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Acne on the Belly
Acne can occur anywhere on your body including your back, chest and belly. Acne.org, a website about treating and preventing breakouts, explains that acne develops when the sebaceous glands--glands that excrete oil--produce too much sebum 1. This oil, combined with dead skin cells and bacteria, choke pores and cause inflammation. Stomach acne can be uncomfortable from irritation caused by clothing and perspiration.
About Acne
In the article “Facts About Acne,” the FDA reports that about 80 percent of Americans between the ages of 11 and 30 break out at some point 1. It’s not a serious condition, says Jane Liedtka, an FDA medical officer, but no matter where you break out, acne can cause significant emotional distress.
Possible Causes
How to Get Rid of Acne on the Stomach
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The bacteria that cause acne, P. acnes, are located all over your body. In the right conditions, P. acne can cause irritation and inflammation anywhere. Wearing snug clothing or pants and underwear with an elastic band can create conditions conducive to breakouts. According to KidsHealth, tight clothing restricts your skin from breathing and can lock in dirt and oil 2. Using a fabric-softening detergent to wash your clothes can also cause some people to break out.
- The bacteria that cause acne, P. acnes, are located all over your body.
- According to KidsHealth, tight clothing restricts your skin from breathing and can lock in dirt and oil 2.
How to Treat Belly Acne
You should wash your skin with soap and water at least once a day. For acne-prone skin, wash those areas twice a day. Use a fragrance-free soap. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide to your stomach. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne.
- You should wash your skin with soap and water at least once a day.
- The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide to your stomach.
Preventing Acne
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Establish a daily acne-prevention routine. Wash your stomach twice a day with soap and water. Apply benzoyl peroxide not just to existing lesions, but also to the areas of your belly where you typically breakout. Benzoyl peroxide can prevent pimples from forming. Use astringent pads containing salicylic acid once a day. Daniel Kern, of Acne.org, recommends applying an over-the-counter alpha hydroxy acid, which can stop a developing zit in its tracks. The Mayo Clinic suggests using a few acne-fighting products to achieve the best result 3s
- Establish a daily acne-prevention routine.
- Apply benzoyl peroxide not just to existing lesions, but also to the areas of your belly where you typically breakout.
Warnings
You should never pop pimples. KidsHealth warns that popping pimples can push bacteria farther into the hair follicle, causing more swelling and redness. It can also cause permanent scarring. Only use moisturizers and sun block labeled oil-free, noncomedogenic, or nonacnegenic--products that won’t clog pores and cause acne.
Be sure you’re wearing sunscreen whenever your belly is exposed to the sun. While getting tan may temporarily camouflage existing acne, tanning and sunburn may trigger your body to produce more sebum. You should wear sunscreen containing an SPF of 15 or higher.
- You should never pop pimples.
- While getting tan may temporarily camouflage existing acne, tanning and sunburn may trigger your body to produce more sebum.
Related Articles
References
- FDA: Facts About Acne
- KidsHealth: Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin
- The Mayo Clinic: Acne Treatments and Drugs
- American Academy of Dermatology. I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?
- Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
- Gieler U, Gieler T, Kupfer JP. Acne and quality of life - impact and management. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2015;29 Suppl 4:12-4. doi:10.1111/jdv.13191
- American Academy of Dermatology. I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?
- American Academy of Dermatology. Moisturizer: Why you may need it if you have acne.
- Anderson KL, Dothard EH, Huang KE, Feldman SR. Frequency of primary nonadherence to acne treatment. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(6):623-6. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.5254
- Merck Manuals. Acne. Updated December 2018.
Writer Bio
Shannon Marks started her journalism career in 1994. She was a reporter at the "Beachcomber" in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and contributed to "Philadelphia Weekly." Marks also served as a research editor, reporter and contributing writer at lifestyle, travel and entertainment magazines in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in literature from Temple University.