Body acne and its treatment

Find out what cause body acne and a simple way to control body acne with some success

dermatologist Acne is a medical condition caused due to the over activity of sebaceous glands, and is usually seen in youngsters aged between 14 and 25 years. It occurs when the skin pores get clogged by sebum, dust, and dead cells, invariably leading to bacterial inflammation and sometimes cyst and lump formation. Acne knows no boundaries as it can occur on the face as well as on the back (often called “bacne”), chest ( chest acne ), shoulders, and even buttocks of people or simply wherever there are sebaceous glands. The acne that is seen on the body is called body acne.

Causes

Other than the usual acne causes – hormone imbalance and stress – body acne is also aggravated by excessive perspiration and clothes that are tight fitting on the skin. This is one of the reasons why physically active people are plagued by body acne sometimes. Men who use steroids may also contact back acne as a side effect.

Treatment

Body acne can be a bit more difficult to contain than facial acne because firstly, it is not that easy to reach to one’s back area, and secondly, the body skin is quite thicker than the facial skin. However, with a systematic and strict regime, body acne can be controlled with some success, provided the patient follows the procedures punctually.

To begin with, wash the acne affected area with an antibacterial soap or a washcloth with a salicylic acid-based cleanser.
As a next step, use 5-10% benzoyl peroxide cream to dry out the cysts/pimples, and then use a suitable moisturizer containing alpha hydroxyl acid to exfoliate and combat any dryness. For isolated pimples, it can be spot treated using benzoyl peroxide.
For body acne in unsightly parts, softly use a loofah and an exfoliating scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells. However, never rub roughly on the acne as it could aggravate the itching/irritation and inflammation.
Finally, make it a point to wash the affected area on heavy perspiration like when you have gone out for a shopping or for a walk. Also, you can use some popular over the counter acne treatment for your body such as Clearpores Body System and see if acne subsides in the next 4-6 weeks.

If the body acne still persists without any respite, contact a dermatologist, and he/she might prescribe some oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or minocycline.

Once had back acne in control, ensure that you do not do anything further to irritate the skin again. In other words, avoid tight fitting clothes and shun fabric softeners. Also, drink lots of water and include vegetables and fruits in your diet to nourish the skin.

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