Expert-Approved Body Acne Treatments for Clear Summer Skin
E! Illustration/ Getty, AmazonAcne is always annoying, but breakouts on your chest, back, butt, and other areas of the body can be even more frustrating.
Since summer is here, you’re probably searching for acne-fighting solutions so you can confidently wear tank tops and bikinis this season.
That’s why we spoke with Dr. Brooke Mensah, aesthetic injector and DMD at SkinSpirit, to find out why body acne happens, how to treat it, and what steps you can take to prevent future body breakouts.
There are a number of reasons why someone may develop body acne. Dr. Mensah explains it most commonly “develops from a combination of excess oil production, sweat, bacteria, dead skin buildup, hormones, and friction.”
Because the chest and back contain a high concentration of sebaceous glands, these areas are more prone to clogged pores and inflammation.
Body acne can be further aggravated by “tight workout clothing, staying in sweaty clothes too long after exercise, occlusive body products, stress, hormonal fluctuations, and even certain haircare products that transfer onto the skin.”
How do I get rid of body acne?With the right combination of products (and consistent use), Dr. Mensah tells us that treating body acne at home is possible. These are her gold-standard ingredients for treating body acne:
- Salicylic acid to unclog pores and reduce oil buildup
- Benzoyl peroxide to decrease acne-causing bacteria and inflammation
- Retinoids to normalize cell turnover and prevent clogged pores
- Alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic or lactic acid) to exfoliate and smooth texture
- Sulfur or zinc-based ingredients for inflammation and oil control
Because the skin on the back and chest is thicker and typically more resilient than facial skin, these areas can often tolerate a stronger concentration of active ingredients.
How can I prevent body acne?“Preventing body acne is often about minimizing sweat, bacteria, friction, and pore congestion before breakouts start,” explains Dr. Mensah.
She advises showering shortly after exercising, avoiding tight clothing, regularly washing workout clothes and sheets, opting for non-comedogenic face and body care, removing residual hair products from the back and chest, and avoiding picking or popping pimples.
Together, these small steps can make a major difference in your skin.
Read on for expert-approved body acne treatments, including clinically effective solutions recommended by Dr. Mensah.
"This is my go-to heavy hitter for cystic body acne, inflamed breakouts, folliculitis, and persistent shoulder and back acne. This product is effective, budget friendly, and gets rid of excess oil- quick!"
Standout ingredient: Benzoyl peroxide
Standout ingredient: retinoids (adapalene)
Dr. Mensah calls this top-rated body wash "a great option for clogged pores and rough texture while still supporting the skin barrier." Salicylic acid exfoliates while hyaluronic acid moisturizes and niacinamide soothes angry skin.
Standout ingredients: Salicylic acid
After cleansing in the shower, apply some of this body lotion containing encapsulated stabilized retinol to improve skin texture and calm redness and irritation.
Standout ingredient: Encapsulated stabilized pure retinol complex
Calm body acne and prevent future breakouts with this easy-to-apply salicylic acid spray that's ideal for hard-to-reach areas. It smooths rough and bumpy skin while while targeting inflammation.
Standout ingredient: Salicylic acid
Standout ingredients: Salicylic acid, AHA blend
This handy body stick is made with smoothing glycolic acid, pore cleansing salicylic acid, and nourishing shea butter to target acne, helps prevent ingrown hairs, and treat keratosis pilaris. Application is quick, easy, and mess-free.
Standout ingredients: Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid
Another easy body acne treatment, these cleansing pads are infused with a powerful blend of salicylic and glycolic acid to shrink pimples and prevent clogged pores.
Standout ingredient: Salicylic acid
This body wash is "especially helpful for patients struggling with both acne and texture," says Dr. Mensah. Formulated with derm-approved glycolic acid, it gently exfoliates, deeply cleanses, and improves skin texture.
Standout ingredient: Glycolic acid
The fast-absorbing formula of this retinol body lotion aids in exfoliating dead skin cells while providing long-lasting hydration to reveal softer, smoother, acne-free skin.
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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