First of all, I'm not a doctor, and seeing a doctor – preferably a dermatologist – is the best way to get rid of chest acne. Though I lack a medical degree, I have learned much about how to get rid of chest acne. I've found that, though very treatable, chest acne isn't simple. There are many variables that could be throwing off the chemistry of your skin.
In those hopes of keeping things as uncomplicated as possible, I've organized the glut of chest acne information I've come across into a few key principles. First, you need to keep your skin clean with a sane washing regimen. You need to reduce or control sebum production. You need to slow down or normalize the sloughing (shedding) of dead skin cells. You need to reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin. Lastly, you need to keep inflammation under control. And, of course, you need to do all this without inadvertently making things worse. Read on to learn how to get rid of chest acne following these principles.
Chest Acne Treatment Starts At Home
Practice proper bathing habits to get rid of chest acne. Poor hygiene probably isn't the cause of your chest acne; however, it is important to wash away the sebum, dead skin cells, and filth that your skin collects throughout the day. Don't overdo it. Shower once or twice daily and always after sweating heavily or working with grease. Use warm water (hot water can leave the skin too dry) and a gentle anti-bacterial soap. When you are finished, pat dry rather than rub and scrape.
If you're going to get rid of chest acne, you'll need to be gentle. Scrubs, exfoliators, toners, loofahs – these things are often recommended to get rid of chest acne, but not by dermatologists. Instead of shower puffs, loofahs, and abrasive sponges, use your fingertips to apply cleanser. And choose a cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Abrasives and harsh cleansers can rob your skin of collagen, irritate and spread chest acne, and worsen your already out-of-balance skin chemistry.
You'll need to use an acne cream or gel like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Usually, you won't be able to get rid of chest acne with proper bathing alone. Quality OTC products will contain salicylic acid, sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, or recorcinol. They work by drying up excess sebum, getting rid of dead skin cells, killing bacteria, and reducing inflammation. The best time to apply is 15-20 minutes after bathing. Any sooner and they could cause irritation. Many OTC chest acne solutions are very drying, so you may want to apply a noncomedogenic moisturizer directly after the treatment. Lastly, give the medication time to work. Acne doesn't get better overnight, and it may actually get worse for the first few days of treatment.
Avoid irritants and irritating your chest acne. Don't scratch, pick, or pop your chest acne; these things will certainly make it worse, and you may even damage your skin. Synthetic fabrics, tight-fitting clothes and jewelry can also worsen chest acne. So lose the bling and opt for loose- fitting, natural fabrics like cotton.
Get rid of chest acne by keeping your fabrics clean. If you want to get rid of chest acne, laundry day will need to be more than a bi-annual event. The oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria on your skin (not to mention environmental filth) end up on your clothes, towels, and bed sheets. Don't reintroduce these things to your already-burdened pores. Clothes and towels should be washed after every use. Try wearing a shirt to bed. Also, switching to hypoallergenic, gentler detergents and fabric softeners may improve your skin. Look for these products at whole food stores.
If you can't get rid of chest acne, see a dermatologist. Dermatologists can prescribe stronger concentrations of the topical treatments listed above, as well as a variety of medications and procedures that only come with a doctor's prescription. Because of their extensive schooling and experience, they'll be better able to find the right combinations of treatments than any article found on the Internet. You'll also rest easy knowing that your treatment comes "dermatologist recommended"…by an actual dermatologist. If home treatments and OTC medication fail to get rid of chest acne, see a professional; severe acne and perpetual acne can cause scarring.
Can Diet Cause Chest Acne?
No…at least not according to well-respected institutions like the American Academy of Dermatology. The experts remind us that there is no study that proves the link between diet and acne; however, they all agree that you should avoid any food or beverage that seems to trigger acne outbreaks. Also, these professionals are not saying that diet is in no way connected to skin health. More than anything, this issue demonstrates that individuals suffering from chest acne (or any form of acne) need to be proactive about their treatment. If you are, like me, hopelessly forgetful, keep an acne journal to try to identify foods and other things that trigger flare-ups. This way, you'll also be able to track the effectiveness of acne treatments on your unique skin.
