Beat Body Acne This Summer: Simple Tips to Keep Your Skin Clear

Summer is almost here! That means more time outside, more fun in the sun, and more sweat. But all that sweat can lead to bumps on your back, chest, and shoulders. These bumps are called body acne or folliculitis. The good news? You can do a lot to prevent and treat it.

What Causes Body Acne?

Body acne happens when your hair follicles (the tiny holes where hair grows) get clogged. Here's what can make it worse:

• Sweat - When you sweat a lot and don't wash it off, it can clog your pores.

• Not showering after exercise - Sitting in sweaty clothes gives bacteria time to grow.

• Hormones - Hormone changes during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or from medications like testosterone or steroids can cause your skin to make more oil and lead to breakouts. 

• Some medicines - Certain medications and supplements can cause body acne as a side effect. 

• What you eat - Foods high in sugar and dairy products may make acne worse for some people. Hot and humid weather - Summer heat makes you sweat more, which can lead to more breakouts.

Preventing and Treating Body Acne

Wear the right clothes

• Choose clothes made from sweat-wicking fabrics like polyester or special athletic wear

• These fabrics pull sweat away from your skin

• Avoid tight clothes that trap sweat against your body

Shower and change clothes after sweating

• Shower as soon as you can after working out or being outside

• If you can't shower right away, at least change into clean, dry clothes

• Don't sit around in wet bathing suits or sweaty gym clothes

Use medicated body washes

Look for washes with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sodium hypochlorite. These ingredients help kill bacteria and unclog pores. Use on your chest, back, and shoulders in the shower. Let sit for a few minutes, then rinse off completely. 

When using benzoyl peroxide, it is recommended to keep the product in a cool area (rather than in the shower, where it can get hot). As this ingredient can cause bleaching of clothing, use white towels and rinse off well. 

Examples include: 

• CLn Body Wash (with Sodium Hypochlorite)

• Panoxyl Acne Cleansing Bar (with 2% salicylic acid)

• Panoxyl Acne Creamy Wash (with 4% benzoyl peroxide)

• Neutrogena Stubborn Body Acne Cleanser & Exfoliator (with 1% salicylic acid)

Try sprays for on-the-go

If you can't shower right after sweating, use a spray with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or hypochlorous acid. These can be kept in your gym bag or car – spray on problem areas until you can shower. 

Examples include: 

• PanOxyl Acne Banishing Body Spray(with 2% salicylic acid)

• PanOxyl Antimicrobial Purifying Mist (with hypochlorous acid)

• Magic Molecule Antimicrobial Skin Spray(with hypochlorous acid)

Note for Sensitive Skin

All of the products mentioned above have a SkinSafe 100 score, so they are generally hypoallergenic, but not all acne products are. Ask your dermatologist if you are unsure. If you have very sensitive skin, products with hypochlorous acid/sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient are a great choice. 

What About Food?

Some foods might make acne worse. Try cutting back on:

• Sugary foods and drinks

• Dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream

Everyone is different. Some people notice their skin gets better when they eat less sugar and dairy. Others don't see a change. You can try it for a few weeks and see if it helps you.

Check Your Medicines

Some medicines can cause or worsen body acne. Examples include prednisone, some anti-seizure medications, testosterone, some B vitamins, and certain cancer treatments. If you think your medicine might be causing acne, talk to your dermatologist. Don't stop taking any medicine without asking your doctor first.

When to See a Dermatologist

If your body acne doesn't get better with these tips, or if it's really bad, see a dermatologist. They can prescribe stronger treatments like:

• Topical antibiotics like clindamycin 

• Oral antibiotics like doxycycline

• Isotretinoin (also called Accutane) for severe cases

The Bottom Line

Body acne is common, especially in summer. But you can fight it! Shower after sweating, wear the right clothes, use the right body washes, and watch what you eat. If these steps don't help, your dermatologist has stronger treatments that can clear your skin.

Don't let body acne keep you from enjoying summer. With these simple steps, you can keep your skin clear and feel confident all season long!

References

1. Drug-Induced Acne. Clinics in Dermatology. 2017. Kazandjieva J, Tsankov N.

2. Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2021. Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF.

3. Acne and Diet: A Review. International Journal of Dermatology. 2022. Conforti C, Agozzino M, Emendato G, et al.

4. Interventions for Bacterial Folliculitis and Boils (Furuncles and Carbuncles). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021. Lin HS, Lin PT, Tsai YS, Wang SH, Chi CC.