Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. But while we’re used to treating acne on our faces, it’s just as important to treat acne on the body.
The first step? Knowing what causes your chest and back acne.
Here’s a look at three of the most common causes of chest and back acne and what you can do to mitigate them.
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Dehydration
Fun fact: the adult human body is 60% water. And if you’re dehydrated, it can have serious consequences for your health–including your skin.
Don’t believe that a glass of water can impact how clear your skin is? Your skin alone is 64% water, since your body relies on water to eliminate toxins. For skin, the barrier protecting you from the outside world, this is especially important. If you’re dehydrated, your skin has a much harder time eliminating toxins, which makes your skin much more susceptible to skin disorders and inflammation.
The solution is simple: drink more water! Men need about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) per day, while women need 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) per day. Keep in mind that if you’re sweating a lot, you need to drink more water. It doesn’t matter whether the sweat comes from hot weather or regular exercise–you’re losing fluids either way and you need to replenish them.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Hormones and acne aren’t just a problem for teens. Hormonal fluctuations can affect any of us throughout our lives, especially women.
The impact can be mild or severe depending on your unique case. Here’s the thing: hormonal acne is cyclical, and it may not respond to other treatments. In other words, it keeps coming back and it’s hard to treat when it does.
If hormonal fluctuations are at the heart of your acne problem, you’re going to need something to level out the hormonal fluctuations that bring on acne. For women, this usually means things like hormonal birth control.
Diet
You are what you eat. And when it comes to your skin, your dietary habits can directly impact your acne.
While various diets have their merits and downsides, the one universal problem area is sugar. Sugar is directly linked to a number of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation. The last one is especially important for your skin.
If you’re looking for ways to bolster your diet for skin health, the best place to start is by cutting down on sugar intake. This means the obvious culprits (most processed foods, flavored yogurt, sugary drinks, cereals, and the like) but also some culprits you might not expect, like bread and ketchup.
Other Causes
If any of the previous causes aren’t the culprit, there are a few others you might not expect.
For example, oral antibiotics can actually lead to back acne. This usually happens when you’re prescribed oral antibiotics for facial acne and back acne crops up in response.
If that sounds counterintuitive, keep in mind that facial acne and back/chest acne are different things. Back and chest acne are actually folliculitis, which is when the hair shaft becomes infected and inflamed. This can happen for any number of reasons, but shaving is a common one.
If this sounds like you, there are a couple of ways to handle it.
First and foremost, always remove sweaty clothes immediately after a workout–otherwise, you’re stewing in your own bacteria. You should also use good shower and shaving etiquette to avoid spreading germs. For example, don’t share a towel with anyone, and when you scrub your back, use a back scrubber. When you shave, always use a clean razor, and only shave skin that you’ve already scrubbed.
Find a Body Wash That Supports Clear Skin
We know that chest and back acne is frustrating, but with the right tools, you can get clear skin to carry on your everyday life with confidence.
That’s where we come in. Our body wash is a physician-designed formula made to be gentle on your skin while treating acne and skin irritation, even for those with highly sensitive skin. So if you’re ready to invest in clear skin, check out our body wash (and our other skincare products) today!
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