Yahoo Movies How to Get Rid of Chest Acne, According to Experts
From preventative measures to chest acne treatments, we share it all.
Fact checked by Isaac Winter
No matter where pimples pop up, it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and stressful—especially if they surface in visible and difficult-to-conceal areas like your chest. But don’t fret—chest acne is more common (and treatable!) than many realize. We spoke to dermatologists and skin experts to see how to get rid of chest acne and learn more about this particular category of body acne.
Meet Our Expert
Papri Sarkar, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Newton, Massachusetts.
Deanne Mraz Robinson, M.D., FAAD, is the president and co-founder of Modern Dermatology and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Natalie Aguilar is a celebrity facialist and dermatological nurse.
Karen Fernandez is the aesthetics department manager for SkinSpirit.
What Is Chest Acne?
As defined by Dr. Sarkar, chest acne is often called "folliculitis" because it's just that: an inflammatory process around the hair follicle. Much like face acne, there are several types and causes of chest acne. One type is caused by a higher concentration of sweat glands in the skin that become clogged, while another cause can be hair growth, particularly for those assigned male at birth.
Causes of Chest Acne
It's important to note that hygiene does not cause chest acne, regardless of how clean or dirty your skin is. In fact, excessively scrubbing your skin or using harsh products can make chest acne worse. Here are some additional reasons chest acne can occur.
Genetics
Dr. Sarkar adds that people can be predisposed to chest acne due to genetics if many people in their family have suffered from acne. This is not to say that it's guaranteed you'll have chest acne if you've noticed acne on family members, but that there's a higher chance.
Sweat and Friction
Wearing tight, constrictive, and non-breathable clothing while you sweat can cause pimples to form on your skin underneath. According to Dr. Robinson, this is partly why athletes or gym-goers are more likely to have chest acne. Robinson adds that working out creates a combination of sweat, heat, and friction, all of which make the perfect cocktail for bacteria to thrive in clogged pores.
Hormones and Stress
Any time you are going through a shift in hormones, including intense stress, puberty, pregnancy, or hormone supplementation (including birth control), you may be more prone to acne, says Aguilar.
"Stress produces hormones called androgens, which may stimulate hair follicles and oil glands, leading to more inflammation and development of acne," explains Aguilar. "Hormonal changes can cause your glands to produce more oil and lead to more acne, and clothing friction can irritate and inflame it."
Products
Some beauty and skin care products can cause chest acne if your skin reacts. For example, some perfumes, makeup, and scented products can irritate skin or clog pores. Additionally, some people may need to avoid oily products (like lotions and oil-based moisturizers).
In addition to skin products, you should also watch out for scented laundry detergents. These can sometimes cause skin breakouts. If so, consider purchasing dye- and scent-free detergent.
Diet
Research suggests that certain foods can cause or affect the severity of acne, namely dairy and sugary foods. Additionally, the amount of water you drink can also impact chest acne. That's because dehydration activates oil production in the body, which can lead to clogged pores.
Medications
Though not common, certain medications have been shown to cause chest acne. Prescription medicines like lithium, corticosteroids, or testosterone can increase acne formation. Always speak to a health care provider for concerns about prescription drugs and potential side effects.
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Treatments for Chest Acne
If you’re experiencing a breakout, you want the fastest, easiest way to make it go away. Treating chest acne is much like healing facial acne, with a few exceptions. Here are some top tips from the professionals.
Switch Your Wardrobe
Since sweating and irritation are an issue for chest acne, Dr. Sarkar recommends wearing dry-fit, sweat-wicking clothing that's not too tight and changing attire soon after a sweat session. The goal is to allow airflow between your skin and the clothes, which creates ventilation and doesn't allow pores to gather bacteria.
Shower Right After Sweating
If you can, shower immediately after you finish your fitness routine or other strenuous activity that results in heavy sweating. And make sure to strategize your skincare routine, using products packed with the right ingredients.
Dr. Sarkar recommends using a cleanser that decreases bacterial overgrowth and includes anti-acne agents like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. A favorite over-the-counter option for Dr. Sarkar is PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash Benzoyl Peroxide ($10, amazon.com).
