Beauty
Goodbye to buttne and bacne.
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What Causes Body Acne
As board-certified dermatologistDr.
The most common cause similar to facial acne is hormones, the Boston-based dermatologist says.
Clogged poresare another common culprit for body acne.
Excess oil and dead skin cells can occlude pores, which can lead to inflammation, Sarkar says.
Basically, anything that obstructs your pores can lead to acne, Sarkar notes.
Plus,bacteria can get trapped in there, worsening the problem.
New York City-based board-certified dermatologistDr.
Sue Ann Wee, M.D.notes that factors likestress,genetics, anddietcan also affect body acne.
Body acne can also stem from your clothing.
Fungus and bacteria thrive in moist environments, such as on damp sweaty clothes, Amin explains.
One thing to note: Board-certified dermatologistDr.
Cleanse with antibacterial soap:Woolery-Lloyd adds thatantibacterial soapsmay also prove helpful.
Try incorporating something like abenzoyl peroxidebody wash an ingredient that fights acne-causing bacteria and helps decrease inflammation.
Dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara, M.D.
says, Rinsing conditioner and shampoo down the back can leave some residue which can cause acne.
Incorporate body retinol:Retinol can come in handy for the skin beneath your neck, too.
Topical retinoids, Woolery-Lloyd explains, increase cell turnover to prevent pore congestion.
Thankfully,retinol formulated for the skin on the bodyhas become more prevalent.
Keep your sheets clean:Dont forget toregularly wash your bedsheetsas dirty sheets can be a potential acne culprit.
Be strategic when applying perfume:Another trick that can help?
You should spritz your perfume if youre wearing any onto an area of skin thats less prone to acne.
See a dermatologist:If all else fails, Woolery-Lloyd says to consider making an appointment with your dermatologist.
The Gentle Body Wash
For sensitive skin types, Woolery-Lloyd recommends this antibacterial body wash.
It uses bacteria-fightingbenzalkonium chloridefor the acne- and-folliculitis-clearing job, but keeps your skin hydrated thanks toglycerinandsunflower seed oil.
It also boasts hyaluronic acid for hydration.
The Body Scrub
If youre a fan of scrubs, snag this one from Differin.
Studies referenced:
Ayer, J. Acne: more than skin deep.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2585707/
Elsaie, M. (2016).
Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: an update.
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015761/
Heng, A.H.S.
Gene variants associated with acne vulgaris presentation and severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Volume 14, Article number: 103 (2021)
McLaughlin, J. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6560440/
Mills, O.H.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/123732/
Reynolds, R. (2010).
Effect of the Glycemic Index of Carbohydrates on Acne vulgaris.
