Let’s talk about Body Acne or BACNE..
Since I have a bad habit of experimenting with my skin, I decided to try a “herbal” soap I saw in the market. After a week of using this soap, I noticed that I was developing body rashes on my arms (Photo below) and Acne on my back (not pictured).
I immediately tossed the soap because it was the only addition to my already solid skin regimen.
That experience got me thinking, how do you treat and heal body Acne? Luckily for me I have a huge list of Skincare Mercenaries, so I began experimenting!
So what is Body Acne, what causes it and how do you treat it?
Like previously stated, I developed acne on my back, but rashes on my arms. The rashes, like most rashes developed after using a new product is called “contact dermatitis” it is a form of skin inflammation resulting from exposure to an allergen, in this case the soap.
But what surprised me was the back acne, which I’ve never had.
According to Acne.org:
Most people with facial acne have some amount of body acne as well. Body acne develops in a similar way to facial acne. However, the skin on the body can be thicker than that on the face and often has larger pores, making for more severe acne lesions at times.
Acne can develop anywhere on the body except for the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. That is because these are the only two areas which do not have sebaceous follicles where acne is formed. If you’re wondering if the pus filled red marks on your check, shoulders, arms, legs, buttocks, or elsewhere are acne, chances are they just might be. If you are unsure, see a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
As with any type of acne, the exact cause of body acne remains unknown. However, we do know that irritation can make it worse. Anything that rubs against your skin can cause irritation. Damp, sweaty clothing combined with irritation tends to further aggravate acne.
My treatment for Body rashes and Body Acne.
I started using my facial cleanser to cleanse my body, which is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne wash along with my exfoliating gloves. However you can use the Neutrogena Body Clear acne wash. This cleanser is 2% Salicylic Wash, making it idle for treating dermatitis as well because it gently exfoliates, and with my Exfoliating gloves, this was a perfect combination to get rid of Dead skin cells.
Then I mixed equal parts (50:50) Tea Tree Oil and Jojoba Oil in a new bottle and applied to my skin after drying AT NIGHT only. I call this my miracle oil mix, why? Tea Tree Oil is an antiseptic oil with the same fighting power as Benzoyl peroxide, while Jojoba Oil is a lightweight Oil that acts like the skin’s NATURAL SEBUM. So together, they moisturize while fighting germs and controlling excessive sebum production.
So my Regimen was as follows:
Morning: Wash Body with Neutrogena + Exfoliating Gloves AND moisturize with CUE SPF 30 Sunblock.
Nighttime: Wash Body with Neutrogena + Exfoliating Gloves AND moisturize with Tea Tree Oil + Jojoba Oil.
I did this for a week, but the rashes were gone within 5 days. Finally this is my skin now (NOTE: disparity in skin color is because of Lighting!)
Back acne (I don’t have a picture of this) is STILL healing, but I’m happy with the results.
Do you have a regimen that works for combatting Body acne and Rashes? if so SHARE WITH US! myHairmyBeauty@Yahoo.com
You should try raw honey, it would be a bit tricy for the back as you cannot leave it over night, but it works well at clearing up any bacteria on skin. You can read more about how honey works for skin in my blogpost
http://heynaturalbeauties.com/2014/03/18/bee-beauty-raw-honey-cleansing-for-a-natural-glow/