How to Get Rid of Chest Acne
If you want to know how to get rid of chest acne, it all starts with following a solid skincare routine and using the right products.
Chest acne is a common skin concern that affects more people than you think. If you're seeing pimples on your chest area, that's a clear sign you're dealing with chest acne.
Here's everything you need to know about what causes chestne and the best treatments for chest acne.
What Causes Acne on the Chest?
Acne occurs when the pores become clogged with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. Within the clogged pore, bacteria can also build up, causing inflamed breakouts to develop.
Majority of times, chest acne causes include hormonal fluctuations, oily moisturizers, sugary foods, and sun exposure.
There are many different types of chest acne breakouts, including blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, nodules, papules, and cysts.
Here's a roundup of the most common causes of chest acne:
-
Excessive sweating
-
Use of skincare products that trap in moisture, such as occlusives, humectants and emollients
-
Tight clothing, which can trap oil and moisture against the body, leading to clogged pores and breakouts
-
Use of harsh chemicals from soap or cleaning products
-
Consuming high sugar foods and drinks
-
Use of medications like corticosteroids that can impact hormone regulation
-
Dehydration -- which leads to dry skin, increasing sebum production, and the risk for clogged pores
It's good to know what's causing it in order to find out how to get rid of chest acne.
Can I Use Face Wash on Chest for Acne?
Acne on the chest is a little different to the acne you get on your face. Here's why: the skin on your body is thicker than on your face, which makes it harder for products to penetrate the pores and clarify blemishes.
That said, provided you use a face wash that contains acne-clearing ingredients, there's no reason why you can't use your daily cleanser on your chest.
Fortunately, however, you're not short of choice when it comes to cleansers specifically designed to treat acne on your chest. If you have the choice, we recommend choosing a body-targeted cleanser as this will benefit the skin more than a face wash since it's actually designed for the skin on your body.
How to Get Rid of Chest Acne
Wondering how do I get rid of chest acne fast? The best way is to follow a chest acne routine that targets blemishes in that area.
Use an Acne-Fighting Body Wash
Cherry Jelly Anti-Bacne Body Cleanser
SHOP NOW
Look for a body wash formulated with acne-fighting powerhouses such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients lift dead skin cells, oil, and grime while attacking acne-causing bacteria to clear pores and combat chest acne.
Other helpful active ingredients include glycolic acid and lactic acid which also decongest pores, helping to heal and prevent zits. For best results, use this cleanser daily in the shower. To make it work even harder, let the lather sit on your skin for 60 seconds before rinsing to allow active ingredients to fully penetrate.
Exfoliate
Moon Rocks Whipped Body Scrub
SHOP NOW
Adding some light exfoliation to your skincare routine removes the excess keratin that's clogging your pores and causing your chest acne. Exfoliation is also great for fading hyperpigmentation left over from your chest acne.
Stick to a gentle sugar-based body scrub or AHA-powered cleanser to gently exfoliate your skin and dislodge dirt, oil, and keratin buildup. Just make sure you don't over do it as over exfoliation can lead to irritation.
Shower After Sweating
Another effective method when it comes to how to get rid of chest acne is to shower straight after a workout. If you're someone who regularly exercises or plays sport and you're getting body breakouts, your sweat sessions might be to blame. Make it a priority to shower as soon as your workout is complete. And DON'T sit around in sweat-drenched clothes!
"When sweat sits on the skin for a long period of time, it clogs pores and causes acne to develop," says dermatologist Kristina Goldenberg, MD, of Goldenberg Dermatology in New York City. "Therefore, rinsing after a workout will lead to significant improvement."
Avoid Heavy Creams and Lotions
As important as moisturizing is even when you have acne, you should steer clear of thick, heavy moisturizers as they can clog the pores and cause blackheads and pustules.
Always aim to choose natural skincare products that are oil-free, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free. Especially if you have sensitive skin, you will notice a huge improvement in your skin once you make the transition to clean skincare.
Patch Up Your Chest Acne
#Heart Your Imperfections Blemish Patches
SHOP NOW
Before you pop that pesky pimple on your chest, patch it up with an acne patch. Acne patches are excellent for absorbing oils and impurities in an active blemish and speeding up the healing process.
Hydrocolloid is the key ingredient in these patches. It works to drain pus and gunk from your breakout while healing redness and irritation. That said, you will find patches with other active ingredients known for their blemish-busting properties.
Besides working their magic overnight, acne patches provide a protective barrier between your blemish and your fingers, stopping you from picking and making your breakout worse.
Slather On Oil-Free Sunscreen
Yes, SPF is still important when you have acne on your chest! Even on cloudy days, UV rays are still present. If you're wearing a V-neck shirt or sweater, you're exposing your chest to the damaging effects of the sun. And according to aesthetician Karen Fernandez, "The inflammatory reaction of heat and sun exposure can trigger chest breakouts."
Look for an over-the-counter SPF that's oil-free and non-comedogenic. Apply it every day and re-apply throughout the day if you're spending continuous time outside. Remember to wash it off well in the evening when you're in for the night and no longer require sun protection.
Shop the Best Chest Acne Treatments
Wondering how to get rid of chest acne? We've got some excellent chest acne routines to help you get clear in less than a month.
Boobne Bundle
SHOP NOW
A 3-step chest acne clearing routine featuring our Acai Your Boobies Polish, Black Jelly Spot Treatment, and Super Star Acne Patches. This cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating chest acne treating trio uses key ingredients like retinol, salicylic acid, and black charcoal to resurface, decongest skin, and get rid of chest acne.
Bodne Bundle
SHOP NOW
A 4-step bodne fighting routine featuring our award-winning cleanser, mist, lotion, and acne patches. This routine harnesses the clarifying powers of AHAs, BHAs, and niacinamide to unclog pores, refine skin, and keep chest acne at bay.
When Does Chest Acne Go Away?
According to dermatologists, it takes approximately 2-6 weeks to notice a visible improvement in your skin when following a solid skincare regimen.
While there are many different ways on how to get rid of chest acne, they may not work for everyone. If you have tried all of the above tips and you're still dealing with chestne, consult a dermatologist for prescription topical treatments. You may actually be dealing with something known as folliculitis which is an infection of the hair follicles, and requires a different form of treatment.
If you have severe acne (i.e., cystic acne) or a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, visit your dermatologist before attempting a new skincare routine. It is important to use gentle, natural products to avoid aggravating your condition.
However, it's likely that these tips above on how to get rid of chest acne should be enough to get you clear.
Watch our how to get rid of chest acne routine:
