Don’t Let Body Acne Cause You Embarrassment

When you’ve got a problem with acne on your face, everyone knows it and most people can sympathize. As a teen, you’d be very lucky if you didn’t get away with at least some acne on your face. But what about body acne? Teen body acne is an issue that gets much less attention than face acne, but for teens with serious body acne, it can be just as big a problem. Whether you’re coming out of the shower in the locker room or hanging out at the beach, body acne can be just as embarrassing for a teen as facial acne.

About Body Acne

Body acne refers to skin blemishes like pimples, blackheads and whiteheads that appear on the body. Acne can appear anywhere that you have hair follicles and pores, which is almost everywhere on your skin. Therefore you may see acne appear on the arms, the back of the neck, the back, the legs and even the scalp. Wherever body acne appears, you will want to treat it as quickly as possible.

Body Acne vs. Face Acne

The acne on your body forms the same way as the acne on your face. Pores in your skin become clogged with sebum, dead skin, dirt and oil. This provides a breeding ground for acne causing bacteria, which results in pimples or other forms of acne eventually breaking out on the skin. While body acne is basically the same as face acne, it is worth noting that body acne presents its own difficulties. For example, body acne may cover a larger surface area than face acne, requiring more medication to treat. For another, body acne can be more irritating, as skin can rub against the blemishes and agitate them. Finally, body acne may develop for longer before being treated, as it may not be as noticeable as face acne.

How to Treat Body Acne?

If you have body acne that you need to treat, it’s very important that you shower regularly. You don’t want to wash too much as you don’t want to dry out your skin, but once or twice a day and after working up a significant sweat should be suffice. Sweat does not cause body acne, but may make it easier for dirt and oil to become trapped in the skin. If you’re having serious body acne problems that do not seem to be relieved by a standard washing routine, a body washing system that includes a benzoyl peroxide based cleanser may be what you need. Benzoyl peroxide is favored by many dermatologists as an effective method for reducing the severity of current acne and helping to prevent new acne from forming. Consult your dermatologist to see what kind of acne treatments will be right for you and your body acne.

Acne Mechanica

It’s important to distinguish between standard ace and acne mechanica. Acne mechanica is a special form of body irritation that occurs due to repetitive friction against a certain part of the body, such as may occur when restrictive sports clothing rubs repeatedly against a sweaty body. Wearing breathable cotton underneath your pads or uniform and showering immediately after sweating can help with this issue.