Breakouts on the body can be broken
What causes body acne, and can you really banish it? With summer just around the corner, it’s time to find out. While it’s true that your condition can get much worse in hot weather, we get body acne for many reasons, including our family history, hormones and bacteria — so there isn’t a single solution.
Body acne isn’t much different from facial acne
Body acne mostly occurs on the chest, back and shoulders, and these areas have about the same number of oil glands as our faces. But there is one fairly big difference: acne on the body is exposed to more sweating, friction and irritation when we’re out and about in heat and humidity. Therefore, body acne can sometimes get worse in the summer due to our increased sweat production. Sweat alone doesn’t cause acne, however; it’s the extra sweating plus the rubbing and irritation of our clothes.
Here are some steps to help you walk away from summer body acne
- Wear light, breathable clothing
- Shower after workouts
- Avoid heavy lotions
- Wash skin with products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide
- Use favorite products that work for facial acne
- If acne is spreading, getting worse or beginning to scar, you may need prescription-strength medications, including antibiotics
See your dermatologist before summer gets boiling
This is a great time of year to prepare for summer body breakouts, especially if you’ve had similar troubles in past. Don’t wait for your acne to get super irritated and out-of-control. Make an appointment today, (210) 692-3000 or (210) 370-9995, so you can be ready for summer, which is practically tomorrow.