Buzz
Body acne can often make you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable, and it's just as difficult to treat as facial acne. The causes of body acne are the same as those on the face: clogged pores, hormonal changes, and bacteria. There are many medications, cosmetics, and herbal treatments available to help you get rid of pimples on any part of your body. Learn how to treat acne and eliminate pimples from any area of your skin.
Steps
Skin Care
Use a Gentle Facial Cleanser. The facial cleanser you use can also be applied to any acne-prone area on your body. For instance, if you're aware that your back has frequent breakouts, you can use a gentle cleanser to wash your back regularly to prevent pimples.
- A facial cleanser helps remove dirt, sweat, oils, and anything else that might clog pores.
- Choose a mild cleanser that won’t irritate or harm your skin. Even though your back may not be as sensitive as your face, it's still best to avoid harsh cleansers that could cause irritation.
- Foam the cleanser, then apply it to the acne-prone area. Rinse thoroughly with running water, just as you would when washing your face. It's best to do this in the shower since a sink may get dirty when you try to wash areas like your back or neck.
Try Over-the-Counter Creams and Lotions. There are several acne creams and lotions available without a prescription. While it’s not always easy to determine which one works best, you can compare products by checking their ingredient labels to find the right one for your needs. Common active ingredients in over-the-counter acne treatments include:
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – these exfoliate dead skin cells, prevent clogged pores, reduce inflammation, and promote skin regeneration.
- Benzoyl Peroxide – kills bacteria that can block pores and cause acne.
- Retinoid Cream/Lotion – helps to unclog pores and exfoliate dead skin cells to prevent blockages.
- Salicylic Acid – helps prevent pore blockages.
- Sulfur – removes dead skin cells and excess natural oils from the skin.
Avoid Irritants. Certain irritants can contribute to acne flare-ups, especially if you tend to sweat a lot. One of the common causes of body acne is tight clothing that traps sweat and oil in the pores.
- Wear loose clothing and avoid tight straps, such as those on backpacks or sports gear. These straps can increase friction on sensitive skin, pushing oil and dirt deeper into the pores.
Use Over-the-Counter Medication
Learn About Oral Antibiotics. While topical antibiotics can be effective for mild to moderate acne, oral antibiotics are often prescribed for more severe body acne. Oral antibiotics are typically prescribed for a set period, after which the dosage is gradually reduced and stopped.
- Common oral antibiotics for acne include minocycline and doxycycline, both of which belong to the tetracycline group. A known side effect of these medications is increased sensitivity to sunlight, so sunscreen is a must. These medications should not be used by children under 9 years old or pregnant women due to the risk of bone development issues or permanent tooth discoloration.
- Consult your doctor to see if oral antibiotics are right for you.
Consider Using Retinoid Creams. Similar to over-the-counter creams, prescription retinoids help reduce acne by preventing pore blockages. Retinoids are a derivative of vitamin A and come in various prescription strengths, including tretinoin (Avita), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Tazorac).
- Apply retinoid cream in the evening, allowing your skin to adjust to the medication. A small amount, about the size of a pea, is enough for your entire face. For optimal results, begin by applying it 3 times a week, gradually increasing to daily use as your skin tolerates the treatment.
- Retinoids can cause irritation, flaking, and dryness. You can minimize these side effects by starting with the lowest strength and increasing the dosage as your skin adapts.
- Avoid using retinoids with other over-the-counter acne treatments.
- Retinoids may increase sensitivity to sunlight, so it’s important to apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing like hats and jackets.
Discuss Topical Antibiotics with Your Doctor. Prescription-strength topical antibiotics can eliminate bacteria that, if left untreated, might block pores and cause acne. These medications can also help reduce redness in acne-prone skin. Many topical antibiotics are combined with benzoyl peroxide to minimize the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria developing on the skin.
- Common topical antibiotics combined with benzoyl peroxide include clindamycin (Benzaclin) and erythromycin (Benzamycin).
- Dapsone is a topical gel prescribed by doctors to treat acne. It is often paired with retinoids for enhanced effectiveness. Dapsone may cause skin irritation, redness, and dryness.
Consult Your Doctor About Birth Control Pills. Combined oral contraceptives may be helpful in treating acne for women and teenage girls. These birth control pills typically combine estrogen with progestin and come in three main types: Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep, and Yaz.
- Possible side effects include headaches, nausea, weight gain, breast tenderness, and mid-cycle bleeding. Serious side effects may include an increased risk of blood clots.
- Consult your doctor to determine if birth control pills are right for you.
