6 ways to prevent body acne

1. Wear breathable fabrics.

Avoid scratchy, itchy or tight clothing and choose to wear breathable fabrics, like natural cotton. This helps keep your skin free from congestion, by preventing trapped sweat, dead skin cells, excess oil and other bacteria caused by synthetic fibres, from clogging pores. Fabrics that are specifically engineered to wick moisture away from the skin are also helpful, especially during exercise.

2. Shower after sweating or working out.

Letting sweat linger promotes an acne-friendly environment on your skin, which can lead to skin congestion and body acne in areas where sweat has been produced. If you can’t shower right away, apply a product that contains Salicylic Acid to help purify and clear skin of excess oils to reduce the likelihood of body or back acne. Existing breakouts or face blemishes can also benefit from a salicylic acid spot treatment. Gentle cleansers containing salicylic acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid will aid your skin to clear pores, dead skin cells and trapped oils that lead to blackheads, pimples and other body acne breakouts. Incorporate one into your skincare routine to prevent pore congestion.  

3. Exfoliate regularly.

Acne-prone skin tends to shed more skin cells, which can clog pores and cause body acne if they aren’t removed. Exfoliate with a gentle body scrub at least once or twice a week to help prevent body acne or back and chest pimples. Avoid scrubs that use nuts, pits or shells as they can create tiny abrasions in the skin. Use a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliator that will help to deep clean your pores without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Apply your exfoliator to clean hands or a cotton-pad and gently cleanse your skin from the day! 

4. Moisturise & hydrate.

The skin naturally moisturises itself with sebum (oil), but when your body’s moisture levels are off balance, your skin can overproduce oil to compensate, which increases the likelihood of body acne. Moisturise daily with a non-comedogenic moisturiser to help prevent this. By keeping your skin hydrated and avoiding dryness, you can avoid your skin producing excess oil and clogging pores further, plus your skin will be more radiant and glowy (bonus!).

5. Clean your phone daily.

Your mobile phone carries more bacteria than you realise! Even if you don’t hold it against your face, you touch it with your hands, which then touch your face and spread breakout-causing bacteria leading to body acne. Clean your phone daily with an anti-bacterial wipe to avoid harmful bacteria impacting your skin health. Not only do mobile phones carry bacteria, but the heat produced from them can lead to excess sweating, clogged pores and further body acne breakouts, particularly on the neck, chin and jawline. 

6. Wash your pillowcase frequently.

Your pillowcase can collect oil, skin cells, bacteria and pore-clogging residue from hair products, all things that contribute to body acne. Your pillowcase can also collect dust mites and other allergens that contribute to body acne, skin irritation and inflammation. Wash your pillowcase at least once or twice a week to help reduce congestion and any associated face or body acne and breakouts. We recommend using a gentle, fragrance-free detergent to avoid further irritation or body acne. Avoid using fabric softener or dryer sheets, which are often made with softening agents that can clog pores or irritate sensitive skin. 

What else can you do to prevent body acne?

Get a handle on body acne or adopt these additional steps in your lifestyle to prevent it! 

1. Hydrate: Give your body the hydration it needs by drinking water frequently. Water and hydration contribute to your overall skin health which can lead to less oil production, clogged pores and resulting back and body acne.

2. A balanced diet: Eating a balanced diet can help regulate hormones, inflammation and oil production. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy greens or berries, as well as reducing high glycemic foods that might spike insulin levels. This can increase inflammation, particularly for those with body acne-prone skin.