Why More People Getting Body Acne Than Ever

Acne is a skin condition that includes whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, and nodules. Acne is not restricted to the facial region only, these can develop on any part of the body be it back, arms, chest, thighs, shoulders, neck, and even butt. Body acne is very painful, irritating and it can become more frustrating when your clothes brush over these acne affected areas. Acne, particularly on the body, can get on your nerves and dealing with it could be stressful.

Generally, the acne starts on the face and progresses on the other parts of the body. It’s interesting to note that not everyone having acne on the face will have acne on the body but, a victim of body acne will surely have face acne or traces of it.

It is observed that almost 60% of the people who get acne have acne on their body. Incidence of body acne is seen in both men and women. It is a myth that only teens get affected by acne breakouts. But, acne finds no barriers and can break out on any portion of the skin, and at any stage of life.

This article helps you to find the reasons for the occurrence of acne on the body and also the treatment options as how to control body acne.

Table Of Contents

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye

1. Root causes of body acne
2. Hormonal Imbalance
3. How to treat body acne?

Takeaway

1. Root causes of Body Acne

Acne on the body is quite aggressive compared to face acne because the skin of the body has larger pores and oil glands compared to the facial region. However, the factors that lead to the condition called body acne are similar to that of face acne:

1. Sebum: Body acne is profoundly seen on the chest, upper back, and shoulders and is less typical to thighs, arms, and the butt. This is because the skin of the upper body has more oil glands called sebaceous glands. The overproduction of oil or sebum from these glands blocks the skin pores resulting in acne.
2. Dirt: The oil secreting glands are interlinked with the hair follicle. These bud shaped follicles bulge open and turn brown in colour due to the accumulation of dirt. These dirt particles block the follicles and lead to acne.
3. Bacteria: A specific type of bacteria called propionibacterium acne is present in the follicles. When these follicles get blocked due to dirt or dead skin cells, the bacterium multiplies and intensifies acne by causing redness, itching, and inflammation.
4. Skin cells: The dead skin cells can get accumulated and these old skin cells block the skin pores and initiate the process of acne formation.
5. Genetics: Body acne like face acne is a lot more associated with your genes.
6. Sweat: Sweat is known to clog the skin pores with dirt, skin cells, and sebum that cause acne.
7. Lifestyle factors, stress, certain medications are the other causes of body acne.

2. Causes of Back Acne

Back acne or “Bacne” is very common compared to other body acne. Back is one of the hard-to-reach areas especially while cleaning and applying over-the-counter creams and lotions. Causes of back acne include all the reasons for acne breakout. The other causes are:

1. One of the common reasons for back acne is rubbing or pressure created on the skin by various factors like harsh clothing, any accessories, bags, backpacks, straps of handbags, etc. These agents can trigger the formation of acne lesions and when they combine with sweat, heat, these acne lesions get aggravated.
2. Excess sweating and inadequate cleansing is also another reason that increases the accumulation of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that are acne-causing agents.

Hormonal Imbalance

Our body is prone to a lot of hormonal changes within. These changes or fluctuations can lead to numerous problems in the body that are seen as acne.

1. The male hormone (androgen, present in both males and females) called testosterone increases especially after a workout, or physical activity, or even during menopause (in women). This increase in testosterone levels boosts the production of sebum, the activity of the bacteria, causing acne.
2. During Puberty, testosterone (in men) and estrogen (in women) increases that trigger acne eruptions by enhancing the skin oil secretion.
3. Progesterone: The imbalance of this hormone can indirectly raise the level of testosterone and estrogen that are responsible for acne.

This overdrive of hormones can increase the likelihood of acne both in men and women. Maintaining hormonal harmony is necessary to reduce these.

3. How to treat Body Acne?

Inflamed and painful pimple breakouts on the body are often difficult to manage. Treatment and management can include the use of medications, topical applications, hormonal treatment therapy, diet, etc that your dermatologist will suggest accordingly. There is a variety of treatment that your doctor can recommend :

1. Oral Medications like antibiotics, nutritive supplements of essential vitamins, Hormonal tablets, etc that help you overcome acne issues.
2. Topical solutions that aid acne relief can be antibiotic creams like clindamycin and erythromycin, retinoids, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid having skin applicators.
3. Light therapy as in laser therapy is known to treat acne effectively. These lasers reduce inflammation, redness, piling up dead skin cells that decrease acne breakouts.
4. Steroid injections or cortisone shots which your doctor will directly inject into the nodule of the acne. This will help reduce the acne symptoms.
5. Chemical peels with glycolic acid solutions can help eliminate dirt, dead skin and promote pimple-free skin.
6. Drainage and extraction methods where certain tools are used to remove acne, cysts, whiteheads, and blackheads.

The above treatment options can be considered by your Skin specialists based on the specific needs of your skin that would help provide you with the best acne treatment in Delhi.

Take Away

Body acne is very common among every age group. It is more progressive and severe as compared to face acne. Though varied causes for its occurrence can be outlined, the main reason is the overproducing oil glands that attract dirt and bacterial growth. However, acne that is seen on the body can be managed and treated with a variety of options from topical applications to the latest laser procedure.

Acne; a visible effect of internal imbalance requires a precise and effective treatment according to your skin needs. Consult Dr. Kashish Kalra Skin Clinic for the treatment of this bacterium-infected skin condition called acne.