Acne on the body: causes, characteristics, and how to treat & bull; hello healthy

Acne can not only appear on the face. In some people who are prone to acne, this annoying lump can also thrive on the body, including the chest, waist, and stomach area. If you are grappling with acne on the body, know that this is normal. Not a few people have or are experiencing something similar to you. The appearance of acne on the body can happen to anyone of all ages. However, this skin problem is more common to men than women.

So, how do you treat and prevent acne from appearing on the body?

The cause of acne appears on the body

There are many factors that cause acne to appear on the body. However, the main trigger for acne wherever it grows is clogged skin pores.

Like other parts of the body, this area of the body also has pores and lots of sebaceous glands or oil glands. When the sebaceous glands are overactive producing a lot of oil, the follicles in the pore can become clogged by excess. Meanwhile, the skin layer of the body also continues to produce dead skin cells to be replaced with new ones.

When oil and dead skin cells get trapped in a pore, a blockage can occur and then develop into blackheads. Now, if the clogged pores are allowed to continue to clogged and are exacerbated by exposure to sweat and dust, this situation can lead to infection due to acne-causing bacteria, namely P. acnes.

Apart from that, the daily habits that you do can also trigger the growth of acne on the body. For example, rarely showering, always wearing tight clothes that rub against the skin, not changing clothes immediately after sweating, and so on.

The most common type of acne on the body

The types of acne that appear on the body include:

Whiteheads (Whiteheads): formed from pores clogged by excess sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells. The appearance of his pimples is like small white bumps.
Blackheads (Blackheads): small, black bumps on the skin due to clogged hair follicles. Blackhead does not cause pain or redness in the skin like acne.
Papules: pimples are solid bumps under the skin that are painful. The skin around the bulge looks reddish swollen, but the top doesn't have a point of pus.
Pustules: white or yellow pus-filled pimples with a reddish base.
Nodules: acne lesions that develop deep beneath the surface of the skin, then harden and form large, painful bumps.
Cystic acne: it looks bigger, hard, bright red, and feels more painful than other types of acne. Cystic acne can also contain pus, which when broken can injure the skin.

How to deal with acne on the body

Treating acne on the body is more difficult than acne on the face. However, with proper care and patience, you can treat your acne.

Non-prescription treatment

Minor pimples that are on the body (small bumps and pimples, or just a few pimples) can be treated with good daily skin care and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.

Try choosing a body wash that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
And, shower as soon as possible after exercising or sweating to minimize pore clogging.

Use lotion or spray. If body cleanser doesn't work, add it lotion or sprays to your grooming routine.

If you're confused about choosing between benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide works better for inflamed pimples, while salicylic acid is good for bumps and blackheads.

Use the acne medication once or twice a day, depending on the directions on the package. Spray-on drugs are great for hard-to-reach places on your back.

Keep in mind, benzoyl peroxide can stain your clothes, so make sure you wait until they are completely dry before getting dressed.

In addition, you can also use drugs that contain alpha hydroxy acid. The reason is, this can help increase the effectiveness of OTC acne products.

Look for OTC products that also contain alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid or lactic acid. Alpha hydroxy acid helps speed up cell turnover, exfoliates skin quickly and reduces the number of clogged pores.

You can use several OTC acne treatments at once, but stop if your skin becomes irritated. The skin on the back, chest, shoulders, and upper arms is tougher than facial skin, and generally can tolerate more intense treatments.

Treat moderate to severe body acne

Stubborn acne will not heal with OTC medications. If you feel that your acne is not healing, see your doctor immediately. The following are some of the medications that are commonly prescribed:

Topical retinoids such as Retin-A (tretinoin)
Oral antibiotics
Isotretinoin (Accutane)

How to prevent acne on the body

Once you've found an acne medication that's right for your body, there are steps you can take to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Shower as soon as possible after sweating

Although body acne is not caused by a lack of hygiene, it can be irritated by sweating. So make sure you shower right after exercising.

Minimize anything rubbing against acne-prone areas

Anything that can heat the skin, or cause friction, can make acne worse. This includes sports equipment, backpacks, purses and bra straps, and tight clothing.

Try to limit or adjust these triggers as much as you can.