BODY ACNE 101: WHAT IS NECK, CHEST & BACK ACNE?

Acne has no boundaries — it plagues people of all different ages, ethnicities, and genders. And the biggest kicker? It isn’t confined to one specific place either.

Acne can pop up (um, pun intended?) all over your body, not just on your face. Horrifying, we know. The other two most common areas for acne to show up uninvited to? Our necks, chests, and backs.

How To Get Rid Of Chest, Back & Neck Acne

If you have any of these, you probably already know they are not pleasant. For those who had no idea that acne can form anywhere else other than your face and want to learn more about what may cause it or what you can do to get rid of it for good, you’ve come to the right place.

What is chest and neck acne?

Chest and neck acne is exactly what it sounds like: pimples, blackheads or bumps that appear on your chest and neck. Just like on your face, when the pores on the skin of your chest become clogged with oil, dead skin, or bacteria, it can cause acne to break out.

What is back acne? (aka the notorious Bacne)

Back Acne is widely known and referred to as “Bacne”, a cute way to make those of us who have it feel better by giving it a clever nickname probably.

Just like acne on your face and chest, bacne occurs when pimples, blackheads or bumps appear on your back. It can be caused by the same clogging of pores with oil, dead skin, or bacteria.

What is bacne + chest + neck acne caused by?

Like face acne - bacne, neck and chest acne can be caused by a number of different things.

Some of the most common reasons for chest acne are: hormonal fluctuations, sugary foods, dehydration, working out (sweat gets stuck pores easily!), laundry detergents with dyes or perfumes, dry skin and sun exposure, oily moisturizers (an expert told us you should always use oil-free products) or makeup and perfumes.

What can I do to get rid of body acne? 

Since there can be multiple triggers for all three, it’s first important to nail down what is causing yours. Remember: acne is not one-size-fits-all! It’s very personal to your body and yours alone.

Once you find out the breakout culprit, here are some common steps you can try to kick it to the curb:

• keep the area clean and sweat-free (particularly after working out!)
• wear loose-fitting clothes when working out and during hotter months
• avoid applying makeup, perfume, or lotions to areas like the chest
• avoid laundry detergents with artificial dyes and scents
• switch to oil-free products

Help! I made those changes and I’m still struggling. What else can I do?

If you aren’t having any luck with any of the lifestyle changes above, it’s time to bring in the big guns...and by that we mean Peace Out Acne Dots.

Just pick a spot and stick the dot — each acne patch is soaked with an anti-acne ingredient that helps minimize breakouts and reduce redness overnight!

For other great self-care tips check out some of our other guides, including What Is Mascne & How To Treat It, How To Use Peace Out Pore Treatment Strips, and Not All Acne Is Created Equal!