Learn About Anti-Androgen Medications. Anti-androgens such as spironolactone (Aldactone) may help block the effects of androgen hormones on sebaceous glands. These medications are often prescribed for women and teenage girls who do not respond to oral antibiotics.
- Reported side effects include breast tenderness, menstrual cramps, and sodium retention in the body.
Consider Using Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a potent oral medication typically prescribed for individuals who do not respond to other acne treatments. Side effects of isotretinoin include ulcerative colitis, an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, and birth defects for pregnant women. Its use requires strict medical supervision to monitor and prevent potential serious side effects.
- Common forms of isotretinoin include Amnesteem, Claravis, and Sotret.
Try Natural Remedies
Look for body wash with fruit acids. Fruit acids have been proven to help treat acne, so body washes containing these acids can assist in controlling breakouts on your skin. For instance, you might opt for a body wash with citric acid, an acid derived from citrus fruits. Other fruit acids include gluconolactone, glycolic, gluconic, malic, and tartaric.
- Wash your skin no more than twice a day.
- Shampoo daily if acne commonly appears along your hairline or on your scalp.
- You may also use a gentle soap for skin cleaning, such as Dove or Cetaphil.
- Shower or bathe to cleanse your skin, especially after sweating.
- Avoid scrubbing too harshly. Use your fingertips or a soft washcloth to cleanse your skin.
- Pat your skin dry with a clean towel after bathing.
Moisturize with aloe vera. Aloe vera can lock in moisture and has some acne-fighting properties. Try using aloe vera as a daily moisturizer after bathing. For example, you could replace your regular lotion with a thin layer of aloe vera gel.
- Some people may be sensitive to aloe vera. Stop using it if you experience redness, stinging, or a rash.
Try using tea tree oil. A 5% tea tree oil gel has been shown to be effective for some individuals. Its effectiveness has been compared to benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in many acne treatment products.
- Be sure to apply the gel to clean, dry skin each day.
- Before applying it to large areas, do a patch test on a small area of skin. Some people may experience redness or irritation from tea tree oil.
Use a 2% green tea extract lotion. Lotions containing 2% green tea extract can be effective for treating mild to moderate acne. Look for a lotion with 2% green tea extract and apply it daily after cleansing your skin.
- Be sure to patch test the lotion on a small area of skin before applying it to larger areas.
Consider taking brewer's yeast supplements. CBS 5926 is a specific strain of brewer's yeast that may help reduce acne. Brewer's yeast is available in powder, flake, capsule, or liquid form.
- For powdered or flaked brewer's yeast, a typical dosage is 1-2 tablespoons daily. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for capsules or liquid forms.
- Brewer's yeast capsules may cause bloating.
- If you are prone to yeast infections, taking this supplement may exacerbate symptoms.
Sunbathe for short periods. Exposure to sunlight for brief periods can help combat acne, so consider spending 10-15 minutes outside each day to soak up some sun. However, avoid excessive sun exposure or tanning to treat acne, as this can increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Always apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before going outdoors.
Try acne treatment therapies
Use light therapy. Light therapy comes in various forms, but researchers have not yet pinpointed a guaranteed method or dosage. This treatment uses light to kill acne-causing bacteria.
- Depending on the type of light therapy used, you may be able to perform the treatment at home or may need to visit a dermatologist's office.
- Side effects may include pain, redness, and increased sensitivity.
Chemical peel treatment. This therapy uses a chemical solution (such as salicylic acid) to treat acne-prone skin. Chemical peels can be highly effective for some people, but those taking retinoid medications should avoid this treatment, as combining the two can cause severe skin irritation.
- Possible side effects include severe redness, scabbing/blistering, and long-lasting skin discoloration.
Consider professional pimple extraction. If oral medications and topical treatments are ineffective, a dermatologist can manually remove whiteheads and blackheads using specialized techniques. This procedure should only be performed by a trained dermatologist in a proper clinical setting with the correct tools. Be aware that this treatment may leave permanent scars on the skin.
Consider steroid injections. For certain types of acne, such as cystic and nodular acne, steroid injections can be an effective treatment. A dermatologist injects steroids directly into the pimple, which can help improve the skin without extracting the pimple's contents. However, this method can lead to thinning of the skin, lightening of the skin tone, and visible blood vessels in the treated area.
Advice
- Acne treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the acne. Sometimes, a combination of methods is needed. For mild acne, topical retinoids paired with over-the-counter cleansers may be effective. For more severe cases, like cystic acne, a combination of topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, and benzoyl peroxide treatments may be necessary.
