Everything you need to know about Body Acne this Summer
About 50% of people who experience facial acne, also experience body acne.
Body break outs can be discouraging and quickly worsen in severity. You may notice one spot, and in what feels like a week, have a handful more.
Body acne can look different; Cysts, little red spots, white heads, nodules… They are all a result of dead skin cells, oil and sebum clogging a pore on the skin.
There are many factors involved, so let’s chat about how to prevent body spots this Summer and what to do if they’re getting too difficult to manage at home.
Factors that might contribute
☀️Hot weather
Yep! We’ve mentioned it- but why? With hot weather comes humidity and sweat, which helps make a perfect environment for body acne to form and spread.
🧴Changing detergent, body lotions or body wash
New products that aren’t suited to you can cause break outs. Inflammation contributes to forming new and worsening existing break outs.
🌱Increase in hair growth
Increased hair growth can happen as a result of supplements, medications or medical conditions. Speak to your GP about any changes you’re concerned about.
👕Clothing material
We recommend reading reviews about how gym clothes go in the actual gym. Yep! It’s not always taken into consideration, or it is, with people who don’t have the same concerns!
Polyester and polyester blends can make you extra sweaty and trap in humidity. Consider giving yourself the option of swapping out to lighter weight cotton for spottier seasons.
🏋️Gym equipment
Get off sweaty gym clothes ASAP! Bacteria on your body feeds on sweat, and it’s having a good feed after the gym.
Do your best to wipe down any gym equipment with an antibacterial spray, especially if you are wearing clothing that puts your skin directly against the equipment.
Gym equipment includes yoga mats, too! Although seats may be wiped down from sweat, bacteria unfortunately stays around long enough to hitch a ride on our skin.
🚿Hot showers (Sorry, sorry)
Hot showers affect your entire body, not just the skin on your back! You’ll notice a change in all your skin, too.
Hot showers strip the skin of its natural oils and good bacteria, which make up a good part of your moisture barrier.
The moisture barrier is a careful balance, and when thrown of tilt, allows the skin to be more susceptible to infections like acne.
Dry and tight skin from hot showers then triggers an overproduction of sebum, which can cause clogging- and you guessed it- more body blemishes.
😟Stress & Hormonal factors
Cortisol (AKA the stress hormone) not only lowers your immunity- it’s the culprit in causing stress acne breakouts as well.
Increased cortisol is associated with a rise in sebum production on the skin. This means more clogged pores and break outs.
The good news
Changing habits particular habits during the hotter months may amend the issue entirely, depending on the severity.
Helpful habits like not re-wearing clothing (Especially if you’re sweating in the clothing or battling current body acne), using fresh towels every shower, showering directly after physical activity, having luke warm showers (I know, I know…), surfaces that come into contact with your skin regularly (like bed sheets) and avoiding tight clothing that cause humidity friction.
Ingredients to look out for that work
So, want to manage your body acne at home? Look out for oil regulating Niacinamide, oil dissolvable Salicylic acid (meaning it’ll really get into your sebum) and ingredients to hydrate and calm down irritation like Colloidal Oatmeal, Aloe and Centella Asiatica.
💦Body washes for body acne
|1| The Here Body Wash- By Will & Zo. $49.99/250ml
Female founded small business Will & Zo has a body wash called |1| The here, that has Salicylic acid, Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid to address blemishes whilst calming the skin. We had a chat to Annalise, Founder of Will & Zo. ;
“Body acne is something that not many people talk about. About 50% of people who experience facial acne, also experience body acne.
The feelings associated with body acne usually include embarrassment, confusion, frustration and a desire to just cover it up.
Body acne is usually sore, red and inflamed. Those who experience body acne are also likely to pick at it, leaving open wounds that may lead to scarring.
A lot of products on the market are quite strong and can irritate breakouts further and cause more redness and inflammation.
Coming out of the shower feeling dry, even more irritated and sore was something I wanted to change.
A big part of creating the Will & Zo products was to create a better experience for people dealing with body acne, and a routine to manage it.
The cleanser is light and leaves your skin feeling hydrated, soft and rejuvenated. The spray is refreshing and leaves your skin feeling calm and soothed.”- Annalise
Ok. Sign us up! Note that many spotty babe geared body washes aren’t designed to use daily, they aren’t a part of a routine and can irritate body acne further.
Others make your skin highly sensitive to the sun- so if your goal is to be comfortable bearing your shoulders and back day to day, keep this in mind, too!
Mecca Athletica Skin Perfecting Body Wash- By Mecca Cosmetics. $38/200ml
“Supercharged with a skin-smoothing blend of 8% AHAs and PHA plus Siberian Ginseng, this advanced body wash gently exfoliates built-up layers of dead skin, unclogs pores and targets bumps and breakouts.
Nourishing Starfruit and Rosemary Leaf extracts may help to soothe redness and diminish the appearance of irritation and dryness for visibly smoother, softer and glowing skin.” - The Mecca View
“Made with blemish-busting salicylic acid, I go deep to slough off stubborn dead skin, reduce excess oil, and take out whiteheads and blackheads for good.
I’m hydrating, vegan and soap-free, with clean anti-acne ingredients to remove impurities like sweat and dirt. Made with Kakadu plum, hydrating aloe vera and vitamin B to brighten and care for your skin.”- Everyday By Frankbody
When should someone with body acne see their GP? We asked Dr.Lucinda from @todaywithdrlucinda
Dr Lucinda regularly does features on the popular BEAUTY IQ UNCENSORED Podcast about taboo topics.
“If your body acne is making you feel self conscious or affecting your day to day activities (e.g. feeling like you can’t wear certain clothe that would expose that area of your skin), I would absolutely recommend seeing your GP.
There are so many treatment options available and we are here to help and support you through it.”
GPs can prescribe topical treatments, oral antibiotics, suggest products at the chemist or even suggest that it’s time to see a dermatologist, and give you a referral to a Dermatologist.
We hope that was helpful! What are your tried and true tips for managing spotty bums and backs in the hotter months?
