Acne can be embarrassing, painful, and stressful, whether it’s on your face or body. While several factors can contribute to the development of body acne, it’s more common than people think and relatively simple to treat with the help of an expert. The key thing to remember about acne is that if left untreated, it can worsen and is very likely to cause scarring. So, the sooner body acne is treated, the better!
What is Body Acne?
Body acne is essentially the same as facial acne. It occurs when hair follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells. This blockage can lead to various types of acne, including:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Pustules
- Papules
- Cysts
- Nodules
Causes of Body Acne
Hormonal Factors
Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of acne. Any significant hormonal shift in the body can trigger acne, such as during teenage years, adolescence, pregnancy, peri-menopause, and menopause.
Dietary Influences
While diet doesn’t directly cause acne, certain foods can exacerbate it for some people. Common dietary triggers include:
- Dairy products (many people who are actually lactose intolerant can have Acne as a symptom of this)
- Refined sugars
- Junk food/unhealthy diet. Whilst junk food or an unhealthy diet does not cause Acne which is a common misconception, if you are not eating well then your body cannot use the nutrition to regenerate and repair itself from inflammation.
Certain lifestyle habits can also contribute to body acne:
- Not washing your body after exercise – this is very important!
- Wearing tight-fitting clothes
- Bacteria buildup on the skin from workouts
- Not washing bedsheets regularly
- Heavy gym work and consumption of protein shakes we have also noticed in our clients seems to have a correlation with body acne.
How We Treat Body Acne
Medical-Grade Skincare
Using the right skincare products is crucial. We recommend the Environ SkinCare body duo for an effective at-home routine, especially for treating acne on the bum or back. This duo is our go-to solution for clear skin.
Supplements
Supplements can play a significant role in managing acne. We often suggest starting with Accumax by Advanced Nutrition Programme which is always a starting point for Acne clients, complemented by other supplements tailored to each client, such as Omegas+. Your skincare isn’t at 100%, for both your body and face, until you have both topical products and supplements working together.
Advanced Nutrition Programme’s Accumax helps to calm internal triggers of acne.
Advanced Nutrition Programme’s Skin Omegas+ helps to reduce inflammation with its nourishing omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, plus vitamin A.
Blemish Control Cool Peel Treatments
Our specialised Environ Lactic Acid and TCA Blemish Control Cool Peel treatments are both designed to calm irritated and inflamed skin, helping to clear blocked pores and soothe the skin. Cool Peel facials can be the perfect boost to help get your skin under control, especially if it is sore and inflamed.
Is it Acne, or could it be something else?
It’s important to note that red bumps on your chest and back might not always be acne. A common condition often mistaken for acne is folliculitis. Though it resembles acne, folliculitis is different. Folliculitis is where a hair follicle becomes infected, resulting in pus-filled pimples, unlike the blocked pores of acne. Folliculitis can occur wherever hair follicles are present, while acne is more common on the face, back, and chest. Some forms of Rosacea can also be mistaken for Acne, though this is more common when it is on the face. If you’re uncertain whether your red bumps are acne, Folliculitis, or something else, consulting a skincare specialist can help you identify and treat the condition effectively.
Get Professional Help
If you think you might have body acne, reach out to us today for advice, help, or to organise a tailored consultation. We can help you get body acne under control and achieve clearer, healthier skin!
