Facial acne is one obstacle to overcome, and it can generate new frustration if it spreads to your body. Body acne can appear wherever you have pores on the body. Your face, neck, back, legs, arms, and chest are common places for blemishes to appear. For people with more oily or acneic skin, body breakouts are quite common, but they can also occur on people with comedogenic (pore-clogging) skin.
Understanding Body Acne
When pores fill with dirt and oil and get trapped beneath the skin, you experience acne. Inflammation sets in over time and acne appears in the form of blackheads, cysts, whiteheads, and pimples. Body acne is a little different, in that it can stem from dead skin cell build-up on the skin. For this reason, many dermatologists encourage exfoliation a couple times per week. Sloughing away dead skin cells can help reduce the risk of clogged pores and eventual acne.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all recommendation for getting rid of body acne, but there are several tips that may be of assistance. Continue reading to learn about tips from the experts and you may be able to better handle body breakouts. You may even be able to prevent future ones from happening!
Be Mindful Of Your Diet
Be it your skin, heart, digestive system, or brain, your diet plays a role in its overall health. In regards to the skin, studies confirm that there is a skin-diet connection with facial breakouts. Other research shows that the skin on the body is more responsive to dietary changes, both positive and negative. High glycemic index foods and dairy products tend to cause acne flare-ups on the body. One of the best ways to avoid body acne is to focus on nourishing the gut microbiome by eating prebiotic and probiotic foods. These increase the presence of healthy bacteria in the gut, which in turn helps to improve overall complexion.
Wear Natural Fibers
Itchy or scratchy fabrics that cling to the body tightly can easily irritate the skin. Fabrics that are tight can trap sweat, dead skin cells, and excess oil. This is a recipe for body acne development. Instead, dermatologists recommend that people wear cotton and other breathable fabrics to keep skin free of congestion. Moisture-wicking fabrics may also be helpful for avoiding body acne, especially during exercise.
Cleanse Gently
Scrubbing the skin vigorously with strong soaps is the last thing you want to do if you want to get rid of acne. Powerful, chemical-rich cleansers and exfoliating scrubs may actually increase the frequency of breakouts. Both gentle cleansers and exfoliants help to clean the pores and eliminate dead skin cells. When it comes to exfoliants, stick to the ones that have super fine particles, as the ones with larger particles can create small abrasions on the skin. The important thing to remember is that you should not over-exfoliate. Once or twice a week is perfectly fine for exfoliation.
Moisturize The Affected Area
If you experience a breakout in a hard-to-reach area, chances are that your first thought is not to moisturize it. Optimal skin hydration is key if you want to care for oil- and blemish-prone skin. When you are able to support the skin barrier and skin’s microbiome, you can help reduce the severity of acne. A daily moisturizer with barrier-supporting ingredients may help the skin. Emollient and humectant ingredients are greatly beneficial, and you don’t have to buy products in the store to use them. Beeswax, for example, is a wonderful ingredient for improving your skin’s health.
