Pimples on your face are a hassle enough to get rid of. They are a literal pain to deal with and even leave dark spots in their wake. What do you do, then, when they even appear on your body?
Bacne and body acne are, of course, not rare. They are a pretty common occurrence even among adults. They are also not too different from the acne you find on your face, which means that the causes and treatments can look similar.
Fortunately, there are several good practices that you can adopt to make sure they stop visiting your body. This is a guide to show you some things you can do to prevent body acne.
Five Habits that Will Help You Avoid Body Acne
Adopt these five good habits to keep the pesky pimples from making a home on your back, chest, arms, and even your butt.
1. Change the soap or body wash you use.
You may think that just any body soap works fine in cleansing your body, but your current body soap or wash could actually be causing some acne problems.
One reason that this happens is that your soap might be drying your skin. When your skin becomes dry, your body attempts to make up for the lack of moisture by producing more sebum, which actually produces more oil. The excessive production of oil, mixed in with your dead skin cells and sweat, can cause acne.
To keep this from occurring, make your baths a part of your skincare with a gentle body wash that cleans your skin without stripping it of its moisture. Also, you should exfoliate your body two or three times a week to help keep it soft, clear, and bright.
2. Take a shower after perspiring.
What do you usually do after a workout? Do you lounge around before taking a shower? This practice can cause body acne because all the sweat and dead skin cells end up clogging your pores.
Before working out, tie your hair to keep it away from your body, as your hair products and hair oils can contribute to breakouts. You should also remove makeup before exercising because the blood flow opens up your pores, trapping all the sweat and beauty products.
The best way to avoid this is to take a shower immediately after you finish working out. If you cannot shower, clean the acne-prone parts of your body with salicylic pads to keep your pores from getting clogged. Change into a clean set of clothes, too.
3. Wear loose clothes.
Have you heard of the term “acne mechanica”? Unlike other causes of acne that are usually tied to hormonal changes, acne mechanica is purely due to friction. This means that this kind of acne occurs when something rubs against the skin enough to keep heat in.
For example, one of the most common culprits of acne mechanica is tight undergarments. Your athletic attire and equipment can also trigger inflammation as they rub against your skin for a prolonged period. Backpacks can also have a similar effect.
When you can opt to wear loose-fitting clothing. If you wear caps or hats, do not keep them on for too long. For essential protective gear such as helmets and knee pads, make sure to shower immediately after using them.
4. Watch what you eat.
If you always feed your body junk, then it responds negatively. One of how your body reacts to a poor diet is through acne on your face and body. This can be linked to the fact that some foods cause blood sugar to rise, contributing to breakouts.
To avoid this, strive to have a nutritious and balanced diet. This means not settling for fast food and takeouts but having a good range of fruits, vegetables, and grains in your meal plans.
5. Don’t stress too much.
While stress does not have a direct link to acne, it can make your acne worse. Your body responds to all the stress you are feeling, which may increase sebum production, making your face oilier and making breakouts happen more easily. When you have existing acne, research has shown that they also heal more slowly when stressed.
Effective stress management can save you from another set of breakouts on your face and body. Look towards healthy outlets such as meditation and journaling, and do not sacrifice sleep for work.
It does not eliminate the possibility of acne, but taking care of yourself does significantly reduce the chances of getting those icky breakouts!
