Body Acne Map

Where you get acne on your body and what it means |


Similar to how mapping acne on your face can tell you what your pimples mean, mapping where you get pimples on your body can also tell you why you are breaking out, whether it's pimples on your back, chest, or butt!

My Chinese medicine doctor, Dr. Wang Zheng Hu, says that while acne on the face and body can be caused by both internal and external factors, body acne is generally more external than it is internal. This is good news because it means that while body acne can caused by internal reasons, it can often be controlled and successfully cleared with external methods.

Click on the different body regions in the below body acne map to learn why you break out on certain places of your body and what you can do to clear your skin:

Skinacea's Body Acne Map

  • Pimples on Top of the Head
    (Scalp Acne)


    CAUSES:
    Poor hygiene; Sweat and oil build-up; Irritation from shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products; Not washing out hair products completely; Wearing dirty hats; Picking at scalp; Constipation

  • Neck Acne


    CAUSES:
    Irritation from shampoo, conditioner, or other hair products; Wearing shirts with tight collars; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets; Sweating and not showering afterwards; Hormonal imbalances; Too much sugar in diet

  • Chest Acne


    CAUSES:
    Sweating; Not showering after exercise; Friction and irritation from clothes; Wearing clothes that aren't breathable; Undergarments; Body lotions; Shampoo, conditioner, and hair products; Body wash or soap; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets; Poor diet and eating habits; Eating too much spicy food; Drinking ice cold drinks all the time; Fungal infection; Allergies

  • Back Acne
    (Bacne)


    CAUSES:
    Overly active sebaceous glands; Sweating; Not showering after exercise; Friction and irritation from clothes or athletic gear; Clothes are too tight and/or not breathable; Backpack straps; Pore-clogging body lotions; Too much fried and high-calorie foods; Not enough sleep; Irritation from shampoo, conditioner, and/or other hair products; Body wash or soap irritation; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets; Allergies; Seborrheic dermatitis; Folliculitis

  • Thigh and Leg Acne


    CAUSES:
    Body lotion or sprays; Shower gels and/or soap; Shampoo, conditioner, and hair products; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets; Clothes are too tight; Ingrown hairs from shaving or waxing; Allergic reaction or rash; Keratosis pilaris or dermatitis

  • Butt and Crotch Acne


    CAUSES:
    (Butt Acne) Dirty underwear; Underwear that is not breathable or too tight; More common in humid, hot, summer weather; Sitting too long; Hair on butt often traps heat, sweat, and oil; May be a rash instead; Allergies; Body lotions; Shower gels and soaps; Shampoo, conditioner, and hair products; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets; Poor digestion; Bloating; Too many cold drinks; Too much spicy food; (Crotch or Pelvic Acne) Ingrown hairs from waxing or shaving; Poor hygiene; Could be warts or symptoms of an STD

  • Arm Acne


    CAUSES:
    Similar causes to back acne; Excessive oil secretion; Body lotions and sprays; Laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets; Clothes are too tight; Often confused with seborrheic dermatitis or keratosis pilaris



Please note: The body acne causes listed for each body region are general guidelines and may not apply to everyone since each person is sensitive to different things.




Now that you have a general idea of what's causing certain parts of your body to break out, here are some suggestions to help you figure out how to treat and clear those annoying body zits:

Body Acne Map Remedies

Body Region Body Acne Solution

Pimples on Top of the Head

(Scalp Acne)
  • Wash hair regularly, but not so much that you dry out your scalp.
  • Switch shampoo, conditioner, and/or hair products.
  • Try dandruff shampoos or shampoos with tar, salicylic acid (BHA), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
  • Avoid silicones, strong fragrances, and dyes in hair products.
  • Don't pick at scalp.
  • Use an ACV toner rinse on hair and scalp after washing (this also helps with an itchy scalp).
  • Avoid wearing hats for long periods of time because hats can trap sweat, heat, and grime in hair and scalp. Make sure hats are clean and dry.
  • Eat a healthy diet to promote good digestion and avoid constipation.

