In its mild form, it may not always cause
major discomfort but severe forms can lead to skin infection, bleeding and
scarring.
Who gets chest acne?
Chest acne can affect people ranging from 11
to 40 years old and above. It can appear equally in both men and women. It is
still a mystery why chest acne can afflict some people while others don't
exhibit the same problem. Its root cause is still unknown. It does have a
tendency to run in families and it usually appears in people with extra oily
skin and those who sweat excessively.
What is chest acne causes?
Chest acne develops in the same way as regular
acne does. Oil-producing sebaceous glands found just underneath the skin's
surface naturally excrete sebum. Usually, no problems occur as long as the rate
of sebum production remains normal. Sebum and dead skin cells are usually
washed away during regular cleansing and bathing, so the skin remains clear. It
is only when there is hyperactivity in the glands that there is reason for
concern.
When there is an over production of sebum, the
pores become clogged. The trapped sebum and dead skin cells create the perfect
living condition for the bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. These
bacteria settle on the skin, multiply and cause skin infection. This infection
leads to the formation of pimples or acne, characterized by red and inflamed
bumps.
Treating chest acne
If what you have is a mild form of chest acne,
also referred to as 'zits', you're probably in luck. Chest acne that is still
in its initial stages is usually easier to treat. You also don't need to worry
about the type and number of treatments available for chest acne because there
are many options you can choose from, depending on the severity of your
condition.
There is no known cure for acne and any
product promising to erase your chest acne for good may be stretching the
truth. This is because there is no true cure for acne since its root cause is
unknown. Whatever treatment that is available in the market today is used
mainly to address the symptoms. Eradicate the symptoms and you eradicate chest
acne.
Related article: hormonal acne symptoms and 9 ways to fight it
If you have chest acne, never try to press a
pimple with your bare hands or attempt to cut through a cyst. You will risk
infection if you do and you could even cause some scarring to appear. Try to
handle your chest acne as gently as possible and remember to keep your hands
off unless necessary.
Use an antibacterial soap that is especially formulated
to treat acne and wash the affected area. You might have to repeat the process
depending on the product's or your doctor's recommendation. Carefully dry your
skin and apply an antibacterial cream. Try to wash the affected area twice a
day, once in the morning and once before going to bed.
There are several brands of over-the-counter
creams and gels that are commonly used to treat chest acne, most of which
contain the ingredient benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is an effective
oxidizer and keratolytic that effectively kills the P. acnes bacteria and helps
reduce the redness and swelling.
If applying a topical antibacterial ointment
seems inconvenient, ask your doctor if it's possible for you to use an oral
antibiotic. This is usually the method of treatment for acne that covers a
wider area of the skin.
Read more: acne solutions when antibiotic not working
When taking antibiotics, you might have to
follow a treatment course that could last for several weeks, sometimes as long
as 12 weeks in more severe cases. If you don't complete a treatment using
antibiotics, chest acne will reappear and might even worsen, so make sure you
follow your doctor's recommendation.
For more severe forms of chest acne, such as
those that involve pustules and cysts, see a doctor for a proper recommendation
of treatment. He might prescribe stronger medications that you can take in oral
form or receive as an injection. You might also be recommended for steroids or
laser therapy.
Tight clothing and chest acne
If you find that tight clothing tends to
aggravate your chest acne, try to avoid wearing them. Choose clothes that do
not hug your skin too much and wear fabrics made of light, breathable material
like cotton. Try not to use fabrics that may chafe or irritate your skin.
For days when you need to expose your
décolletage, there is an emergency fix you can use. Apply a mild disinfectant
on your skin and use a concealer that contains salicylic acid. Use a swab to
apply the product to ensure that you keep the area germ-free. This will serve
as a temporary solution until after you've found the perfect solution for your
chest acne.