Before you can start to treat back (and chest) acne, it's important to single out what is leading to your break outs. And if you live, work, and play in South Florida, then sweating excessively during the summer is nothing new to you. But even if you don't live in the south, there are factors we may not think about such as our gym routine that may be causing body acne for us not just during the summer, but all year round.
When your body is overheated due to weather or a fitness routine, it will naturally produce more sweat. Combining naturally occurring oils with sweat lead to pore blockages which lead to—you guessed it—acne. Slather on sunscreen and you are only contributing to that blockage (but we still insist you wear it anyway!). The truth is, back acne actually falls under a slightly different category than the acne that occurs on your face, but is usually labeled as folliculitis. It's the same in the sense that your follicle has become inflamed or infected, resulting in a blemish. So how do you get rid of it?
Showering immediately after any outdoor activities or the gym will help dramatically reduce the number of breakouts you see. Body wash that contains salicylic acid will gently remove excess dirt, sweat, and oil from your skin and clear blockages much like facial cleansers do for your face. Try to avoid using products that contain benzoyl peroxide (particularly your facial cleansers) to protect your clothing and towels from potential bleaching. And be cautious before using an aggressive scrub that may dry out your skin, as this can trick your skin into overdrive with oil production and lead to more breakouts.
If you're careful about tending to excessive sweating immediately and still noticing that body acne is appearing, hormones may be a contributing factor.
Now that you know the common factors that lead to back-ne, following a regular cleansing routine tailored to treating these concerns will help you get blemishes on your body under control and help your skin stay clear and soft.
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