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I'm someone who loves summer and the heat. I love getting extra sweaty at SoulCycle. I love hanging out at the beach (covered in sunscreen, of course). What I don't love, however, is the back and chest acne that can come with all of that. Every summer, after six months of being zit-free, I break out like crazy on my body. And I know I'm not the only one. That's why I asked New York–based dermatologist Valerie Goldburt how to get rid of my embarrassing bacne (and chest-ne?) once and for all.
"During the summer, your body produces more oil and you sweat more, so when you combine oil and sweat, well, you get acne. Then there's sunscreen. Sunscreen is great, and it is nonnegotiable in the summer, but it can cause breakouts, especially since you're wearing more of it. You're not alone, though. I definitely see a lot more patients for body acne during the summer months."
"The breakouts on your chest and back tend to be a little different than the acne on your face. They're technically called folliculitis, which is when the hair follicle becomes infected. However, it looks the same as facial acne and can be treated with the same products and ingredients. In some cases, it can actually be rosacea triggered by coffee or dairy, but it isn't that common on the chest and back."
"First, you want to shower as quickly as possible when you get back from the gym or the beach. You're rinsing off all the oil, sweat, and sunscreen that can build up around the hair follicles. And use a gentle body wash that contains salicylic acid. Also, use it consistently. If you use a salicylic acid body wash every day, it helps reduce inflammation and unclog pores." We like the exfoliating Murad Acne Body Wash.
"Sure, but make sure it contains salicylic acid and not benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is fine for treating breakouts on the face, but I don't recommend it for the body because it tends to bleach fabrics. I've had a lot of patients come in complaining of tie-dyed sheets and spotted shirts. You can also use a spot treatment or gel on your chest and back. I really like Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel. I find it very, very effective at spot treating blemishes on the face and on the body. And if none of that works, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. There are medications and wipes that we can prescribe to help treat more serious cases of body acne."
"I get nervous about exfoliating with grainy scrubs, because people tend to be too rough. If you scrub too vigorously, you end up overdrying the skin, which causes the skin produce more oil, subsequently causing more breakouts. Also, the skin on your chest is extremely thin and can scar easily if you accidentally remove the skin — which I've seen patients do. What I do recommend, and what I actually do myself, is use a shower puff once a week with the salicylic acid wash. I use a soft scrubbing motion over my chest and back, and when I'm out of the shower, I immediately wash the pouf since they are hotbeds for bacteria growth." Try this $3 version from The Body Shop.
More on how to banish body acne:
- Dermatologists Spill How to Clear Up Summer Bacne
- 4 Steps to Getting Rid of a Cystic Pimple, Fast
- The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Acne
Now, watch as dermatologist Ava Shamban explains how to get rid of adult acne:
