What Is Body Acne, Exactly?
Acne, regardless of whether on the face or body, occurs due to several factors: clogged pores, excess oil production, and inflammation. Although blackheads are still common and can occur on the body, along the back and chest more whiteheads, inflammatory acne, and cysts, which are prone to more oil production.
Acne, regardless of whether on the face or body, occurs due to several factors: clogged pores, excess oil production, and inflammation. Although blackheads are still common and can occur on the body, along the back and chest more whiteheads, inflammatory acne, and cysts, which are prone to more oil production.
Hormonal fluctuations, stress, and certain foods (including dairy and high glycemic diets) as acne triggers,' too. While whiteheads are commonly seen on bodies, blemishes like papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules all can show up on the skin barrier.
While body acne can affect people of all ages, puberty is the starting point for many cases. Hormones called androgens cause oil glands to increase in size. This causes acne to appear over many areas of the body. The chest and back have a higher concentration of oil glands, making this area more prone to acne, while hair-bearing areas may be more prone to a related condition, folliculitis, caused by inflammation around the hair follicles.
It’s no secret excess oil production acts as a prominent conductor for clogged pores. Oily skin types are more prone to body acne, promoting a good environment for bacteria to grow. This, in combination with clogged pores and inflammation, is the perfect formula for body acne.
So, why are certain areas more common for body acne to crop up, athlete or not? Irritants, like sweat and friction from tight-fitting clothes, tend to be more commonly affected by body acne. Medically, this phenomenon is called acne mechanica, friction or rubbing in combination with heat and sweat that irritates and inflames [hair] follicles.
Treating Body Acne With Retinoids
Although dermatologists enlist many solutions when treating acne along your body, one of the most effective approaches is topical retinoid creams. Not only will using topical retinoids help prevent and treat acne, but it will also help minimize the post-inflammatory pigmentation, like brown spots, that occurs after acne lesions resolve.
For those not familiar with topical retinoids, we would describe them as being a vitamin A derivative that prevent and treat acne by unclogging pores, exfoliating skin, and decreasing inflammation.
While retinoids are safe and effective in treating both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne on the face or other parts of the body, like any new skin treatment, retinoids should be started slowly, to decrease the risk of irritation and excess dryness. It can take six to eight weeks of consistent use to know if an acne regimen is effective, so be patient.
Since treating my skin with a topical retinol every night, the body acne I was self-conscious of no longer exists. After all, feeling good in my skin is my number-one priority, and for me, it started with treatment. Whether you're just experiencing body acne for the first time or have had a long, ongoing battle with acne, you’re not alone, and there are products and dermatologists out there to help you begin your journey to clear, healthy, and happy skin. You have to start somewhere, and in the case of body acne, it can be with a topical retinol cream.