Body Acne Causes

Body acne is not different from the acne that appears on the face. Acne is caused by the same set of factors, whether it appears on the face or any other parts of the body. However, there can be some additional factors that can be associated with aggravating the problem of body acne. Both body and facial acne can be treated in the same way. Before discussing more about the body acne treatment, let's take a look at the body acne causes.

What Causes Body Acne?

As has been mentioned already, body acne is caused by the same set of factors that trigger the facial acne. One of the most important causes of acne is clogging of the skin pores. Body acne is also caused by an oversecretion of 'sebum' or oil by the sebaceous glands, present on the skin. The excess oil or 'sebum', along with the dead skin cells clog the skin pores. Such clogged skin pores attract more dirt and grime, and create a conducive environment for bacterial growth. This can eventually lead to infection and inflammation, and the appearance of red, inflamed acne.

Over secretion of 'sebum' can be stimulated by the excess production of the hormone, androgen. Factors like, excessive perspiration can also be responsible for clogging the skin pores along with the excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands. This is the reason why, some people can experience more acne breakouts during the summer days. Similarly, clothing or fabric can also play an important role in aggravating the problem of body acne. Some fabric, especially synthetic fabric, as well as tight fitting clothes can irritate the skin, and worsen the pimples on back and other parts of the body.

For some individuals, use of certain hormonal medications can be one of the most important body acne causes. Such medications include, birth control pills and anabolic steroids. Even medications like, lithium can aggravate acne problem. Finally, like facial acne, body acne can also have an association with your diet. A poor diet, deficient in important nutrients and essential fatty acids can be found to contribute to all types of acne.

Body Acne Treatment

As body acne causes are same with the causes of facial acne, both the types of acne can be treated in the same way. So, the over the counter acne skin care products that are usually used for facial acne treatment can be used to get rid of body acne as well. Examples of some such body acne products are the over the counter acne skin care products that contain salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid based cleanser, as well as other over the counter acne products such as, benzoyl peroxide pads can be used for body acne treatment.

At the same time, it is also important to keep the acne affected clean by taking one or two showers a day. But, over washing should be avoided. A gentle antibacterial cleanser can be used to clean the areas of the body affected by acne while taking shower. After washing the affected areas, you can apply the over the counter medications. You can also gently scrub the area with a soft loofah while taking shower. However, be sure to not irritate the acne or the pimples while doing so. Exfoliation should be followed by the application of moisturizer, after which you can use the over the counter medications on the acne affected area. Along with these, you can try some body acne home remedies like, a mixture of lemon juice and rose water, tea tree oil, tomato pulp, aloe vera gel and a paste of cucumber. A homemade mask prepared by mixing cooked oatmeal with honey can also be used as a natural acne cure.

So, by now you must have got a fair idea about body acne causes and how to treat this type of acne. Sometimes, body acne can leave behind the unsightly acne scars, just like facial acne. Such scars can be treated with the over the counter acne scar treatment products and the home remedies mentioned above. If these fail to treat remove the scar, then you can talk to your dermatologist for proper body acne scar treatment. To prevent acne in the future, opt for loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water throughout the day, follow a balanced diet, and keep clothes, towels, bed sheets and any other items that may touch your body clean.