Acne surely has the power to ruin your entire look and it can be really agitating if a pimple pops up before an important event. Where we all try numerous ways of keeping this acne at bay from trying expensive treatments to changing diets and from messy DIYs to chemical based skin products. Facial acne is something that has been talked about a lot but have you ever pondered upon body acne. For those of you who haven’t ever heard about it and are thinking that something like this even exists then the answer is yes, it does and you might be affected by it. We all take care of our facial skin and put all our efforts to keep it clean and hygienic but it is important to know that other body parts of yours need your care and attention too. Where body acne can affect several body parts such as your back, chest and even your butt. Although various commercial body washes and soaps claim that they can help in treating body acne but they can be harmful due to the high chemical content present in them. Read along to know more about body acne and natural ways to treat these underlying issues.
What is Body Acne?
Where pimples are not the only form of acne that occurs on your body but it can take the shape of blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, papules and pustules. Body acne is caused on various body parts such as the back, chest and the butt. Body acne is a skin condition that occurs when the hair follicles get clogged by dead skin cells, excess oil and sweat. This condition generally occurs in adults and teenagers due to hormonal imbalance, excess of dead skin cells, overactive glands and accumulation of acne causing bacteria.
This acne gets developed as excessive oils and dead skin cells get trapped into the hair follicle which is commonly known as a pore. Due to the accumulation of these substances in the pore a blockage is created. This blockage then gets oxidised and takes the shape of a blackhead. As these blackheads get infected and inflamed even further due to the invasion of bacteria, it results in painful and stubborn acne. This acne tends to occur in the areas where the sebum producing sebaceous glands are more active and can result in creating blockage in the pores.
Image Credits- Daily Mail
Also Read: Worried About Acne? Try These 7 Supplements For A Healthy And Clear Skin
Where the hormonal imbalance and overactive glands are not the only reason behind the occurrence of this condition it can also be caused due to improper hygiene, stress, genetics, diet, improper clothing, allergic reactions and reaction from some chemical based products. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to body acne. In order to prevent this skin condition one needs to maintain proper hygiene and shower regularly. Apart from this make sure to wear some loose clothing, avoid sweat and stay away from products with harsh chemicals that can lead to allergies.
Home Remedies To Treat Body Acne
And this is for those who want to do it all on their own and are a big fan of DIYs. Where commercial products that promise to reduce and treat body acne are rich in chemical substances and can be very harmful for your health, doing it in an old school and natural way is the best thing. As these DIY remedies use all natural ingredients that can be easily found lying around your house and are comparatively safe. Give these simple remedies a shot to treat your body acne and get relief from discomfort caused due to it.
#1. Honey
A sweet, golden devine liquid that is produced by honey bees with the help of flower nectar honey is well known for its amazing benefits for your health and skin as well. An ingredient which has been a part of various home remedies and your grandma's beauty regime, honey can do wonders to your skin. From treating chapped lips to providing moisture to your skin, honey can do it all. It is a lesser known fact that this sticky golden liquid can actually help you to fight and treat acne as well. Honey is known for its antibacterial properties. This property of honey helps it to fight the acne causing bacteria and to treat body acne from its roots.
Image Credits- CNN
Here’s how you can make a honey mask to treat body acne-
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder
Method
- Take some honey in a bowl and add cinnamon powder to it.
- Mix both the ingredients well together.
- Apply this mask on the affected area for about 10 to 15 minutes
- Wash it off with plain water and pat dry with a soft towel.
#2. Green Tea
One of the healthiest beverages out there which comes in with zero calories and multiple health benefits, green tea is a wonderful ingredient that can be used to fight body acne as well. From aiding weight loss to improving brain functioning and from preventing cancer to lowering the risk of diabetes, green tea can do it all. Where this drink has got so many benefits for your body health, it is proven to be helpful in treating various skin issues as well. Green tea is rich in antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects and hence is a powerful ingredient that can cure skin problems such as acne, inflammation, irritation and early signs of aging.
Here’s how you can use green tea to treat body acne-
Ingredients
- Green Tea Bag
- Water
- Take a green tea bag and steep it in some boiling water for about 5 minutes.
