Body Acne Home Remedies

Though facial acne is more common than body acne, symptoms can be more annoying in case of the latter. The only difference between the two is that the latter appears on the body, while the former appears on the face. Acne can affect the upper part of the body, particularly the back, chest, and shoulders.

Despite so many similarities, the home remedies are quite different from that of facial acne, for the simple reason that the body skin is much thicker as compared to facial skin.

Basically, this is a skin infection caused by bacteria. When there is overproduction of sebum, which is the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands that lie under the hair follicles, the skin pores get clogged up. Dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria that get trapped inside these pores trigger skin inflammation, thereby leading to the development of acne.

The condition worsens further when the pores get irritated due to the factors like sweat, oil, and friction from synthetic fibers of clothes. Hormonal imbalance during puberty, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy are often found to be responsible for increase in sebum production.

Some people may get too many pimples on the body due to genetic reasons. Poor hygiene, side effects of medicines, and stress are the other major causes in general.

There are a number of simple ways of treating this skin ailment at home. Here are a few such home remedies that work really well.

Keep the Skin Clean: Instead of a soap, use a good quality body wash to keep the infected area clean. This is because, it is easier to rinse off from the body. Skin should be kept clean to prevent the pores from getting clogged by sebum, sweat, and bacteria.

You should take a shower after exercise or after performing any such physically strenuous activity that can make you sweat a lot. Do not touch the affected skin with unwashed hands as the dirt and germs from your hands can worsen the infection.

Cucumber: Take a cucumber, cut it into small pieces and put it inside a blender to prepare a smooth paste. Apply it all over the affected part of the body and keep it untouched for at least 15 minutes. Then, wash it off thoroughly with water. Cucumber cleans up the skin, makes it free from dirt and oil, thereby reducing the incidence of acne.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is considered to be the best home remedy as it can fight off the bacterial infection really well. You should not use tea tree oil directly on the pimples as it can cause skin irritation. Mix it with a carrier oil like olive oil.

Take 2 teaspoon of olive oil and put a few drops of tea tree oil into it. Before application, wash the affected area thoroughly. When you apply it everyday, the acne will clear up in no time.

Lemon Juice: The acidic component of lemon juice helps to clean up the skin pores and thus, reduces the size of the body acne. You can apply fresh lemon juice in its concentrated form, directly on the acne. But if the concentrated form is too harsh on your skin, then dilute it with some water.

Dip a cotton ball into the juice, and apply it generously over the acne and its surrounding area. Wait for 15 minutes and wash it off. This is an excellent treatment for acne scars as well.

Healthy Diet: Along with these home remedies, you must keep a watch on what you eat. Fatty, sugary, and spicy foods often aggravate acne infection. Therefore, you must avoid all such food products. Your diet should include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean meat.

A good amount of vitamin A, E, and C are important for acne control. You can also take supplements to meet this requirement, but only after consulting a doctor.

Drink Water: You should drink 8 - 12 glasses of water everyday. Water helps in the elimination of toxins from the body. It is not just good for the treatment of acne but also helps in preventing it.

Besides following the aforementioned remedies, you must also keep the skin clean to prevent any further eruptions. Maintain good personal hygiene and keep the body clean. Wear loose-fitting clothes that are made of natural fabrics so as to prevent sweat buildup.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert dermatologist advice.