Chest Acne

One morning, you woke up and found out that you have a zit on your forehead. You felt bad because you had a date later that evening; this maybe something that you’ve probably experienced more than once in your entire lifetime. Of course, acne on the face is easier to treat. There are lots of over-the-counter therapies, both oral and topical medications, and even make ups available to cover acne on the face. But what about if you have acne not only on your face, but also on your chest, arms, and even your back? You’ve probably wondered how they got there. Here are some common questions that people ask about this kind of acne.

What is body acne?

This kind of acne is a disease of the skin. These pimples fall under the same category as black heads, or blocked hair follicles all over the body, particularly on the chest, arms and back.

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the bacteria inside a pore which is blocked by sebum or oil. It’s a skin disease which is depicted by excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands, which causes irritation of the pores. It can be characterized by blackheads, pimples, and even abscesses which can lead to scarring. Most people with oily or combination skin are usually affected with acne, especially adolescents.

Doesn’t acne only affect the face?

No. Our skin is made up of pores. Technically, our whole body is prone to acne. Body acne is common among people who usually have acne on the face, but it can also affect people with clear faces. Back acne is more common than face acne.

What aggravates it?

Acne all over the body can be aggravated by wearing tight clothes because the skin cannot breathe and can be irritated. Heat and humidity can also aggravate it because heat can make your pores bigger and it makes them produce more sebum.

As with most kinds of acne, this has been a big problem not only among teenagers, but among most adults as well. Red pimples and bumps all over your shoulders and back don’t really look attractive and a number of medications and cures have been developed to help you remove your acne. Here are some tips on how you can at least lessen your acne on your body.

• Exfoliate – ‘Massage’ your body with a loofah sponge to remove dead skin cells that can block your pores.
• Try medicated scrubs – There are a number of brands carrying medicated body scrubs with Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide. These are effective against fighting skin bacteria.
• Wear loose and cotton clothing – Let your skin breathe so as not to be irritated and to keep your skin cool.
• Drink water – This will help clean your fluids in your body and pores, as well.

Body acne is something that you shouldn’t be ashamed of. If symptoms still persist, your best option is to visit your dermatologist so you can be diagnosed and given the right medication and cleaning rituals that can treat your skin condition.