Usually, they occur at the nape of the neck. Neck also has skin hair where pores can get blocked and as a result, pimples may break out. Although we tend to take good care of our face, we often disregard our neck and other parts of our body. But our neck needs just as much attention! Causes of neck acne include fluctuating hormone levels, stress, dirt, aggravating or scrubbing on skin excessively. Heavy makeup, certain body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens and some additives and chemicals in these products may also trigger neck acne. Wearing non-breathable clothes that are tight around the collar, tight bras, and jewelry may aggravate further acne production.
So, for starters, what you should do is not rub or scrub your neck skin too often. Don’t aggravate the pimples by touching or squeezing. You should wash your neck region with lukewarm soapy water regularly and make sure that you’re wearing breathable loose clothes. Using the warm compress method or steam facial, you can allow the pores to open up, allowing the reduction of blackheads and the overall prevalence of neck acne. Avoid going out into the sun too often. Also, don’t shave when there are pimples around. Once the pimples are gone you can shave.
Next, you should try a few herbal remedies. Natural treatments incorporating tea tree oil, sandalwood oil, lavender oil or evening primrose oil really help. There are various ways of natural treatments for neck and body acne as shown below.
Body Acne: Natural Remedies
Since ancient times, people have resorted to taking preventive measures against different health problems, seeking help from what nature had to provide. This used to be the only solution for them for centuries after centuries. In today’s world, we have so many different chemical substances to feed our body that we often forget that there are some natural home remedies that will work just as well without any side effects. In fact, these remedies would be even better for your skin than using something made from harmful chemical substances.
The basic remedy for neck acne is to use apple cider vinegar. Mix apple cider vinegar with water with a 1:3 ratio to dilute the corrosive effect. Next, dab a cotton ball into the solution and apply directly on the areas affected. These would help you eliminate the bacteria in the cystic acne and thus reduce acne and its breakouts. Once done, wash off the residue after 5-20 seconds and pat the skin dry. Repeat this step a few times per day for the best results.
The second method that you can follow to eliminate acne problems is using a banana peel. To do this, you should first peel off a banana and rub the sticky side of the banana peel onto the affected areas. Once done, let it sit till it dries up. This will help your skin absorb the nutrients and substances from the peel and this has been found to be helpful against cases of hormonal acne. Once it dries up, wash your face. Do this at least 3 times a day for the best results and try DIY face masks as well.
OTC Supplements and Cosmetic Products
However, if herbal remedies are of no use, you might try some OTC supplements. When you are planning to buy OTC supplements or any topical products for neck and body acne, make sure they have the following components:
- Salicylic acid
- Retinoids
- Niacinamides
- Alpha hydroxy acids
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Sulfur
But if you notice that OTC supplements and topical ailments have no positive results, it’s time to pay a visit to your dermatologist. The doctor would give you prescribed medicine based on your health status, acne type, age, and sex. The prescribed medicines may include antibiotics, oral isotretinoin, and hormone imbalance control medications. In severe cases, even these medications may not help. You could then opt for chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser therapy. But remember that this is only for chronic neck acne and body acne cases.
Yes, body acne is painful and shameful, and you want to get rid of this as soon as possible. The right way to do that is take step by step measures and never do anything rash that could permanently damage your skin and scar you for life. Prepare a skincare routine for yourself that you would be able to follow daily. Make sure you use a body cleanser that has acne-fighting properties and suits your skin type.
You could use a body scrub but don’t be too rough on your body. Instead of showers, take baths. You could even go one step further and add Epsom salts in the water to get rid of skin debris gently. When you feel that your skin is dry, you could use lotions that are not oil based. Yes, you should aim to use non-comedogenic products. Don’t fall for scented products. The additional fragrance may actually be bad for your skin and may irritate it, so always choose non-scented products. Take careful measures like these, take vitamins and supplements for acne, and your skin will be clear and glowing in no time.
