5 Places Body Acne Can Show Up and What to Do About It

The good news is that body acne is very treatable. Options range from home care to prescription medications to in-office procedures. Improving your lifestyle habits can also help prevent acne.

Skin care you can do at home

“Many of the same at-home approaches we use for acne on the face are also effective for acne on the body,” says Chedda. She often recommends strategies such as:

Use a benzoyl peroxide face wash to reduce acne-causing bacteria.
Use salicylic acid body washes, lotions, and creams to exfoliate and keep your pores clear.
Use azelaic acid lotion or serum to reduce inflammation, especially if you have skin of color that is at risk for scarring.
Use topical cream or gel retinoids to improve skin turnover and keep pores clear.

If a fungal skin infection is the cause of body acne, Dr. Leszczynska may recommend washing your skin with an anti-dandruff shampoo containing ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole. “These ingredients have antifungal properties and can reduce yeast overgrowth,” she explains. Leszczynska advises leaving the anti-dandruff shampoo on your skin for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing it off.

prescription drugs

Depending on the cause of your acne, prescription medications may help, Chedda says. Topical or oral antibiotics are often used to treat inflammatory acne, while oral contraceptives and spironolactone (a water pill commonly used for high blood pressure) can help manage hormonal breakouts. If you have a fungal infection, your dermatologist may prescribe topical or oral antifungal treatments. In some cases, oral isotretinoin (oral retinoid) may be prescribed to treat moderate or severe acne, especially cystic acne.

medical treatment

If prescription medications do not produce the desired results, in-office treatment may be an option. Chemical peels, which use salicylic or glycolic acid to exfoliate and remove the outer layer of damaged skin, or the laser treatment Avicria (which reduces oil gland activity) may be options for moderate or severe acne, says Chedda.

lifestyle adjustments

If your body is prone to acne, it’s important to keep your skin clean and reduce friction. That’s why Johnson says to change out sweaty clothes right away.

Dr. Roseanne Paul, a dermatologist at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, says a post-workout shower can be helpful. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and choose loose-fitting fabrics that won’t irritate your skin and will wick away sweat.

Lastly, be gentle with your skin. “Avoid aggressive rubbing or picking, as this can worsen inflammation and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” adds Leszczynska. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a skin discoloration that occurs after skin inflammation or injury and is more common in people with darker skin.