Neck Acne
  • Switch shampoo, conditioner, and/or hair products since they leave residue that can migrate down to the neck area.
  • Wear shirts without tight collars for good ventilation and less friction.
  • Change laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and/or dryer sheets.
  • Avoid strong fragrances and dyes in hair products, laundry products, and body lotions.
  • Shower after sweating and/or exercise.
  • Get hormones checked for imbalances, especially if neck pimples are near or under the chin and jawline.
  • Eat less refined sugar.

Back and Shoulder Acne

(Bacne)
  • Shower after sweating and/or exercise.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes to air out your skin and so they don't rub against your back.
  • Don't wear clothes that are too tight. Clothes should be breathable (cotton fabric is the best).
  • Wash clothes and athletic gear regularly.
  • Wash and change bed sheets regularly.
  • Keep backpack straps loose so the straps don't dig into your skin and aggravate any back acne.
  • Use non-comedogenic body lotions with minimal ingredients. Avoid fragrance, perfumes, and dyes. You can actually use face or baby lotion on your back since facial and baby products are usually formulated for more delicate skin.
  • Don't over scrub your skin or shower with water that is too hot.
  • Don't pick at any pimples on your back.
  • Switch body wash or soap. Use ones with fewer fragrances and dyes. Try either dandruff shampoo as a back wash or use a body wash with salicylic acid or AHAs in it.
  • Switch shampoos, conditioners, and/or hair products. These can migrate down your back in the shower or when you sweat, causing your back to break out.
  • Use laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets for sensitive skin, with minimal fragrance and dyes.
  • Use an acne treatment product on your back such as salicylic acid (BHA), AHAs, or benzoyl peroxide. Back acne treatments are often available as sprays so you can apply them on hard to reach places. You can also spray or wipe on a homemade apple cider vinegar toner after showering. Alternatively, use alcohol-free witch hazel or tea tree oil. Keep in mind that some treatments will make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
  • Take a bath with sea salt once a week.
  • Eat less fried foods and high-calorie foods.
  • Get enough sleep .
  • Back acne can also be mistaken for allergies (ex. dust mites), dermatitis, or folliculitis.

Chest Acne
  • Shower after sweating and/or exercise.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes to air out your skin and so they don't rub against your chest.
  • Wash clothes and bras regularly (especially if you get acne in between the boobs).
  • Don't wear clothes that are too tight. Clothes should be breathable (cotton fabric is the best).
  • Use non-comedogenic body lotions with minimal ingredients. Avoid fragrance, perfumes, and dyes. You can actually use face or baby lotion on your chest since facial and baby products are usually formulated for more delicate skin. However, you don't have to use a body lotion if your skin doesn't need it.
  • Don't over scrub your skin or shower with water that is too hot.
  • Don't pick at any pimples on your chest.
  • Switch body wash or soap. Use ones with fewer fragrances and dyes. Try either dandruff shampoo on your chest or use a body wash with salicylic acid or AHAs in it.
  • Switch shampoos, conditioners, and/or hair products. These can migrate down your neck and chest in the shower or when you sweat, causing your chest to break out.
  • Use laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets for sensitive skin, with minimal fragrance and dyes.
  • Use an acne treatment product on your chest such as salicylic acid (BHA), AHAs, or benzoyl peroxide. You can also spray or wipe on a homemade apple cider vinegar toner after showering. Alternatively, use alcohol-free witch hazel or tea tree oil. Keep in mind that some treatments will make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
  • If you get little whiteheads on your chest that don't seem to respond to acne treatments, they could be a fungal infection instead.
  • The stomach meridian is on the chest, so chest acne can also be related to poor diet and/or food sensitivities and allergies. Avoid eating too much spicy food, drink room temperature or warm beverages, and avoid eating too much seafood and shellfish.

