How To Tackle Body Acne

Is body acne getting in the way of your clear skin dreams? Worry not. We’ve got all the expert advice and product recommendations you need to show body acne the door and love the skin that you’re in! 

Chest, back, even bottom – pesky (and often painful) pimples can affect almost any area of your body. But rest assured, body acne is extremely common and is usually very treatable too! 

We spoke to Dr Kay – a family GP, cosmetic doctor and skincare enthusiast – about the causes of body acne, as well as the treatments that can stop breakouts popping up, literally.   

Why do we get body acne?  

“We get body acne for the same reasons as we do facial acne – usually, because our hormones cause excess sebum production,” says Dr Kay. “The excess sebum clogs up our pores and mixes with bacteria to cause red, inflamed spots.”  

“If we sweat more (during hot weather or exercise, for instance), this can also mix with dead skin cells and clog our pores,” she adds. 

You’ve all heard the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ – and we have to agree on this occasion. If you exercise regularly, make sure you shower straight after your session to avoid bacteria build-up. We recommend opting for soft, cotton activewear that doesn’t lock in sweat too.  

Other triggers of body acne include stress, dehydration, and any underlying health and medical issues. Once we learn what’s causing our acne, it’s usually much simpler to treat – particularly if it boils down to lifestyle habits.  

How can we treat body acne?  

The key piece of advice from Dr Kay? Keep it simple. “I find that by sticking with the tried and tested products mentioned, you can’t go wrong,” she says. 

Use a gentle body wash  
 

Keeping skin clean is key when battling breakouts – but choose your body wash carefully. Lots of washes contain SLS, ALS, or other skin-stripping detergents that aggravate inflammation, so it’s best to opt for a gentler alternative.  

Our pH-balanced, fragrance-free Rinse and Retreat Sensitive Body Wash is our cleanser of choice. Carefully designed to calm and hydrate, while protecting against irritation and dryness, it works to soothe even the most sensitive of skin.  

Remember to moisturise 

“Don’t forget to moisturise,” says Dr Kay. “I’d suggest going for something that is rich and thick, especially if you have drier skin.” Repairing, soothing and hydrating, our Tamanu Balm All-In-One Skin Saviour is multi-award-winning and best-selling for good reason.  

Known as ‘green gold’ in French Polynesia thanks to its miraculous healing properties, it’s the ultimate skincare saviour – soothing everything from cuts and insect bites, to burns and scars. Aggravation and inflammation? We don’t know them.  

Use sun protection 

If you want to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and further scarring from acne, “make sure to select a physical or mineral sunscreen,” says Dr Kay. “Look for an SPF minimum of 30, with ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.” 

Ticking all the boxes, our Skin Shade sun cream provides 100 per cent mineral sun protection, while caring for your skin too. Long-lasting, suitable for sensitive skin, and water and sweat-resistant, it’ll keep your skin safe in all conditions.  

Love your body 

“We need to be looking after our body skin just as much as we do our facial skin,” concludes Dr Kay. “Our skin is often a reflection of our overall health, it’s a living, breathing organ, and it needs to be handled with care”. If you stick to a consistent regime, you’ll likely see the back of so-called ‘bacne’.   

But most importantly, remember that there’s no such thing as perfect skin. So, let’s nourish, love and celebrate our skin for the incredible organ that it is.