Acne on our bodies forms just like acne on our face. Your pores get clogged because the dead skin cells and oil mix together and clog your pores – which then contribute to acne. Anywhere you have a hair follicle and sebaceous glands is a prime candidate for acne to appear. While body acne is harder to control for many reasons, it is still possible with some easy steps. In addition, the clothing we wear keeps the oil trapped on our bodies which does not help the issue.
So, we must first cleanse properly. Good hygiene can help combat acne although it does not necessarily mean you have bad hygiene if you have acne issues. Cleanse daily – wash your face twice a day and your body once a day. Don’t overdo it. However, if you sweat excessively such as from playing sports or from chronic stress, you may find the need to remove this excess sweat, dirt and oil that is not laying atop your skin. Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser that your skin likes.
Then, you must exfoliate on a regular basis. Your body does go through a natural exfoliation process and it takes about 30 days for this process to happen. However, this is dependent on a couple things: our age and also our skin type. The older we get, the longer it takes for our skin to exfoliate on its own. And, depending on skin type, we can have further issues. For example, if you have oily skin, this oil will mix with the dead skin causing them to “stick”. Once the cells become sticky, they can’t be removed easily and this clogs our pores and contributes to our body acne. So, exfoliating manually is essential!
Food has not been scientifically proven to contribute to acne but if you notice that you tend to break out after eating certain foods, you may want to limit those foods. Dairy seems to be an issue for me. If I eat too much of it, I tend to break out. Is it a coincidence, maybe. But, I just try to limit my dairy intake and my skin seems to respond well. In addition to not eating foods that may cause issues, it is important to eat foods that can help our issues. Eat foods high in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables.
Hydration is also key. If we don’t hydrate our bodies with water, we can’t clean it out. If you don’t normally drink enough water, try adding another glass or two each day until it is more habitual. Take slow, easy steps until it is more natural for you.
Finally, not only will cleansing and exfoliating help your body acne, you may also want to try a topical Benzoyl Peroxide cream. BP is very effective (and inexpensive, I may add) in treating body acne. Many people that suffer from bacne find that if they cleanse, exfoliate and use a benzoyl peroxide topical cream that this is enough to combat their issues. The trick is to be consistent with your skin care regimen and not to overdo it. Be patient and you will soon notice a difference. Good luck!
