The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! makes a commission on purchases.

Acne is so annoying. Whether you’re a teenager navigating inflammatory and cystic acne, in your 20s dealing with hormonal acne, or an adult acne sufferer trying to fade acne scars, nobody actually wants a pimple. And it’s not just a facial issue—acne can affect your chest, back, and shoulders too. 

While there are tons of products and advice dedicated to clearing facial acne, we couldn’t help but notice the lack of information about clearing stubborn chest and back acne once and for all. We consulted on how to manage acne-prone skin, body breakouts, and treatment options to help you get a handle on your body acne.

According to Dr. Camp, acne occurs most often in areas of the body with a high concentration of oil glands.

That means places like your face, chest, and back are common sites for acne to form and cause breakouts. Sure, acne on your face can result from oily skin, dry skin, hormones, inflammation, or not removing your makeup. But why can acne happen on the rest of your skin? And is it any different from a pimple on your face?

“Back acne, just like facial acne, can be associated with increased oil production, hormonal changes, exercise, and sweat accumulation,” Dr. Camp explains.

“Body acne, such as chest acne and body breakouts on your back and shoulders, can also be triggered by friction, tight clothing, and anabolic steroid use.”

To prevent body acne, Dr. Camp recommends showering after exercise and other sweaty activities to help prevent the buildup of oil, grime, and residue.

“Use a medicated cleanser in the shower to clear the skin of excess oil and aid in exfoliation,” he says. “Some suggest avoiding the use of backpacks, as the friction can contribute to a type of acne called acne mechanica.”

If you’re on a journey for clear skin that goes beyond just rinsing off acne-causing bacteria and want to incorporate skincare products, Dr. Camp highlighted the acne-fighting ingredients you need to look for. 

“Consider using products containing exfoliating ingredients to reveal brighter, healthier skin,” he shares.

Dr. Camp also recommends including lactic acid and glycolic acid in your body care routine to help remove dead skin cells and reduce the chances of breakouts.

If you’re looking for more natural ingredients to improve skin texture and fade acne scars, Dr. Camp suggests “fruit enzymes, like papaya and pineapple, [which can] gently break apart the bonds of dead skin cells to facilitate exfoliation.”

Of course, if you’ve got a major pimple or acne cyst on your chest, back, or anywhere on your body, it may be tempting to pop it.

We asked Dr. Camp if there’s a safe way to do exactly that.

“It is not recommended to pop a pimple because of the risk of causing an infection, scar, or hyperpigmentation,” he explains.

“As an alternative, consider using a warm, wet compress on the site to allow the pimple to come to a head and drain on its own, or use a pimple patch.”

Ready to start your journey to clear skin? Try incorporating these body acne-tackling products below.

We even found some pimple patches that will keep you from picking and popping your spots. They’re only $6!

Tackle chest and back acne with this Nécessaire duo. 

This set features a two-step medicated clearing system with 2% salicylic acid, zinc PCA, and niacinamide.  It’s made without silicones, phthalates, and parabens.

Plus, both products are packaged in a 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum bottles that will look very chic on your counter. 

This lightweight gel features a blend of 2% salicylic acid to help fight troublesome spots all over your body. 

Its use of witch hazel can help minimize acne breakouts, calm the skin and reduce excess oil for clear pores. It has organic aloe vera leaf juice to help soothe acne and irritated skin, plus organic willow bark extract for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to clear pores and soothe irritated skin.

It also has vitamin C to aid recovery and reduce scars and swelling. Plus, it’s only $20 right now.

You can use beauty tech to help heal acne on your chest and back.

SolaWave’s Bye Acne is a light therapy spot treatment designed to target and treat mild-to-moderate acne in just three minutes per sessionm

This FDA-cleared acne-fighting powerhouse uses both Blue Light Therapy (415 nm) and Red Light Therapy (630 nm) to spot-treat blemishes at all stages of development. Plus, its shape makes it handy for travel!

It’s on sale now!

While chemical exfoliants are popular these days, don’t forget that a physical exfoliant like this scrub can also help you reveal brighter, smoother skin all over. 

If you can’t stop picking at your chest and back, you need a pimple patch. 

Not only will these patches help suck out the gunk that makes your acne feel inflamed, they are also a great deterrent from popping new spots or picking at healing ones. These are also only $6.

Source: www.eonline.com