Body acne can be painful

People suffering from severe facial acne can suffer from body acne also. Acne can erupt in the neck, back, shoulders or the buttocks area of the body. It can be extremely painful if it occurs in the form of cysts, lesions, whiteheads and blackheads. There can also be nodulistic acne but this is seen in rare cases.

Body acne occurs when the skin follicles get choked with oil, dead cells and cellular toxins. The residue that accumulates in the pores erupts as pimples or spreads to other skin follicles beneath the skin. This is major cause for the large scale inflammation and swelling that is experienced during acne.

Also, a high degree of hormonal imbalance can make the acne breakouts severe. Stress is also found to contribute to acne-related problems since it affects the immune system and the endocrinal system. The lesions take a longer time to heal and the skin tends to become vulnerable to more eruptions over a period of time.

Scarring is always a possibility when you are suffering from body acne. This is because you have to sit, stand and continue working normally. Scars occur when the lesion breaks or there is a secondary infection.

Accutane is the best treatment for getting rid of body acne. It is available in the tablet form and can be purchased over the counter. It minimizes body acne by reducing the activity of oil glands in the body, and should be taken for six months. The use of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide also provides temporary respite.

There are a few precautionary measures you can take to lessen the severity of the attacks. You should avoid tight clothing as it can irritate the already oversensitive skin leading to fresh breakouts. If you have acne cysts on your shoulder or chest avoid slinging a back pack or purse for too long. It is best to avoid all jewellry also. Metals and cheap imitation jewelry can worsen the condition. Sometimes they can break a lesion. The pus that comes out of the lesion can spread the infection to other parts of the body.

You should use a soft towel after a bath, and avoid rubbing the body aggressively. A ph balanced soap can be used to restore the physio-chemical balance of the body. Cream or oil-based moisturizers must be avoided. Also, bed linen, pillow covers and other articles of daily use should be cleaned in an antiseptic solution. This will kill all the microorganisms present in them thereby preventing re-infection.

A healthy diet always helps. It improves the natural skin tone and boosts the immune system.