Butt and Crotch Acne
  • Practice good hygiene. Wash regularly (especially if you have hair on your butt!) and wear clean, breathable underwear that is not too tight.
  • Avoid sitting too long. Get up every hour and walk around to improve blood and air circulation.
  • Don't use pore clogging lotions. Use non-comedogenic body lotions with minimal ingredients. Avoid fragrance, perfumes, and dyes.
  • Don't pick or scratch at any pimples.
  • Switch body wash or soap. Use ones with fewer fragrances and dyes.
  • Switch shampoos, conditioners, and/or hair products. These can migrate down your body in the shower or when you sweat.
  • Use laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets for sensitive skin, with minimal fragrance and dyes.
  • Use an acne treatment product on your butt pimples such as salicylic acid (BHA), AHAs, or benzoyl peroxide. You can also spray or wipe on a homemade apple cider vinegar toner after showering. Alternatively, use alcohol-free witch hazel or tea tree oil.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables. Chew thoroughly to improve digestion and bloating.
  • Don't drink ice cold drinks, especially early in the morning when you wake up and your body isn't warm yet.
  • Acne on your crotch and pubic area can be treated by exfoliating that area with an AHA lotion or gel. If shaving, shave with the direction the hair grows instead of against.
  • Butt acne may be a rash or allergy instead.
  • Crotch acne may also be warts or symptoms of an STD (get these checked out by a doctor to be safe, especially if they itch, ooze, or don't show any signs of improvement after 3-4 days).

Arm Acne
  • Shower regularly, especially after sweating or exercise.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes that are breathable and not too tight.
  • Use non-pore clogging body lotions and sprays with less fragrance and dyes.
  • Change laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.
  • Often confused with allergic rashes, seborrheic dermatitis, or keratosis pilaris.

Leg Acne
  • Moisturize if skin is dry but use body lotions that are non-comedogenic and less rich and heavy.
  • Practice good hygiene.
  • Use a body wash that has salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHA) in it.
  • Change shampoo, conditioner, and hair products.
  • Change laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets.
  • Wear loose fitting shorts, pants, and jeans.
  • Use a lotion with AHA in it to prevent ingrown hairs. Alternatively, you can try making homemade TendSkin for that.
  • Shave in the direction hair grows instead of against it.
  • Often confused with allergic reactions or rashes, dermatitis, or keratosis pilaris.


A lot of the above suggested remedies for body acne tend to be topical things you can do. Body skin is thicker than facial skin, so pimples you get on different parts of your body can be bigger, more painful, and more difficult to treat than acne on your face. However, because body skin is thicker, you can actually be more aggressive with treatments.

When you are trying to clear pimples on your face, it is a good idea to use only one treatment product at a time. Using more than one can be overly irritating and worsen acne, as well as make you confused about which treatment is doing what. With body acne though, thicker body skin usually tolerates more acne treatments without the irritating side effects. So, you can use an all-over 8-10% AHA lotion (or homemade ACV toner) and then spot treat individual body pimples with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (of course this is subject to how your skin reacts). And even if an acne treatment doesn't work or makes your body pimple redder, at the very least, you can cover it by just wearing clothes. Zits you get on your face, on the other hand, are harder to hide.

Keep in mind that just because your body skin can take more than your facial skin, it doesn't mean you should go overboard with the acne treatments. Blasting your skin with everything you can think of will probably make things worse! It's important to keep an eye out for any kind of irritation you experience. If your body skin gets red or dry, simply take a break from all the treatment products and don't use them again until your skin feels normal. Also, actives like salicylic acid and AHAs will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so you'll have to practice proper sun protection. (FYI, benzoyl peroxide tends to bleach fabric, so wear light-colored clothes if you use that as a body acne spot treatment!)

The above remedies for body acne are just suggestions that may or may not apply to everyone. You can break out on your body for so many different reasons that finding your body acne treatment is really an individual pursuit. There is no one-size-fits-all body acne treatment, but hopefully the above map and solutions will give you an idea on how to clear your body skin.


Last updated: May 6, 2013






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