
Acne is a skin condition which is not restricted to the face. Body acne is equally common, and affects almost as many people as facial acne does. Body acne typically occurs in regions like the back, chest, arms, and shoulders, and may need professional acne treatment to cure, especially in order to avoid scarring. Examining its causes, learning about potential remedies, and the dermatological solutions available to achieve a clear skin will be explored in this article.
Understanding Body Acne
Body acne is a very common issue which happens when the hair follicles on the body get clogged and collect excessive amounts of oil, dirt, dead skin, and bacteria. A number of factors lead to the occurrence of body acne, most common among which are the following:
- Excessive Sebum: When the skin produces an excessive amount of sebum, it can clog the skin’s pores, which in turn leads to increased occurrence of body acne. The issue can get more challenging during periods of hormonal changes.
- Hormonal Changes: When the body undergoes puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or among people who experience PCOS and other distressing hormonal imbalances, the issue can get even more significant and repeated. It is another one of the most common acne causes which impacts several people.
- Poor Lifestyle Habits: Poor lifestyle habits ranging from poor diets to improper hygiene practices, all contribute to the increasing occurrence of acne on the body. Touching the body repeatedly with unclean hands, using chemical-laden and harmful body cleaning agents including soaps, shower gels, and exfoliants, not bathing after sweating are some of the leading causes of acne. Similarly, following a poor diet, consisting of highly sugar-rich foods, dairy, oily and greasy foods, excessive consumption of processed food and junk food, lack of a balanced diet, skipping meals, can all contribute to the occurrence of body acne.
- Wearing Tight Clothing: Consistently wearing very tight or uncomfortable clothes can also contribute to the growth of body acne. This happens because tight clothing, rough materials, long periods of wearing sporting gear (which can be tight, and full of sweat), can cause friction, and put a lot of pressure on the skin which leads to acne breakouts. Wearing sweat-ridden clothes for prolonged periods, allows harmful bacteria to grow on the skin, leading to acne on the body.
Treating Body Acne
Like facial acne, body acne can also cause one to become conscious about their appearance, which makes proper measures for skin care and treatment options necessary to explore. Apart from just impacting appearance, these acne can be highly irritating for the skin as well, and cause significant discomfort.
Some of the basic remedies for treating body acne include a number of lifestyle changes right from changing what kind of products one uses to maintaining overall hygiene more strictly, and following a healthy diet. Some of the practices which can be used include the following:
- Using The Right Products: The first and foremost thing to check is the kind of products that you are using on your body. This includes cleansers, moisturizers, etc. Make sure you use non-comedogenic products such as shower gels or body washes which have salicylic acid. These ingredients help minimize the production of excessive oils, thereby preventing body acne. If you have not been using exfoliants, start using them to unclog your pores as they will help in preventing bacteria from multiplying and causing body acne. Chemical exfoliants are the best for this.
- Choosing The Right Clothes: If you have body acne, make sure you are not wearing clothes that are tight (especially in the acne affected region). Opt for breathable fabrics and loose fitted clothes that allow air to pass through, preventing excessive sweating and trapping of the sweat. Fabrics like cotton are very skin friendly, and more importantly, do not cause friction on the skin which can irritate the acne further.
- Hydration is Key: Maintaining a healthy skin, not just on your face, but overall, depends in large part on how well hydrated and nourished the body is. This is essential because water helps in flushing out toxins from the body, minimizing the chances of breakouts.
However, these solutions take time, and are not sure to provide the same results for everyone. For those looking for quicker solutions, it is best to consult a dermatologist, and get professional treatments based on extensive analysis of one’s skin, identifying the underlying issues, and determining the right course of treatment.
Chemical peels are one of the most prominent, easy to execute, and quick acting professional treatments which are immensely effective in treating body acne. In this procedure, the dermatologist applies a medical grade chemical exfoliant on the target region, which effectively gets rid of dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and kills bacteria. It also helps in reducing inflammation, providing an overall suitable treatment option.
Topical medications are another popular treatment option chosen by a lot of individuals upon the prescription of dermatologists who analyze the skin, the extent and kind of acne challenge, and understand the underlying issues. The topical treatments can take between a few weeks to a few months to reveal optimal results.
If you have been struggling with body acne, reach out to us at the Dermiq Skin and Hair Clinic, in Hyderabad. You can avail comprehensive body acne treatment options from any one of our three branches, all housing our experienced team of dermatologists who are dedicated to resolving your skin concerns in a structured manner. Our advanced treatment options, guided support throughout the process, and safe environment in which treatments are performed, all make sure your treatment experience is seamless.
Conclusion
Body acne affects a lot of people and can happen due to a number of reasons. It can in fact also be a seasonal issue, triggered by excessive sweating during summers, for example. To maintain confidence and not experience the pain and discomfort that body acne comes with, it becomes vital to get them treated with the help of experienced professionals who can provide complete treatment according to your skin’s condition and type.