What causes acne on your chest and back? Body acne develops the same way as face acne, but there are some factors that lead to the development of acne on your chest and back. “Genetics, hormones and diet are likely some of the bigger triggers for acne,” Dr. Thompson said.
Researchers say foods high in fat, sugar, and dairy ingredients can raise the risk of adult acne. Foods such as milk chocolate, french fries, and sugary drinks are among those that can increase acne risk.
Pores clogging from sweat, friction from your clothing, increased bacteria on your skin, and lack of skincare can all lead to unwanted breakouts. The most common cause though of chest acne, like acne in general, is hormones.” Chest acne is very common, as well as acne on the back and shoulders.
The skin on your back has more sweat and oil gland activity than elsewhere on the body, but it also happens to be the area that is least thoroughly cleansed. Due to the difficulty in reaching inaccessible spots like the skin between your shoulder blades, oil, dead skin, sweat and dirt easily build up and clog pores.
“True, chest acne is common in teenagers when there is an influx of sex hormones during puberty,” he says. “Usually acne goes away by age 25 for men.” What you're seeing on your chest could actually be folliculitis, an inflammation of hair follicles caused by an overgrowth of bacteria.
Back acne usually results when sweat gets trapped under a shirt or athletic gear during exercise or strenuous activity. Clothing rubs against your sweaty skin, which leads to zits or makes them worse. Several over-the-counter and prescription treatments can clear up back acne.
Increasing consumption of vitamin A, D, zinc, and vitamin E can help fight acne and lead to clearer skin. For more tips on acne treatment and supplements, consult a dermatologist or pharmacist for more information.
It's commonly assumed that food intolerances only affect the gut, resulting in bloating or IBS. But, in reality, food intolerances can cause a whole host of inflammatory symptoms, including acne and eczema.
Stress — When your body is under stress, it produces hormones called androgens that have effects on various parts of the body, including the skin. In the skin, these hormones may stimulate hair follicles and oil glands, leading to more inflammation and development of acne.
Try a topical treatment.
According to Dr. Zeichner, topicals such as over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene (which keeps skin cells from sticking together and clogging pores) can be useful in treating your pesky chest breakouts, too.
It's caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells that block your pores and leads to an abundance of a specific type of bacteria present on the skin called propionibacterium acne. As a result, your skin becomes inflamed and causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples to form.
In general, what causes back acne to form is a cocktail of excess oil, dead skin cells, and acne-causing bacteria such as cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as propionibacterium acnes) that clogs pores and leads to inflammation.
Kiwis, cherries, and stone fruits (like peaches, nectarines, and plums) may be good for acne because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Kiwis are a high fiber fruit packed with vitamin C and vitamin E. Peaches have b-complex vitamins, which may help improve skin tone and texture.
Water has many ways in which it can improve your skin, which helps to improve your acne over time. Drinking water has both direct and indirect benefits for treating acne. Firstly, with bacterial acne, water helps to remove toxins and bacteria on the skin, reducing the potential for pore-clogging in the process.
An Imbalance in Your Gut Can Cause Acne
SIBO can spark shifts in your gut microbiome, which can lead to a gut imbalance, and ultimately, acne.
Gluten does not cause acne
Despite some of the claims circulating on the internet, going on a gluten-free diet won't cure your acne. There's no clinical evidence that gluten triggers acne breakouts.
When you are intolerant to gluten, you are not able to properly digest the large molecules, which then find their way into your bloodstream where your body sees them as invaders. This activates an immune response that may lead to inflammation and therefore, increases the likelihood of acne.
If you have recurrent acne that hasn't resolved with other kinds of treatment, you may have a vitamin D deficiency.