Sunday, December 28, 2008

Understanding Body Acne Helps Lead To Clearer Skin

By Nathan James

Most people believe that once they get through puberty they will seldom see break outs of acne, but reality can be a source of frustration for many adults as they contend with this unsightly problem throughout their adult life. In addition to the usual spots on the face and neck, body acne can be a source of embarrassment as well as uncomfortable when rubbed and irritated by clothing.

Some of the typical causes of acne include hormonal changes, the menstrual cycle, and stress. In addition to these, body acne is frequently brought about by tight clothing and sweating.

Regardless of where it appears on the body, acne occurs as a result of the mixture of dirt and dead skin cells on the skin's surface with sebum. Sebum is made by the glands that moisturize the skin. This mixture is what clogs the skin's pores and causes acne to show up. Even though we tend to associate acne with the skin and neck, body acne can hide beneath clothing on the back, shoulders, legs, and butt.

Due to the fact that doing strenuous exercise causes the body to sweat profusely, people who do regular exercise in tight fitting clothing are at high risk for developing body acne. For most people, making some good choices and taking some preventative measures can help them to make their skin clearer.

Prevention Is Best Cure For Acne

Although the severity of body acne cannot be directly controlled, the frequency with which the body breaks out can be reduced by taking some important steps for prevention. It is true that eating a good diet promotes good health, but the long held theory belief that certain foods cause acne is not supported in any way by medical science. Even though reaching the skin all over your body can sometimes be difficult, exfoliation is the most important step in preventing acne.

The skin on the back and legs is thicker than on the face so a five to 10 percent cream of benzoyl peroxide is usually able to be used in the fight against body acne without irritating the skin.

After exfoliating the skin, it is important to use a good moisturizer. This will prevent the skin from getting too dry after dead skin cells have been removed from the surface. It is important to shower after working out and to avoid wearing excessively tight clothes. - 16650

About the Author: