MAJOR Hacks That Keep Body Acne & Breakouts At Bay

We’ve all been caught off-guard by painful body pimples that we “could’ve sworn weren’t there yesterday,” right?

But don’t stress, there are tons of lifestyle tweaks and ahhhmazing product formulas out there that’ll help a) keep breakouts at bay and b) give your body the love it deserves.

How to Identify Body Acne

“Body acne may be pustules filled with pus, or they could be deep, painful pimples under the skin,” says Dr. Alan Parks, a board-certified dermatologist and Founder of DermWarehouse.

Like facial acne, body acne occurs when your pores get clogged by excess oil (sebum), debris, and dead skin cells.

The blocked pore creates an ideal environment for skin bacteria (C. acnes) to grow and flourish, leading to inflammation and infection.

How to Combat Body Acne

Once you’ve identified any booty spots or bacne, resist the urge to pop them, as you’ll increase the likelihood of scarring.

If you’re constantly tempted, apply one of the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch – Original Care, $6. It will conceal and contain the pimple while sucking out puss without damaging the skin.

★★★★★ 5/5

About this Item

Item Form	Oil
Skin Type	Sensitive, Dry
Brand	Bioderma
Material Feature	Plant Based
Age Range (Description)	Adult,Infant,Kid,Toddler,Youth,Baby

Avoid Scrubbing Your Skin

The whole “the harder you scrub, the cleaner your skin gets” isn’t true, hunny. Scrubbing your loofah vigorously across breakouts weakens your skin’s barrier (and can irritate pimples), making your skin more vulnerable to harmful bacteria that could lead to further breakouts and aggravate any already there.

Speaking of loofahs, you need to replace them every three to four weeks because they harbor bacteria, which once again could contribute to booty spots and body acne.

Avoid Heavy Lotions

If you have acne-prone skin, stay clear of heavy body lotions made with rich emollients like shea butter and coconut oil. When applied in excess, these heavy formulas tend to sit on top of your skin and can block your pores.

Opt for non-comedogenic formulas like CeraVe SA Lotion For Rough & Bumpy Skin, $19, that deliver moisture without clogging your pores (or breaking your bank account).

Change Out Your Gym Clothes ASAP

When you’re exhausted after a workout, tugging off your leggings and sports bra is the last thing you CBA to do, but you should be changing out of your clothes immediately.

“Sitting in wet workout clothing can lead to bacterial and fungal infections of the skin as well as irritation, especially in skin folds where occlusive workout clothes tend to hug.

Think under the breasts and in the groin creases,” says Dr. Nikhil Dhingra, a board-certified dermatologist at NYC’s Spring Street Dermatology.

If you can’t shower immediately, sweep the NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads, $15, across your skin to keep sweat and breakout-causing bacteria from taking charge.

Swap Your Towel Weekly

It’s kinda gross, but the dead skin from your post-shower rub-down just lingers on the towel. When it remains damp for hours, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for unwanted germs (eeesh).

Using a towel for longer than a week means you’re kinda washing all the hard work your cleansers did down the drain (no pun intended).

Add A Booty Spray To Your Body Care Routine

If breakouts are still saying hey after these lifestyle changes, it’s time to add a targeted booty spray to your body care routine.

The Versed Skincare Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist, $15, is a great option as it gets the hardest-to-reach spots with a powerful combo of 2% salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and witch hazel, which work overtime to fight bacteria, balance excess oil production, calm inflammation, and soothe redness.

We’re also huge fans of the AZIMD Gly/Sal Body Spray, $32, formulated by dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi with 10% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid.