How to Shower with Body Acne: The Right Routine

Body acne can be a very frustrating skin condition. It is generally characterized by the inflammatory acne lesions such as papules, pustules, nodules and cysts on the different body parts such as Arms, Legs, Shoulders, Neck, Chest and your Back.

These pimples on the body are generally marked with

Redness
Swelling
Pain

The inflammation and irritation around these pimples on the body make the bathing and shower body acne ritual a tough as well as painful task to be performed on a daily basis to ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene of the body.

This blog explains the science behind the development of acne on the body, its root causes and key triggers. This will also explore the preventive management strategies against the body acne.

The top picks for the best body cleansers for acne will also be shared in the blog. This also decodes the common mistakes that you may be making that can aggravate the body acne and the correct routine you should follow on a daily basis to prevent the recurring body breakouts.

The Science Behind Body Acne

The body acne on skin develops in the 4 core stages that includes:

Excessive Oiliness On The Skin--The hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands leads to the overproduction of sebum on the skin. This excess of oiliness traps the dirt, dead skin cells and other residual impurities on the skin. It also irritates the skin barrier with a greasy and tacky feel on the body.
Poor Desquamation--The improper shedding of the dead skin cells and imbalance in the skin cell turnover leads to the deposition of the debris of the dead cells on the body.
Congestion Of The Pores--The debris of dead cells mixed with excess sebum, sweat and dirt promote the clogging of the walls of the pores of the body.
Proliferation Of Microbes & Inflammation--The congested pores behave as the perfect anoxic environment for the growth and multiplication of the acne causing microorganisms on the skin that metabolize the sebum to skin-irritating substances. These trigger a cascade of inflammatory response on the skin which ultimately leads to the formation of pimples on the body.

Root Causes Of Acne On Body

Sr. No.	Root Cause	How It Affects Body Acne
	Mental Stress	Triggers the cortisol production that stimulates the hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands of the skin.
	High Sugar Diet	Stimulates the insulin spike in the body with the surge of IGF-1 that promotes systemic inflammation, alters the sebum quality and promotes excessive oiliness on the skin.
	Sun / UV Exposure	Adds to the oxidative damage on the skin. Promotes darkening of the post-acne marks, pigmentation and results in uneven skin tone with sun tan or even skin damage due to sun burns.
	Hormonal Imbalance	The fluctuations in the levels of the hormones affect the activity of the sebaceous glands and skin cell turnover.
5.	Friction & Occlusion	This leads to irritation of the skin barrier and subsequent development of acne lesions on the body.

Key Triggers For Body Acne

1. Environmental Pollution

This adds up the dirt on the skin and the oxidative stress with the increased formation of free radicals that weaken the skin barrier.

2. Changing Weather

The skin barrier tends to behave differently in different weather conditions such as

Sweaty, dehydrated and damp skin in hot summers
Moist and oily skin in humid monsoon
Dry and flaky skin in cold winters

3. Frequent Stressful Episodes

This leads to the constant surge in the cortisol inside the body. This hormone binds to the sebaceous glands at the receptor binding sites and promotes the secretion of sebum on the skin in excess.

4. Constant Friction

Excessive irritation on the skin due to friction with tight clothing, damp skin due to heavy sweating and rubbing with equipment such as head gear, helmets, hats, etc.

5. Layering Acne-Prone Skin With Comedogenic Products

The application of comedogenic products on the skin ends up promoting the congestion of pores and ultimately the acne on the body.

