Body acne - body acne treatment


Introduction to body acne

chest acne Acne is common on the back, chest, shoulders, and even buttocks and legs of many people. Because the skin on the body is thicker than skin on the face, it can sometimes be tougher to treat.

When I have strugged with acne on my body, I’ve found that bumping up my regular regimen with glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy) does the trick. You can find this regimen on the back acne pages. Even though it is labeled the “Back Regimen” you can follow this regimen on any part of the body.

As with all acne, the exact cause of body acne is not known. However, we do know that irritation can make it worse. If you get acne in a certain area on your body more than others, it may be coincidence, or it may be an external irritant. Anything that rubs your skin can cause irritation. Our bodies are constantly in contact with things, so it makes no sense to try to avoid rubbing as a general rule. However, if you are experiencing acne in one area, try to be cognizant of what might be regularly irritating that area and make a change if you can.

Neck acne - acne on the neck

The neck is a highly sensitive area. The regular Acne.org Regimen will work well on the front of the neck, however you will want to start exceptionally slowly. The back of the neck is a tougher area, and may require the back regimen which incorporates glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy). Still, the back of the neck can also be sensitive so it’s a good idea to start slowly on the back of the neck as well.

Tip Tip: I have heard from experienced doctors and estheticians that fabric softener leaves a waxy residue on clothing which can aggravate body acne. This is purely anecdotal, however, so I will look into this more. For now, I choose to forgo fabric softener myself. An alternative for controlling static are anti-static balls. You can search for "anti-static dryer balls" to find them online.

References

Berger, Timothy G., William D. James, and Richard B. Odom. Andrew's Diseases of the Skin. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000.

Bettoli, Vincenzo, Alison M. Layton, and Diane Thiboutot. Fast Facts-Acne. Oxford, UK: HealthPress Limited, 2004.

Fulton, James E. Acne Rx. James E. Fulton Jr., M.D., PhD: 2001.

Kligman, Albert M., and Gerd Plewig. Acne and Rosacea. Berlin: Springer, 2000.

Leung, Lit-Hung. "Pantothenic Acid in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris 'A Medical Hypothesis'." Journal of Orthromolecular Medicine 12.2 (1997).