In addition to regularly showering, consider exfoliating the skin once a week to remove dead skin cells so they don't clog pores. (Exfoliating more often is not recommended since existing acne can worsen.) Dr. Robinson recommends a gentle exfoliator to ensure all sweat is gone, like Skinbetter AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads ($115, skinbetter.com).
Adjust Your Diet
When our diets are full of sugar, it can lead to increased acne. And while we often associate sugar with sweet treats and drinks, Dr. Sarkar says sometimes skim milk could be causing breakouts. (It has more sugar than whole milk due to a higher concentration of carbohydrates and less fat.)
Making dietary changes can help ease the amount of acne breakouts on your chest and elsewhere. In addition to reducing your sugar and dairy intake, you should be sure to hydrate properly. Increasing your daily water intake will help ensure your skin stays hydrated and doesn't overdry.
Care for Your Skin
Though most people have spent a solid portion of their lives developing a fitting regimen to keep the skin on their face clear, few give the same attention to other body parts. This is why sometimes, chest acne can surprise us. As Aguilar says, where there are oil glands, there is a risk of clogged pores. In other words, the only difference between facial acne and chest acne is location and triggers.
"The chest is exposed to different factors that don't affect the face, like clothing materials, bras, scarves, jewelry, perfume, long hair, and temperature," Aguilar explains. "It's also often neglected compared to the face. Most people just use skincare from the jawline up and don't regularly cleanse, moisturize, and wear SPF on their chest."
Here are a couple of ways to care for your skin and give your chest some TLC:
Use sunscreen. To begin, up your sunscreen game by being picky and diligent about SPF on your chest—and be sure to use it daily, says Fernandez. "To fight a breakout and avoid the next one, choose physical coverage when possible and a sunblock that is 'physical' with no chemical SPF ingredients." This is super important, Fernandez adds since sun exposure combined with acne is a one-way ticket to scars.
Spot treat breakouts. Try using over-the-counter acne spot treatments on your chest to help lessen inflammation and diminish pimples. The key is to spot-treat and not rub the products on a large area. Look for products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (but be warned that this ingredient can bleach fabric).
Change Your Products
Being careful about which products and ingredients you use on your skin is helpful when battling chest acne. Look for non-comedogenic skin products—many are labeled as such.
Also, consider using perfume-free and dye-free products for anything that comes in contact with your skin. This includes body lotions and moisturizers, soaps, and even laundry detergent.
Try Home Remedies
Tips
Be sure to test home remedies (or new products) on a small patch of skin. Wait a day and check for any skin irritation or reaction (e.g., rash) before applying elsewhere.
There are a few natural home remedies you can try for treating chest acne. They may not work as fast as other acne products, though.
Charcoal or Mud Treatment: Look for store-bought masks with mud or charcoal ingredients. Both of these help cleanse the skin and remove impurities. They're safe to use weekly and can be applied all over your skin or used for spot-treating.
Tea Tree Oil: Consider applying this essential oil on acne spots. You can use pure tea tree oil or products infused with the oil.
Cinnamon and Honey: Due to their anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, a mixture of cinnamon and honey can be a helpful weekly chest acne treatment. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to 2 tablespoons of honey and mix to form a paste. Apply onto your chest, wait about 30 minutes, then rinse.
Preventing Chest Acne
If you wish to help prevent chest acne from happening in the first place, try some of these tips.
Keep skin clean. This is one of the most important ways to prevent chest acne breakouts. Wash, exfoliate, and avoid letting sweat sit on the skin for too long.
Be picky about products. Be mindful of ingredients in the products you purchase, and stop using anything that has previously irritated your skin. Look for non-comedogenic labels on beauty products and makeup.
Stay hydrated. Drinking water is healthy for many reasons, but it also helps your skin. Hydrating the skin reduces the chances of oil over-production, which can lead to acne.
Avoid popping pimples. Let them be. Popping your pimples can create more inflammation and scarring.
When to See a Doctor
Keep an eye on treatments and remedies you try. If after a couple of months (acne products can take time to make a full impact), your chest acne is not improving, consider seeing a dermatologist, skin specialist, or health care provider. After assessing your skin, they may prescribe oral or topical medications to help get rid of the acne.
Related: How to Get Rid of Back Acne, According to Dermatologists
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