Acne Treatment

Body Acne

For people with light to moderate acne on their body, the regimen works very well. However, benzoyl peroxide bleaches fabric. There is no way around this. So if you are applying benzoyl peroxide to your body, be sure to wear white. Even after the benzoyl peroxide has been dry for several hours, it is still not safe to let that area come in contact with colored clothing.

As with all acne, the exact cause of body acne is not known. However, we do know that irritation can make acne worse. If you get acne in certain areas on your body more than others, it may be coincidence, or it may be an external irritant. Backpacks and purse straps may aggravate acne in some people. Very tight fitting clothing may irritate as well. It is impossible to keep the area of the back and buttocks untouched; we all must sit down and carry things around. For this reason, it is best to look for a good treatment option rather than obsessing about what might be irritating your skin.

Because the skin of the back is thicker than elsewhere on the body, it is often able to withstand 10% benzoyl peroxide well. This would be the only instance where I would recommend using a 10% strength, and only if you can find it much cheaper than a 2.5% variety.

Beating body acne

Body acne is common in adults and teens, showing up mostly on the chest, back and buttocks
Like facial acne, stress and hormones can cause blemishes. However, other factors can induce acne lesions on the body.

Perspiration and tight-fitting clothing are two of the most common culprits, which explain why many physically active women are plagued by body acne. Tight-fitting clothing such as lycra leggings trap perspiration against the skin, and it then mixes with surface oils. The result is a film that clogs pores and causes blemishes ranging from whiteheads to inflamed papules and pustules.

Treatments for body acne are similar to those for facial acne, but body acne tends to be more resistant to treatment because it is difficult to reach. Body skin is also thicker than facial skin, and the blemishes are constantly exposed to friction from clothing. To keep acne under control, wash daily with a salicylic-acid-based cleanser, and be sure to shower as soon as possible after perspiring. Wipe the area with a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid pad and follow with an alpha hydroxy acid-based body moisturiser (this will help exfoliate skin while preventing it from drying out). Use a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide spot treatment on individual pimples at night.