- Take out the tea bad and let the tea cool down completely.
- Transfer this tea into a spray bottle.
- Spray this green tea toner over the affected area and let it absorb completely.
#3. Aloe vera
A soothing green plant that can easily be found in your neighbourhood, aloe vera is an ingredient which has gained a lot of popularity due to its skin benefits and is now a part of every other skin care or hair care product. Where aloe vera isn't just helpful in treating skin and hair related concerns but has proven to be helpful in curing various conditions such as treating heartburn, reducing inflammation, maintaining blood sugar levels, accelerating the wound healing process and helping with weight loss. Aloe vera naturally consists of salicylic acid which makes it effective in treating various skin conditions such as body acne.
Also Read: Here Are 7 Side Effects Of Aloe Vera Juice That You Should Be Aware Of
Follow the given steps to reap the maximum benefits out of aloe vera and treat body acne-
Ingredients
- 1 Aloe vera leaf
Method
- Take the aloe vera leaf and slice it into half with the help of a knife.
- Take a spoon and scoop out the gel from this aloe leaf.
- Collect this gel into a bowl.
- Apply this gel lightly on the affected area like a moisturizer and let it seep in.
#4. Apple Cider Vinegar
A wonder ingredient that is used in almost every other home remedy, apple cider vinegar comes with numerous benefits. Jam packed with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, this is one of the best and most effective treatments to cure body acne. Not just acne but apple cider vinegar is said to be helpful in treating other issues as well, like- controlling blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, fighting bacterial infections, aiding weight loss and controlling the cholesterol levels of the body.
Here’s how you can use apple cider vinegar in order to treat body acne-
Ingredients
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 3 parts of water
- Cotton ball
Method
- Take a large bowl and add apple cider vinegar and water to it.
- Give this a nice stir.
- Gently apply this mixture on the affected area with the help of a cotton ball
- Let it sit for about 15 seconds and then rinse off with some plain water.
#5. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is something that has gained a lot of popularity in recent times and has been used as a key ingredient in various commercial acne treating products. Enriched with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil helps in reducing acne and treating it by killing the acn causing infection and reducing inflammation. Other than this it can also help in strengthening the immune system, speeding up the process of wound healing, keeping your teeth and gums healthy and curing various fungal and bacterial infections.
Follow the given steps to cure body acne with tea tree oil
Ingredients
- 1 part tea tree oil
- 9 parts of water
- Cotton ball
Method
- Take a bowl and add water and tea tree oil to it.
- Give it a nice stir and soak a cotton ball into this mixture.
- Gently apply it on the affected area.
#6. Garlic
Known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, garlic is used in many home remedies to avoid bacterial growth and treat inflammation. Curing many infections, garlic is said to be helpful in treating body acne as well. Follow the given instructions to treat acne using garlic.
Ingredients
- 3 garlic cloves
Method
- Take the garlic cloves and pound them well to form a puree.
- Apply this puree directly onto the affected area.
- Leave it on for a couple of minutes and then rinse off with some cold water.
#7. Coconut oil
Something that has been a part of the Indian beauty regime, coconut oil is known to nourish scalp, provide moisturisation, treat dandruff and soothe skin. Where oil can do so much good have you ever wondered that it can also be helpful in treating acne? Well due to its high antimicrobial properties, coconut oil is capable of treating body acne by killing the acne causing bacteria. One thing that needs to be taken care of is that this remedy can not be used in every case.
Here’s how you can use coconut oil to treat body acne-
Ingredients
- Coconut oil
Method
- Take some coconut oil and rub it between your palms
- Gently apply this oil on the affected area and leave it on.
Preventive Measures
As said that “Prevention is better than cure” and hence it is important to follow some good practices and make them a part of your lifestyle so that you can keep such skin conditions at bay. Here are some preventive measures that you can take to avoid body acne-
- Take bath everyday
- Reduce stress
- Exfoliate regularly
- Follow a diet with low glycemic index
- Reduce dairy consumption
- Exercise regularly
