Why do I have body acne?

What is causing the breakouts?

• Hormones can make skin oilier during puberty, menstrual periods and pregnancy. Stress can also be a trigger.
• Greasy skin and hair products can contribute to clogged pores.
• Heavy sweating, humid conditions and repeated rubbing can trigger acne.
• Medicines such as steroids and testosterone can contribute. Supplements with male hormone activity are another possible factor.
• Family history matters: acne tends to run in families.

Acne can continue into your 30s and 40s, because it has no respect for the age on your birthday cake. Adult acne can affect the chest and back as well as the face, and flares before a period are common.3

Why do I have so much body acne?

Several triggers can overlap. For bumps on your butt, tight clothing, friction, prolonged sitting and staying in sweaty clothes can contribute. Shaving closely, waxing and plucking can irritate hair follicles too. Check whether breakouts coincide with workouts, hair removal, a new oily product or menstrual flares rather than assuming you need to wash harder.23

Why do I have acne all over my body?

Acne commonly affects the back, chest and shoulders. Inflammatory acne does not spread from one body part to another, but the same triggers can cause breakouts in several places. Red, swollen, tender bumps suggest inflammation; blackheads and whiteheads are usually closer to the surface and less painful.4

Bumps on the butt are often not acne at all, despite 'butt acne' having secured the naming rights. Folliculitis means an irritated hair follicle and can follow friction or hair removal, or involve bacteria or yeast. Keratosis pilaris is a buildup of the protein keratin within follicles, often on the backs of the arms, thighs or butt. Boils are deeper follicle inflammation. A widespread eruption needs the right diagnosis rather than the same acne wash applied everywhere.5

What should I do first?

1. 1Wash gently with a mild cleanser once or twice daily, including after exercise. Avoid scrubbing and repeated washing.
2. 2Shower after workouts. If you cannot, change out of sweaty clothes, especially when bumps affect your butt.
3. 3Choose water based or noncomedogenic skincare, meaning products designed not to clog pores. Moisturize after cleansing even if your skin is oily.
4. 4For mild acne, try a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid product, following its directions. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores. If an acid product irritates your skin, stop or use it less often.
5. 5Leave bumps alone. Picking and squeezing can cause infection, slower healing and scars.

How long should I wait, and when should I get help?

Acne treatment can take 6 to 8 weeks to show a response, and inflammatory acne can need several months of treatment. Continue a maintenance routine after improvement because acne can return. If gentle care and acne products have not helped after a few months, see a doctor or dermatologist.14

Get help sooner for worsening acne, deep painful bumps, extensive redness, scarring or emotional distress. A particularly painful or severe boil needs medical assessment; do not try to drain it yourself. Prescription treatment can help persistent acne. Isotretinoin must not be taken during pregnancy because it can cause birth defects.135