Everyone talks about treating acne, blemishes, congestion and oily skin on the face, but when it comes to the body the only advice you normally get is to use a body scrub and call it a day. But what can you do when that doesn't work? What if it makes your acne even worse? Are you expected to forego off-the-shoulder tops forever? Not on my watch! Let's figure out what could be causing your bacne and how you can go about treating it.
What is bacne?
Back acne or "bacne" is normally caused by overactive sebaceous glands in the body which produce sebum. Your body needs sebum to keep itself hydrated, however, when too much is produced it causes dead skin cells and bacteria to form which in turn clogs the pores.
What are some of the causes?
Hormones- Hormonal changes in the body can cause overactive sebaceous glands, making your skin oilier. A few of the hormonal causes of Bacne are hormonal conditions such as PCOS, hormonal changes such as puberty or menopause or starting or stopping taking birth control.
Sweat- When sweat is trapped between your clothes and your skin it leads to clogged pores and inflammation. Have you recently started a new workout routine? It could be the reason you're suddenly breaking out.
Hygiene- Be honest with yourself, how often are you changing your sheets? If the answer isn't at least once every 2 weeks then you need to make a change. Washing your sheets as frequently as possible means there's less time for bacteria to grow in between washes.
Stress or anxiety- Did you know that when you feel stressed your body produces more of a hormone called cortisol? Maintaining steady cortisol levels is essential to reducing inflammation in the body and regulating blood sugar levels. When too much is produced it triggers an excess of oil production, leading to acne and congestion.
What can you do about it?
Luckily, treating body acne can be more straightforward than treating acne on the face, which is a more sensitive and easily damaged area.
The first course of action is to treat the root cause of the issue by adopting a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene practices. Make sure to reduce your intake of processed sugars and greasy food, drink at least 2 litres of water every day and exercise regularly. If your stress levels are high you might benefit from low-intensity, stress-relieving exercise such as long walks, yoga and pilates.
Secondly, it is important to use products which specifically target the affected area.
Which products should you use?
Although your body is less sensitive than your face, it is important to avoid harsh cleansers and creams which can cause peeling and damage.
Start out by cleansing the affected area with a gentle, soap-free cleanser such as Uriage Hyseac Cleansing Gel, which conveniently comes in a 500ml version. This cleanser respects the natural balance of the skin while treating oiliness and impurities.
Use a topical treatment like ISDIN Acniben Spray, which exfoliates and renews the surface of the skin while regulating oil production thanks to a combination of salicylic acid and glycolic acid. It is easily sprayed onto the skin thanks to its 360° nozzle and sinks in quickly without leaving any residue.
This combination will banish your bacne in no time!
Do you have any tips for treating body acne? Leave them in the comments below or share them on our Instagram!
Where to find ISDIN Acniben Spray
Where to find Uriage Hyseac Cleansing Gel
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