Chest and back acne can be particularly bothersome—especially during hot summer months when humidity, sweat, and thick sunscreens clog pores and exacerbate the problem.

Not to mention no longer being able to hide it under turtlenecks, jackets, and scarves. This is the last thing anyone wants to deal with in the summertime, and it can take a toll on your overall confidence.

There are several reasons why you might be struggling with back, chest or butt acne. Some people suffer from this skin condition due to hormonal imbalances while others have a genetic tendency towards it.

But no matter the cause, acne can be very embarrassing and cause a lot of mental stress. When it comes to these areas, skin care is often forgotten, but you should really pay more attention to it.

I’m sure you’ve heard that the skin is the largest organ in our body, which means we should take good care of it. And by taking good care of our skin, we can prevent this type of acne from occurring.

Types of Back, Chest and Butt Acne

Papules: Inflammatory lesions often described as red bumps that are sitting superficially on the skin.

Pustules: Similar to papules, these are the same red bumps that are filled with pus, which is usually white or yellow in color (this is the type of lesion that a lot of us try to "pop").

Cysts: Inflammatory lesions that are sitting in the deeper layers of the skin and are often tender to the touch. These lesions can linger for a long time and can often cause scarring. This scarring can present as keloids, which are firm nodules in the skin or craters in the skin.

Black Heads: Clogged hair follicles that are open and which appear black in color, also known as blackheads.

White Heads: Clogged pores which close and appear white or yellowish, also known as whiteheads.

Causes and Treatment of Back, Chest and Butt Acne

There are many causes of chest acne, which is why it's important to treat it on a case-by-case basis. Common causes are hormonal changes, stress, and genetics.

Hormonal changes can lead to an increase in both testosterone and DHT, which is why chest acne is more common in men and teenagers. Many people suffer from acne on the chest, shoulders, back as well as butt.

The main cause of this is the same as for face acne: overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands, which are in the skin and open onto the surface through the pores. If you have oily or acne prone skin, you may struggle with this type of acne.

One of the best ways to clear up acne is to make sure you’re cleansing your skin properly.

We suggest using mineral earth cleansing gel followed by tonic active. When sweat sits on the skin for a long period of time, it can clog pores and causes acne to develop, therefore, rinsing after a workout can lead to significant improvement.

Treatment

Early and consistent treatment may be the key to success (and avoidance of scars) when working to get rid of chest acne. The chest area can be prone to scarring, and starting treatment early is key in preventing scarring.

It is important to remember that without consistency in a skincare routine, acne will linger and the chances of scarring will rise. Set a daily reminder if you need to!

Wild Blueberry: 

Use this lactic acid scrub before showering to exfoliate, absorb excess oils, unclog pores, and retexturize your skin for a smooth, even complexion. The scrub will also reduce discoloration.

Mineral Earth Cleansing Gel:

This black soap cleansing gel can be used on your face also, but is also very effective on the chest, back and butt. It's soap and sulfate-free, so you'll cleanse away makeup, bacteria, and impurities without over-drying.

Tonic Active: 

Beta hydroxy acid (bha) found in salicylic acid exfoliates as it kills bacteria. This astringent does the job without stripping your skin and causing excessively dry or oily skin.

Sulfur Clarifying Moisturizer:

Dead skin cells are responsible for blocking pores and creating the conditions necessary for acne causing bacteria to multiply. Sulfur helps to banish excess oil, and help prevent and heal blemishes.

Ritual: 

Cleanse chest, back and butt 2x per day.

Use Wild Blueberry scrub 3 times per week at night.

Follow with Tonic Active. Apply to cotton round and wipe the treatment area.

Apply Blemish control solution to the treatment area.

Follow with Sulfur Clarifying moisturizer until absorbed.

Optional: Apply Honey Masque to chest and back at night, [sleep with a clean shirt] and rinse off mask in the morning. (You will need to wash shirt after each use… also this will be sticky).

You should begin to see improvement within 7 days. Please keep in mind that it may get worse before it gets better, as the skin might be purging toxins.

Comment below with any questions.