Body Acne: How to Treat It and Prevent Breakouts From Happening in the First Place
Leave it to a multi-day scorching heat wave and long commutes spent in our lightest layers to remind us that summer only exacerbates body acne. Just when you’re ready to adopt a suns-out buns-out mindset at the beach, slipping on your tiniest bikini, sudden flare-ups occur on the most common areas, like the chest, back, and even the aforementioned derrière. No matter where the exact location is of body acne, the good news is that these unwanted spots are more than manageable with targeted treatments, from exfoliating body washes to skin-soothing serums.
To help guide you through the rest of summer and beyond, dermatologists help break down what body acne is, how to treat it, and the best kinds of products to have in rotation for smoother, clearer skin all over.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Acne Fighting Products
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Best Washes for Body Acne
If you’re body-acne prone, daily showering—particularly right after exercising—is essential. Additionally, using a gentle, acne-fighting body wash infused with ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria, and exfoliating glycolic and salicylic acids is beneficial for treating acne and reducing the appearance of dark spots over time. “Showering or bathing with gentle, pH-balanced cleansers when you work out or work or play outdoors is something I highly advocate!” says Whitney Bowe, MD, New York dermatologist and author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin. Speaking of low-PH washes, Medicube offers an anti-oxidant-rich option.
Meanwhile, board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD, cosigns Naturium’s wash as her go-to. “[It’s] a great choice for exfoliation because it’s formulated with a blend of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids that it sloughs off dead skin cells,” Dr. Shirazi previously told Vogue. Additionally, Kosas offers an AHA and enzyme-exfoliating body wash, while Cetaphil relies on salicylic acid in its formula, and Medicube takes a more gentle approach by incorporating it alongside niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
Best Targeted Treatments for Body Acne
In addition to acne-tailored body washes, leave-on topicals and serums can be effective for treating flare-ups. New York-based board-certified dermatologist Rita Linkner, MD, recommends using a benzoyl peroxide-based topical, such as Rodan+ Field’s option. “[It] provides sustained anti-bacterial action and also has ceramides to help nourish the skin,” Dr. Linkner tells Vogue, adding that it can be used up to twice daily in those whose acne is flaring. In the world of serums, Topicals and Tatcha offer milky formulations with exfoliating benefits to target bumps, pimples, and beyond.
At the same time, Neccessaire’s formula leans on niacinamide for breakout prevention and hyperpigmentation brightening—which is why board-certified nurse practioner Vanessa Coppola calls this pick “minimalist yet effective.”
Best Lotions for Body Acne
“Nourished, hydrated skin with an intact barrier is your best defense when it comes to acne and other skin conditions,” says Dr. Bowe. In addition to drinking enough water for overall well-being and avoiding over-cleansing, sealing in moisture on the skin with acne-friendly, skin-barrier-supportive serums and lotions can be beneficial. Dr. Bowe recommends gentle, nourishing moisturizers with prebiotics and ceramides to help rebalance the microbiome. However, when choosing a hydrator, steer clear of thick, oil-rich products, which can be irritating to the torso area, stresses Dr. Bowe. CeraVe and Kate Somerville offer a lightweight body lotion with salicylic acid. Necessaire and Neutrogena pack their formulas with ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, for added hydration and calming.
Best Mists for Body Acne
Body mists offer a quick fix (or shall we say, quick spritz) to tackling body acne, especially when breakouts are in hard to reach places. Dermalogica, Paula’s Choice, and Versed all offer fine mists with AHAs and BHAs to keep skin clear. There are also masks, like Soft Services’s body breakout-fighting Clearing Duo (two for one!), comprised of a 1% salicylic acid acne mist and a clay mask rounded out by sulfur, salicylic acid, zinc PCA, and niacinamide.
Everything You Need to Know
“The causes of body acne are similar to those of acne on the face,” explains Alexis, naming inflammation, increased oil production, hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells, and irritation of the follicle by a specific acne-causing bacterium called Cutibacterium, as the common culprits. In addition to these four factors, body acne is particularly triggered by trapped sweat or oil, he emphasizes, hence there being an uptick in summer and it being more common among athletes who consistently sweat—and experience more pressure or occlusion by way of clothing and sporting equipment. Rapid hormonal changes such as pregnancy, menopause, and perimenopause can also contribute to body acne. “The oil glands become hyperactive during these transitional periods,” says Dr. Linkner.
How often should you use body acne products?
There’s no set answer as to how often someone should use an exfoliating body wash—the key is adjusting frequency to your skin type. Board-certified dermatologist Noah Gratch explains it is essential to know the strength of the product you're using when creating a routine. “It’s important to monitor how your skin responds, and to always maintain hydration by following with a moisturizer,” Dr. Gratch tells Vogue. “Usually, oily or acne prone skin can benefit from more frequent usage of up to four times a week,” says Gratch.
However, you don’t want to go overboard with cleansing or use harsh products as this can disrupt the skin microbiome and lead to increased irritation and inflammation that worsens body acne. “Many people mistakenly believe their acne is a sign of being ‘dirty’ or ‘unhygienic,’” explains Bowe. “They try to rub or scrub away the dirt and deeply ‘clean’ the skin. Unfortunately, they are doing more harm than good.”
How to Identify Body Acne
Given that there are many types of marks that appear on the skin, it's helpful to know what to look for—and where—when identifying body acne, also known as truncal acne. “Body acne is most commonly characterized by cystic acne of the chest, shoulders, back, or buttocks,” explains Linkner. “All these areas have large sebaceous oil glands which are the root cause of body acne.”
According to Andrew Alexis, MD, professor of clinical dermatology and vice-chair for diversity and inclusion at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, body acne is estimated to occur in more than half of patients with acne. “In people of color, long-lasting dark spots often occur as a result of body acne and therefore represent an additional factor that impacts quality of life of acne patients, affecting choice of clothing and comfort level having the back, shoulders, or chest exposed,” explains Alexis, adding that keloids or raised scars, which are more common in people of color, can also occur as a result of more severe body acne. Early and effective treatment of acne is key to reducing the risks of these longer lasting potential consequences of body acne.
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Body Acne
Start by minimizing friction on your most sensitive, acne-prone parts by “avoiding tight-fitting and occlusive clothing and wearing breathable fabrics—especially for exercise,” says Alexis. Then, consider your diet, sleep, and overall lifestyle, which can have a major impact on body acne.
For one, acne is exacerbated by foods that cause inflammation, such as dairy products and refined grains and sugar. “Editing out high glycemic foods and dairy from the diet has been shown in clinical trial data to alleviate acne,” says Linkner. Then, there's the brain-skin connection. “Stress can absolutely exacerbate body acne,” says Bowe. “Insomnia can lead to elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Beauty sleep is real!”
- Andrew Alexis, MD, is a professor of clinical dermatology and vice-chair for diversity and inclusion at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.
- Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York and Long Island.
- Noah Gratch, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in treatments for acne, eczema, hyperhidrosis, rosacea, psoriasis, and skin cancer.
- Rita Linkner, MD, FAAD, is a double board-dermatologist at New York City’s Spring Street Dermatology.
- Azadeh Shirazi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California.
