How to Get Rid of Acne on the Breasts
Acne found along your chest and decolletage can make you feel awkward and self-conscious when you wear low-cut shirts 2. In the summer, you may even find yourself avoiding the beach. Luckily, you can treat your chest acne in the same way that you treat the acne on your face 2. With proper cleansing, treatment and care, you can have a smoother, sleeker chest that looks better in revealing tops.
Cleanse your chest area every day. Dirt, oil and sweat can clog pores and create acne. Even if you don't shower daily, wash your chest with soap each day to help dissolve dirt and oils.
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Exfoliate your chest at least once a week. Dead skin cells can collect on the surface of the skin, clogging pores and creating inflamed acne on your chest 2. Purchase an exfoliating cream from the store, or create your own exfoliating cream by mixing 1 cup of brown sugar with 3 tbsp. of olive oil, and rubbing it on your skin in a circular motion. Rinse away with warm water.
Treat your chest acne the same way that you treat acne on your face 2. Acne.org recommends using an ointment with at least 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide. Dab it on the affected area, and allow the ointment to dry before you get dressed. This will allow the ointment to absorb before your clothes rub it away. Use ointment over the entire prone area. If you have sensitive skin, apply once daily; benzoyl peroxide can dry out sensitive skin.
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Apply a homemade mask to spot-treat and dry out acne quickly. If you have an event coming up that requires you to wear a low-cut top, grind an aspirin, which contains acetylsalicylic acid, into a bowl, Ava Shamban, a Los Angeles dermatologist, suggests on the "Cosmopolitan" magazine website 2. Then, add enough water and honey to create a thin paste. Apply the paste to the acne and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing away. It should decrease the size and redness of your acne.
Wear loose-fitting clothing whenever possible, suggests the website for "Marie Claire" magazine. Tight bras and shirts can rub against chest acne, causing it to become inflamed 2. They can also trap sweat and oil, forcing it into your already clogged pores. Choose breathable, natural fabrics, such as linen and cotton, whenever possible.
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References
- Acne.org: Body Acne Treatment
- Cosmopolitan: Chest Acne
- Marie Claire: Preventing Back and Chest Acne
- 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
Kay Ireland specializes in health, fitness and lifestyle topics. She is a support worker in the neonatal intensive care and antepartum units of her local hospital and recently became a certified group fitness instructor.