let’s talk about bacne

Let’s talk about bacne. And chest-ne. And even butt-ne. Body acne is a common, sometimes embarrassing, occurrence that many teens + young adults experience. It happens to almost everyone at one point or another and is absolutely normal. So let’s talk about how to identify it, how to prevent it, and how to handle it when you get it.

You might be looking at your skin from time to time + be wondering what exactly you’re dealing with. Is it a rash? Is it acne? A good rule of thumb is that acne is raised + will include pimples, which will normally be red with a white head. Rashes, unlike acne, tend to be itchy. So if you want to scratch it, it’s probably not acne.

Some people’s skin naturally produces a lot of oil, making them prone to body acne, this is common in people who sweat a lot, like athletes. But there are things that you can do to help prevent it. Keep the affected areas as clean + dry as possible and try to shower soon after sweating a lot or doing physical activity. The other thing that you can do is try to wear cotton clothing when you can, especially when you know you’re going to sweat. Cotton is airy + allows the skin to breathe rather than trapping sweat. 

If you do experience body acne often, an easy at-home remedy is using recurrent’s 2:1 shampoo + body wash, which features anti-acne properties that help you fight acne all over your body. Another option is applying a mask to the area: mud masks or masks made specifically to fight acne can be helpful. If you are looking for a slightly more aggressive treatment you can also have back + chest facials that will target acne in those areas.

Body acne is less talked about, but just as common + just as frustrating as face acne. So don’t panic next time you see pimples popping up on your back, chest, or anywhere else. You are definitely not alone, and now you’re ready to take them on!