• Skincare
  • Makeup
  • Fragrance
  • Self-Care & Wellness
  • About

The Beauty Gypsy

Luxury beauty * Self care * Sustainability

You are here: Home / Acne / How to get rid of body acne (and prevent it from coming back!)

How to get rid of body acne (and prevent it from coming back!)

Summer is here, and so is the dreaded bacne. Or yeah, even buttne (acne on your butt — yep, it happens often enough to get its own moniker).

Because, while body acne can happen through the year, summer seems to bring it out in droves.

Which makes this a good time to ask the question once and for all: How to get rid of body acne? And how to banish it forever?

What causes body acne?

To understand ways in which to treat body acne, we first need to understand why it happens. Because knowledge is power. And also because that bacne may be telling you more about your overall health than you think!

At its most basic, body acne is caused by a buildup of oils and dead cells in our pores — just like its facial counterpart.

The P.Acnes bacteria thrives in clogged pores, leading to inflammatory acne, which shows up as those red, painful, and sometimes pus-filled pimples on your body.

While body acne can show up at any time of the year courtesy various factors like genetics, hormonal imbalance, stress and using the wrong skin or har products, it tends to spring up more frequently in the summer, thanks to the excessive sweatiness, greasiness and grime. 

Just in time, it seems, for floaty, skin-baring summer dresses, swimsuits and camisoles.

How to get rid of body acne

So, what’s the solution? How to get rid of body acne? And then ensure that it stays away?

Thankfully, help is at hand with this easy, effective and expert-approved plan that will keep those under-the-neck-zone spots at bay… butt, back and chest included.

Hola!

Switch up your body wash

No, that luxe, utterly delish creamy cleanser is not doing your body acne any favors. Neither is your normal facial acne wash — face-grade products are often too gentle for the body, which needs more potent active ingredients.

What are the ingredients you should be looking for in your acne body wash? Salicylic acid, which can cut through oil and reach deep into pores to unclog them; and benzoyl peroxide, which kills the acne-causing bacteria.

Remember that you need to cleanse your body at least once a day — twice if you have had a particularly sweaty, grimy time; and also immediately after exercising or swimming to wash away any pore clogging oils and other debris!

 

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate

Exfoliating once a week is the best way to bust pore-clogging dead cells, as well as allowing fresher, unblemished cells to come to the surface for visibly smoother skin.

Look for either a manual scrub with smaller, rounded particles that won’t tear you skin (body bars, like the Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar or L’Occitane Almond Delicious Exfoliating Soap, are perfect for tackling those tough to reach spots); or a chemical exfoliator with glycolic or lactic acid, which are alpha-hydroxy-acids (AHAs) that gently dissolve the upper layer of dead skin cells to prevent pimples from cropping up in the first place.

Put on a body mask! 

Clay masks are superb for oily and congested skin. Look for bentonite clay — it attracts impurities and draw them out of the skin. 

Mix equal amounts of clay powder and water, then apply it on problem areas. Leave the mask on until it’s completely dry and then rinse it off with cool water.

If you have the time, follow this up with an aloe vera mask, which soothes inflammation, fights infection and promotes healing without clogging the pores. 

Simply apply aloe vera juice to the skin, leave it on for half an hour and then wash off in the shower.

how to treat body acne

Moisturizer musts

You don’t need to stay away from body lotions or creams if you have acne-prone skin. In fact, using a lightweight lotion is a good thing, as it helps keep the skin’s natural barrier intact, which in turn protects against the invasion of acne-causing bacteria.

Just make sure to switch to one that’s not oil-based and labelled as non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog the pores.

For added acne-fighting cred, look for a body lotion that contains small amounts of salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or a blemish-buster like tea tree oil.

Bring out the spot treatments

Over-the-counter spot treatments can go a long way in shrinking existing pimples and prevent new ones from popping up in the same area.

Benzoyl peroxide is the top choice amidst skin experts, followed by salicylic acid and retinol. The latter plays an important part in treating body acne by regulating cellular turnover, which allows the shedding of dead cells, pore decongestion and fresher, smoother skin coming to the surface.

acne body wash

Look at your diet

Diet can go a long way in your quest to get rid of body acne. This means you need to include skin-friendly fatty acids in your diet, from fish, flaxseed oil and avocados. 

Vitamin A from egg yolks, green and yellow fruits and vegetables will help as well in keeping skin clear from the inside-out.

Plus, zinc is very healing — get it from liver, seafood, green vegetables, brown rice and wholegrain bread. And don’t forget bioflavonoids, found in oranges, red capsicum and other red foods. 

Wear loose, breathable fabrics

While summer may seem like the best time to show off that gym-honed body, tight clothing can trap dirt, oils and bacteria that can cause blemishes. Instead, stick to looser, more comfortable fits for your skin’s sake.

Similarly, certain non-breathable fabrics like nylon, polyester and spandex can irritate existing blemishes and lead to new ones by causing excessive friction with the skin. Switch them out for natural fabrics, like linen, cotton or silk.

How to apply products to your back

Of course, applying anything on the back is not the easiest thing for those of us who are not double jointed. And getting someone to do it every time is tedious!

The answer? A product applicator for the back that can help you get to those hard to reach places.

And they don’t even cost a ton… the Toem Lotion Applicator For Back clocks in at just $11.99, while the Bearback Lotion Applicator for Back & Body will set you back by $24.97, and the Smooth Reach Lotion Applicator For Back is equally light on the wallet at $20.36.

Comments

  1. Kalpana says

    May 2, 2013 at 01:41

    Hi, many thanks for this one! And Happy Birthday. (I read in a post)

    So, I have read many of your posts on acne however haven’t yet come across one which talks about getting rid of the spots left behind by the acne. Or it could be eluding my eyes 🙂

    Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • anubha says

      May 4, 2013 at 12:45

      Thank you for the birthday wishes 🙂 🙂 No, haven’t done one on that till now, though I wonder why. Shall start work on it ASAP, so stay tuned!!!!

      Reply
  2. Teresa Friend says

    May 8, 2013 at 21:13

    This article had some really great advice. I am in my mid twenties and have had recurring body acne on and off since I was a teen. I live in Florida and it gets pretty darn hot, plus I spend a lot of time in the sun. When I was younger I heard that doing that was a great way to prevent acne. Oh I was so naiive. After growing up and learning to research acne remedies before beleiving them I now know that being out in the sun during hot summer days can actually cause acne. Along with the regular sunscreens that most of us use. I’m glad you pointed out that it is important to moisturize. I think a lot of us forget that, especially in the winter when all we want to do is stay bundled up, not putting cold mositureizer on! Like I mentioned, I like to research acne because I think it helps me when it comes to prevention, which is so much more important than treating existing acne.

    Reply
    • anubha says

      May 11, 2013 at 20:30

      I agree Teresa… skin actually thickens to protect itself against the sun when you don’t wear sunscreen. And once it thickens, the pores start clogging up. Hence the acne 🙁

      Reply
  3. Sky Jones says

    September 15, 2022 at 14:55

    Dermal Md acne serum works. 3 days of application on huge pimples and it worked. It is a total non sticky formula. Its gets dried in 2 min. And forms a smooth film on the skin. It can be used under makeup also with not worries. I am thankful that my pimples are gone after using it❤️

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next Post >

My top beauty picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2022

About me

Anubha Charan is a luxury beauty blogger who has worked at some of the world's leading lifestyle publications, including Marie Claire, Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Read More…

Search

Trending on the blog

jar of honey for skin

Is honey really good for your skin?

magenta lipstick trend

Magenta lipsticks: How to wear the hottest makeup trend of 2023 (plus 10 best picks!)

Forget the fruit, stock up on avocado leaves instead for maximum beauty benefits

hey there!

I am Anubha... a former Beauty Director at Marie Claire and current global wanderer. I have a soft spot for beauty products that are super-effective, sustainable AND create a luxurious self care experience.

Beauty

  • Skincare
  • Acne
  • Product reviews
  • Hair
  • Makeup
  • Fragrance
  • Nails

Lifestyle

  • Self-Care & Wellness
  • Candles
  • Fashion
  • Just me!
  • Privacy Policy for The Beauty Gypsy

Copyright © 2023 The Beauty Gypsy · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...