How to fight body acne

News flash: you're a babe, with or without acne. Do you embrace it? Great. Do you want less of it? Also great. Whatever you want to do with the breakouts on your body, here's what's actually going on — and what you can do about it.

What actually causes body acne?

Body acne works the same way as face acne: pores get clogged with a combination of excess oil (sebum) and dead skin cells, bacteria gets involved, and a breakout follows. The difference is that your back, chest, and butt have more sebaceous glands than most areas — which means more oil production and more opportunity for congestion.

A few things that can make body acne worse:

• Hormones — going through puberty, pregnancy, your cycle, or any major hormonal shift can all ramp up sebum production and trigger breakouts
• Sweat — when sweat sits on skin, it mixes with oil and dead skin cells. If you're not showering soon after exercise, that's a clog waiting to happen
• Tight clothing — friction from fitted activewear traps sweat and bacteria against your skin
• Fragranced laundry detergent — the residue left on fabric can irritate breakout-prone skin
• Stress — it triggers cortisol, which triggers oil production, which triggers breakouts. Fun cycle, babe
• Genetics — there's a good chance you can thank your parents for this one

And a few things that don't cause body acne, despite what you might have heard: alcohol, greasy food, and dirt. Poor hygiene doesn't cause acne (though you should still shower after the gym, babe — #letsbefrank).

What type of acne do you have?

Knowing what you're dealing with helps you treat it properly. There are two categories:

Non-inflammatory acne — this includes whiteheads (closed clogged pores) and blackheads (open clogged pores). These respond well to gentle exfoliation and consistent cleansing.

Inflammatory acne — this includes papules (red, raised bumps), pustules (bumps with visible pus), nodules (deep, hard lumps under the skin), and cysts (deep, painful, fluid-filled lumps). Inflammatory acne — especially nodules and cysts — is best managed with a dermatologist's help. A topical routine can support it, but it often needs more than skincare alone.

How to treat bacne, buttne, and chestne

The approach is the same regardless of where the breakout is. You need to clear the congestion that's already there, and stop new congestion from building up. That means exfoliation, an active cleanser, and consistency.

Step one: exfoliate to clear the pore

Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells that would otherwise block pores and create the conditions for a breakout. It also helps fade post-acne marks by turning over the top layer of skin faster — which is why it's useful even after the active breakout has cleared.

My Glycolic Body Scrub combines glycolic acid (a chemical exfoliant that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells) with pumice (a physical exfoliant that buffs the surface). The two together go harder on congestion than either would alone. Use it 2–3 times a week on the affected areas — back, chest, shoulders, butt — and rinse thoroughly.

For acne-prone skin that's also sensitive or easily irritated, my Clearing Body Scrub uses finer pumice alongside salicylic acid, niacinamide, and white clay. It's designed to clear congestion without aggravating active breakouts.

Step two: use an active body wash daily

What you're washing with matters. A standard body wash cleans the surface; an acid-based wash actually gets into the pore. My Triple Acid Body Wash has glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid in a daily formula — gentle enough to use every shower, active enough to keep congestion from building up between exfoliation sessions. Wash your bacne-prone areas, leave it on for 30 seconds if you can, then rinse.

Step three: treat between showers

If you're dealing with breakouts on your back or shoulders — areas that are hard to reach and easy to sweat on — the Triple Acid Body Mist earns its place. It's a lightweight spray with glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid that you can spritz on after the gym, after swimming, or any time your skin needs a reset. No residue, no rubbing in required.

Step four: follow with an acid moisturiser, not a heavy cream

Skipping moisturiser when you have acne is a common mistake. Dehydrated skin overproduces oil to compensate, which makes congestion worse. The key is choosing the right moisturiser.

My Smoothing AHA Body Lotion is lightweight and non-pore-blocking, with lactic and glycolic acids that continue the exfoliation work while hydrating. Apply it to clean, slightly damp skin after showering. It's particularly good for the chest and upper arms where body acne and KP often overlap.

Other things that help

• Shower promptly after exercise — sweat sitting on skin is one of the most preventable contributors to body breakouts
• Switch to a fragrance-free laundry detergent — residue from fragranced detergents can irritate skin and block pores
• Wear looser clothing when possible — especially during and after workouts
• Change your pillowcase regularly — if you're getting chest or shoulder breakouts, what your skin rests against matters
• Don't pick — squeezing body spots pushes bacteria deeper and significantly increases the risk of scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

When to see a dermatologist

A skincare routine can do a lot, but it has limits. If your breakouts are deep, painful, or cystic, or if they're not responding to a consistent active routine after 8–12 weeks, a dermatologist is your best next step. Prescription options — including topical retinoids, antibiotics, or in some cases oral medication — can make a significant difference for inflammatory acne that skincare alone isn't shifting.

As always babe, I'm here to support you. But if you're ever unsure, consult your doctor or dermatologist.

x frank