How to Get Rid of Acne on Your Arms
Acne can occur anywhere on the body. When acne appears on your arms, it can cause the skin to feel rough and unevenly textured. The skin on your arms can hurt if clothing constantly rubs against the acne. You can treat acne on your arms with a routine that involves cleaning, medicating and moisturizing on a regular basis. The arm acne may completely disappear, and your arms can return to their original smooth state.
Cleanse acne on the arms with a gentle soap formulated for sensitive skin types 1. Wet your arms with water, and lather up your hands with a sensitive skin soap. Spread the lather onto your arms, covering the entire area affected by acne. Rinse off the skin well. Repeat twice per day.
Red, Blotchy Skin on the Arms
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Medicate acne on your arms by using a low concentration benzoyl peroxide cream. Squeeze out a dime-sized amount of 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream and distribute it evenly onto both hands. Apply the cream to the affected areas of your arms. Continue to smooth the cream on your arms until it has been completely absorbed into the skin. Repeat twice per day.
Moisturize arm acne using an oil-free moisturizing lotion. Squeeze a quarter-sized amount of an oil-free moisturizing lotion into your fingers, distributing it evenly between your hands. Apply the lotion to the affected area of your arms. Repeat twice per day.
Tips
Keep in mind that soaps designed for sensitive skin will be free of skin-irritating chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, petroleum, artificial perfumes or mineral oil. A sensitive skin soap cleans the skin thoroughly without aggravating acne breakouts.
Avoid scrubbing or rubbing the skin during cleansing, which can exacerbate acne.
Low concentration benzoyl peroxide cream will clear up acne without causing the damaging side effects that the higher strength creams can cause, such as peeling, redness and burning. Use only the lowest concentration benzoyl peroxide cream, no higher than 2.5 percent in strength.
Using an oil-free moisturizing lotion after benzoyl peroxide keeps the skin from becoming too dry, while not reclogging the pores with comedogenic oils and waxes.
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References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin Wrinkles and Blemishes
- 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.