Dealing with Adult Body Acne

Body acne has a tendency to develop on the shoulders, chest, back, arms, legs and even the buttocks in some individuals. If you’re an athlete, or live in extreme climates, there’s an even greater chance that body acne can develop. If you suffer from chronic inflammations in specific places, or on certain body parts, there is probably a good reason why. Fortunately, body acne is something that is easily treatable with a focused and consistent effort.

Adults and Body Acne

From an early age, we’re very conscience of our bodies. This only magnifies as we push through our adolescent stage and into adulthood. This is one of the reasons that adult acne is so aggravating—it is something that we all hope to leave behind with the teenage years, yet sometimes it continues to persist for years. One of the most frustrating forms of acne that serves to distort personal perception and body image is that of body acne. It is simply no respecter of age.

What Causes Body Acne?

Contrary to many acne myths, body acne is actually caused by the same three factors that lead to the development of acne on the face. Dead skin cells combine with bacteria from the skin’s surface, as well as with sebum from the sebaceous gland. Together, these three serve as the foundation of all acne when they clog a follicle, and a small infection develops. Blackheads, whiteheads, cystic acne and even the dreaded body acne all form in this manner.

Because of this, you can probably figure about a hundred variables as to why body acne can develop due to skin irritation, tight, restrictive clothing, seasonal clothing, exercise and sweating, athletic uniforms and/or athletic equipment such as helmets, shoulder pads and heavy padding in pants. Even the most comfortable clothes will chafe to a certain degree. When this happens, and then combines with perspiration, it is even easier for the dead skin cells to “stick” to the surface and find their way to the oil glands with bacteria.

Treating Body Acne

Here’s the good news: You can treat body acne, just as you would acne on the face. Fighting acne at the foundation will help to control present acne, and will ultimately help to prevent the development of additional acne.

When body acne is an issue, these acne prone areas need to become part of a daily acne treatment regimen that consists of a few gentle, but effective skin cleansing steps. For starters, it’s easiest to perform such a regimen while in the shower, when you are generally cleansing the skin anyway.

A quick note to athletes: Always shower after training or competing. This will really aid in the fight against anybody acne issues that develop occasionally or persist for much longer that desired.

Treating acne prone areas with a gentle, exfoliating acne wash will help to rid the skin of dead cells that are clinging to the surface. It will also aid the skin in its natural regeneration process, allowing for healthier skin and a better overall complexion. After completing a shower, dry off gently, and then apply a quality skin toner or astringent to areas of body acne to help constrict the pores and protect the follicles from easy intrusion.

The final step should be the use of a quality acne cream. Benzoyl peroxide acne creams can work wonders when used liberally, like a lotion, across all areas that are experience developing body acne. There are some great benzoyl peroxide-based acne products that come as part of a moisturizing cream, and these are helpful to combat the dryness associate with benzoyl peroxide.