Tips For The Preventive Management Of Body Acne

Sr. No.	Tips To Prevent Body Acne
1.	Showering & Hygiene Habits	Always shower right after you exercise to wash out any trapped sweat. While washing, start with hair and then use the body wash to rinse out any comedogenic hair conditioner from the body. Use lukewarm water that is basically neither too hot nor too cold to avoid the skin feeling too dry. Don’t rub with your body brush, loofahs or rough scrubbing material to leave your skin less irritated. Pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it vigorously with a towel. Don’t use the same towel for your face and body for acne-afflicted areas. Change the body and hand towels with every use to reduce the residual buildup. Don’t ever pick at a body breakout. Regularly clean your body with antibacterial soap.
2.	Product Selection & Ingredients	Search out completely “non-comedogenic” ingredients within your skincare products. Select non-greasy moisturizers for maintaining moisture without clogging up your skin’s pores. Use Salicylic Acid body washes to remove deep-seated pore debris. Use a tea tree oil wash for killing acne bacteria on your skin. Use topical agents such as AHAs, BHAs for regulating skin cell turnover. Do not use high-fat butter products with cocoa butter and coconut oil. Choose non-fragrance based products for reducing inflammation of your skin. Try Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid body soaps for natural as well as mild antibacterial properties.
3.	Clothing & Wardrobe Choices	Put on breathable as well as comfortable clothes to reduce any rubbing. Select cottony soft fabric instead of tight synthetic blends. Clean your workout clothes with each use. Change wet clothes right away when you sweat or get drenched in rain. Don’t wear a tight sports bra and a tight compression shirt which will trap your sweat and aggravate the friction. Before wearing a fresh garment, wash it out completely. Loosen backpack straps to stop friction acne. Use fresh night wear every night to minimize oil transfer.
4.	Laundry & Household Routine	Change bed sheets on a regular basis. Change your pillowcases every few days. Use gentle as well as less-irritant detergents. Clean fitness equipment before and after every use. Wipe down your phone screen.
5.	Diet & Internal Hydration	Reduce the intake of foods with high glycemic load. Limit the intake of dairy if there is associated systemic inflammation. Drink water at regular intervals to stay hydrated Consume anti-oxidant rich meals including berries and green vegetables. Reduce the consumption of highly processed foods like chips, chocolates, fast-food etc.
6.	Lifestyle & Stress	Perform stress reducing activities like yoga & meditation Ensure quality sleep schedule
7.	Sun Care & Outdoor Habits	Use sunscreen Avoid prolonged exposure under the sun
8.	Professional Advice	Consult a doctor for professional advice.

Top 10 Picks For The Best Body Cleansers

Alite Anti-Acne Soap Enriched With Salicylic Acid & Tea Tree Oil
Alite Antibacterial Soap With The Power Of Neem & Aloe Vera
Alite Anti-bacterial Soap With The Goodness Of Neem & Turmeric
Be Bodywise 1% Salicylic Acid Body Wash Body Acne
Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 02% Body Wash
The Derma Co 1% Salicylic Acid Daily Exfoliating Body Wash
Chemist at Play Acne Control Body Wash
Dove Acne Clear Body Wash with 1% Salicylic Acid
PLIX Jamun 2% Salicylic Acid Body Wash For Body Acne
Dot & Key Cica & Salicylic Exfoliating Shower Gel

Common Mistakes To Avoid

1. Vigorous exfoliation of the skin

It may lead to the irritation of the skin barrier with disrupting the natural moisture barrier shielding against the pollutants.

2. Skipping post-workout showers

This may add to the damp and sweaty feel of the skin with constant rubbing and friction can irritate the skin with increase in congested pores.

3. Using comedogenic body lotions

These can literally promote the development of comedones in the skin with increased clogging of the pores.

4. Wearing tight clothes

Tight clothing creates more rubbing, occlusion and friction on the skin, aggravating the irritation and promoting inflammation.

5. Using unhygienic gym equipments

They usually present the build up of dirt, sweat, oil and bacteria when used repeatedly without proper cleansing and can totally increase the risk of microbial infection with direct exposure to the acne prone skin.

Correct Shower Routine For Body Acn

Wash the hair--Remove any residue that may clog the pores of your body.
Use lukewarm water to wet the body--This prevents the excessive dryness on the skin that is common with extremely hot or cold water.
Cleanse with Anti-Acne Soap / Body Wash--This ensures proper removal of any excess oil, dirt, sweat and acne bacteria from the body with utmost gentle care. Using a formulated wash while bathing body acne prone skin can significantly reduce breakouts.
Rinse thoroughly--Make sure that no residue is left behind on the body and it is properly washed.
Gently dry the skin--Pat the skin dry using a clean and soft towel.