Causes Of Body Acne: Here’s How Your Hair Conditioner May Be Causing Those Pesky Pimples

In a sit-down conversation between Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian which was posted on YouTube, the beauty and lifestyle moguls shared their shower routine, emphasising the necessity of ensuring no conditioner is left over on your body after you have washed it out of your hair. 

Turns, out this piece of advice actually runs true, particularly if you consider how acne is caused. Acne is caused when tiny holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked, according to a study published in the Oxford University Press. Since conditioners contain many oil-based products to enrich your hair, they can very well clog your pores, give way to bacterial inflammation, and cause stubborn acne all over your body. 

The Link Between Hair Conditioners and Acne

To comprehend how hair conditioners might be causing your body acne, you need to understand that hair conditioners contain substances like silicones, fatty alcohols, oils and emollients. These substances are useful for moisturising hair and creating a smooth and shiny appearance, but can leave a residue on the skin, potentially causing breakouts. Here’s how these substances work in creating the pesky issue of body acne:

Also Read: Struggling With Body Acne, Here Is All You Need To Know

• Residue Transfer: When you rinse your hair after applying conditioner, some of the product might run down your back, shoulders, and chest, leaving behind a film that can clog pores.
• Occlusion of Pores: Ingredients like silicones and oils can create a barrier on the skin's surface, trapping sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells, creating an ideal environment for acne to develop.
• Sensitivity Reactions: Some individuals may be sensitive to the ingredients in hair conditioner, leading to irritation and breakouts when the product comes into contact with the skin.

Preventing Hair Conditioner-Induced Body Acne

Although the ways to prevent hair conditioner residue on the body may be fairly obvious, however, it's crucial to consider this phenomenon thoroughly to avoid any scope for oversight:

Also Read: Try These 7 Simple Home Remedies To Treat Body Acne

• Rinse Thoroughly: Ensure that after you rinse your hair, use a loofah and wash your body thoroughly in the shower, making sure no conditioner residue remains on your body.
• Choose Wisely: Opt for hair conditioners labelled as ‘non-comedogenic’ or ‘oil-free.’ These are less likely to clog pores.
• Shower Routine: If you suspect hair conditioner is causing your body acne, consider washing your body after conditioning your hair to remove any potential residue.
• Skin Care Routine: Incorporate an acne-fighting body wash or exfoliant into your shower routine to help prevent breakouts.

The fact that hair conditioners can also give rise to body acne raises the question of how many such subtle lifestyle factors may be giving rise to pesky medical issues. This curious case definitely calls for a closer, careful look at our practices, and be watchful of how they might be causing our lives to feel like a mess and be full of unnecessary irritants like stubborn body acne. If you suffer from body acne, try the above-mentioned shower habits to solidify that the culprit of those mysterious breakouts on your back, shoulders, or chest, might be your hair conditioner.