How to Get Rid of Chest Acne in These 6 Steps

We’ve all been there. You’ve had a long, grueling week at the office (even if it’s in your home) with barely enough time to eat and catch up on your favorite show before bed, and then you wake up and do it all over again.

Among the many sad parts of those weeks is that you’ve been living in your workwear — all profesh, all the time, with no date nights or happy hours to let you break out the more fun or even risque pieces of your wardrobe for some much needed time off the clock. Or, maybe you’ve been working at home in your comfiest sweats (or even pajamas), reminiscing about the days of getting to play dress-up with your favorite statement pieces.

Now it’s the weekend, and you’ve got a girl’s night — or a hot date. And you can finally push back the hangers full of beige in your closet and get to the good stuff. You pull out something low cut you’ve been dreaming of styling all week, try it on, look in the mirror and there it is.

A splotch of angry red acne on your chest. Haven’t you suffered enough!?

Chest acne can be an incredibly frustrating skin problem that gets in the way of the full-body glow you’re after in your favorite weekend looks. Especially when you already devote time and attention to keep acne on your face at bay, having one more area to look after is not ideal.

What Causes Chest Acne?

The answer is annoyingly obvious: pretty much the same things that cause acne on your face.

Acne is a super common skin complaint that almost everyone will struggle with somewhere on their body at some point in their lives. Acne can appear anywhere and can be caused by simple things such as hormone fluctuations. If you notice your breakouts seem to revolve around your menstrual cycle, you’re not imagining it.

If acne is specific to your body, it could be caused by something your skin comes into contact with regularly, such as a laundry detergent, type of dye or strong perfume that just doesn’t get along with your skin. If you can’t seem to keep chest acne from coming back time and time again, try rotating out anything with a strong scent that comes in contact with your skin one by one and see if it has any effect.

And just like your face, what you eat can cause chest acne, too. Too much sugar or not enough water are two of the most common problems. Luckily, much like acne on your face, chest acne isn’t permanent, and there are steps you can take to make that deep-v your favorite neckline once again.

1. Shower Daily

There’s all kinds of conflicting advice out there about how often to shower, not to mention how often to shampoo your hair. But if you’re struggling with chest acne, showering daily can really help.

Because chest acne really isn’t any different from acne on your face, washing on a daily basis can help to remove any build-up of oil, dirt, sweat and other things that can clog your pores and increase your chances of getting acne on your chest or elsewhere.

It also might help to finish your shower with a quick blast of cold water — this will help close your pores and leave you less vulnerable to all of the elements that can cause chest acne in the first place.

2. Make Sure Your Body Wash Is Doing the Work

We put a lot of thought into what kind of cleanser we use on our faces. But we totally get it if your thought process when it comes to cleaning your body is more along the lines of, “what smells the best?”

Because acne on your body isn’t necessarily at the top of your list of skincare concerns, and it often comes and goes as it pleases, your go-to body wash may not be working as hard as it could be.

3. Exfoliate Regularly

Now that you’re doing everything you can to keep your body clean and fresh, it’s time to go a step further. Our Clear and Even Tone Body Cleansing Bar can help give your skin a good scrub, thereby removing any buildup of dead skin cells your cleanser may have missed.

The abrasive texture of physical exfoliants also can help to stimulate new growth, leading to healthier, smoother skin with regular use.

With familiar, reliably potent ingredients like Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Charcoal, and all kinds of delicious, nourishing oils, incorporating exfoliation into your regular shower routine can help keep any skin concerns around your body away.

It can also improve the appearance of dark marks or hyperpigmentation on your skin, so if you’re worried about a particularly bad bout of scarring, this body wash can help.

4. Keep Your Moisturizer Light

Just like face acne, acne on your chest can be caused by a buildup of oil. Try switching to a moisturizer that’s formulated specifically for oily, acne-prone skin, like ShineBlock™ Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30.

You’ll want something light, mattifying, and non-comedogenic — which is to say, it doesn’t block your pores — that also comes with the bonus of SPF protection, so that you don’t further aggravate your angry skin with too much sun exposure.

5. Serums and Spot Treatments Are Your Friend

As you probably know, facial skincare is critical, and there is a wide variety of products aimed at soothing the skin on your face. However, taking good care of the skin on your body is just as important, and when it comes to finding great products that nourish this skin and give it the treatment it deserves, we have just what you need.

We love Even Tone Smoothing Body Treatment for giving our skin an extra boost when we’re struggling with blemishes. It includes some usual favorite ingredients, like Glycolic Acid and NIacinamide, both of which can help even out and brighten your skin.

But what really kicks it up a notch is retinol, which works wonders for your skin in so many ways, so applying a layer of this body treatment to your chest when you’re fighting a breakout is a real lifesaver.

As with all Retinols, make sure you’re applying sunscreen properly when you’re using them, as they may make your skin more susceptible to sun damage.

If you want to do a bit extra — or if you’re not really interested in adding yet another cream to your routine — Clear Skin Clarifying Back and Body Spray is the answer you’ve been looking for.

After cleansing and drying your skin, you can give your chest a spritz of this light but heavy-hitting formula. Start with once a day, and increase your usage if you’d like to twice a day, as long as you’re not experiencing any irritation. This spray is quick drying, too, so if you’re in a hurry, it’s easy to use on your way out the door.

6. Keep It Loose

While you may feel the urge to cover up your chest if you’re experiencing a breakout in that area, it’s worth being a bit mindful about what you’re wearing.

To give any products you’re using the best chance to work — you don’t want them rubbing off into your clothes! — and to allow your skin to breathe, as well as to avoid any additional irritation, you’ll want to keep your clothing light and breezy over the affected area.

If it’s warm where you are, this might seem like an easy thing to accomplish. If you’re looking at freezing temperatures, you might be less sure about how to give your chest acne some space to heal — but don’t worry. You can still wear your coziest sweater. Just layer up with a reliable, soft t-shirt underneath so that you keep any rougher fibers away from your skin.

Conclusion

There is nothing more frustrating than getting your skincare routine down to a science and seeing amazing results on your face, only to then be confronted with a breakout on your chest.

Luckily, all of the steps you already know and love when it comes to fighting acne on your face also apply to getting rid of a chest acne breakout, so you’re already on your way to getting your glow back.