Spotlight on Chest Acne
Having acne on your face can be incredibly embarrassing and frustrating, but having body and chest acne can make for an equally unpleasant experience. The cause of chest acne is the same as acne on the face—wherever there are sebaceous glands on your body, you can get pimples. In fact, if you have acne on your face you are a good candidate in developing body and chest acne. Our sebaceous glands are the oil-producing glands on our skin and they exist everywhere on our bodies except soles of your feet and palms of your hands. When the body produces too much oil, it can get trapped in the pores when combined with cellular debris, such as dead skin cells. Hormones contribute to the over-production of oil in our skin. The androgen hormone is responsible for triggering the glands to produce more oil. Other contributing factors to acne include skin inflammation and an increased amount of the P. acnes bacteria on the skin.
How to Get Rid of Chest Acne with Skincare Products
Getting rid of back and chest acne can pose some unique issues, as you are dealing with clothing always covering the area. Clothing, especially if it’s not breathable, will keep reintroducing the oil back into the pores. It will also trap bacteria onto the skin. During the summertime, you might notice even more acne on your back and chest area, this is due to heat and friction mixing together to create something called “acne mechanica.” The best ways to get rid of chest acne using skincare products is by using body cleansers that contain acne-fighting ingredients, such as salicylic acid, sulfur, tea tree oil or benzoyl peroxide.
The Best In-Office Treatments for Back and Chest Acne
You might be surprised to learn that the same procedures that are effective at treating acne on the face are also extremely effective at targeting blemishes on the body and back. The best in-office treatments you can get at the dermatologist’s office for back and body acne include Isolaz laser therapy, blue light therapy, photodynamic therapy and chemical peels. Prescription oral antibiotics can also be effective in treating acne and something you can ask your dermatologist about. Commonly used medications for the treatment of back acne include oral antibiotics, topical clindamycin and topical benzoyl peroxide. Women can also take oral contraceptives to keep their chest and back acne under control.
