What Causes Chest Acne & How to Treat It

It’s bad enough to struggle with face breakouts, but when the pimples spread all over the body, it’s enough to make anyone throw their hands up in frustration. If your chest acne has you running for the turtlenecks and the breakouts on your neck and chest area are becoming a problem, it’s time for a change.

What is Chest Acne?

What causes acne on my chest? According to the Mayo Clinic, the skin on your chest is riddled with sebaceous glands, just like your face. These glands are responsible for producing sebum, a waxy-like substance designed to keep the skin moisturized and supple. If the body produces too much sebum, the pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells, debris, and bacteria, which results in the formation of chest acne.

Women often experience breakouts on or around their breasts right before their periods begin. These chest pimples may be a result of fluctuating levels of hormones and friction caused by expanding breasts that rub against their bra.

How to Treat Chest Acne

Chest acne is common and affects people of all ages. In a recent survey, 60 percent of participants said they struggle with chest or back acne. There are a large variety of different causes of chest acne. It can be inherited, so if your parents or siblings have dealt with chest, neck, or shoulder acne, you are likely susceptible to breakouts as well. While you can’t control your genetic propensity for chest acne, there are ways to reduce the amount of breakouts you have.

Following these habits and avoiding acne mistakes can help clear up your skin and leave you glowing:

1. Follow a Skin Care Routine

If you're wondering how to get rid of back acne, chest acne, or breakouts on your face, the most important thing to do is to follow a daily skin care routine. As suggested by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, be sure to wash your chest daily with gentle exfoliating products and be sure to use a product that contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid. The more consistent you are with your skin care routine, the better off your skin will be.

Washing your skin twice daily with a non-comedogenic cleanser can help get rid of chest acne. Non-comedogenic skincare products are the best option since they are formulated not to clog pores. For more stubborn cases, you may need to back up your cleansing routine with a product containing salicylic acid for acne. Salicylic acid is a naturally-occurring exfoliating agent to reach deep into the pores and cleanse them of acne-causing bacteria. Our vegan acne treatment gel, Treat, contains 2% salicylic acid and soothing oat kernel to help battle blemishes without the burn. Although Treat was primarily designed for the face, it can also be used as a spot treatment for chest acne. Our Sudsy body wash also contains salicylic acid and is designed to help moisturize, exfoliate, and refresh the skin.

A Juicy Citrus Treat!

Indulge your body in a lathery, bubbly treat that’ll leave you feeling oh so fresh and clean. Drench yourself with botanicals while washing away ick, revealing beautifully balanced, silky smooth skin.

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2. Pay Attention to your Gym Skincare Habits

A regular gym routine is integral to holistic health, and exercise can actually benefit your skin immensely. However, hygiene habits related to your workouts may contribute to your breakouts. This is known as sports acne, which is caused by perspiration and friction during a workout routine. It's oftentimes one of the more common chest acne causes. Jump into the shower as soon as possible when you finish your workout because the sooner you get the sweat off, the less likely you are to suffer from breakouts.

If you switch between fitness machines, it’s ideal that you change into new clothes. Getting off as much sweat as possible between switching machines can significantly reduce breakouts.

3. Wear Breathable Fabrics

If you wear tight clothing during your workouts or even on a daily basis, sweat can get trapped against your skin. Bacteria will grow and the friction will cause the bacteria to clog your pores. Instead, wear breathable fabrics and avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester that cause excess perspiration. Shirts and pants designed to wick sweat will keep those pores dry and protected from excess irritation. Ladies should avoid cotton bras because they’re not breathable and can trap perspiration against the skin.

4. Try a New Shampoo

Unless you struggle with pimples on your scalp, you probably don’t think of your hair as a cause of acne. However, the chemicals in your hair products have the potential to cause breakouts. Some shampoos contain comedogenic ingredients, and as you rinse out your shampoo, it may run down the body and clog pores on your chest.

5. Consider Your Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent can play a factor in your chest acne. Most detergents contain fragrances that are made of ingredients that can cause irritation and dryness. When the skin is excessively dry, the body may produce excess sebum. This sebum can clog up pores and create pimples. Look for laundry detergents that are free of artificial fragrance, and be sure to try different detergents, watching how your skin reacts to the varied types to better determine which one works well with your skin.

6. Examine Shaving Issues

Those who shave their chests often deal with breakouts. Why? After shaving, hairs will grow back into their follicles, which can result in pink bumps known as acne keloidalis nuchae. In order to prevent this from reoccurring, always use new, sharp razors. If you shave your face or neck, shaving products may fall or leak down onto your upper chest. Be sure to prevent this type of dribbling to better avoid these breakouts.

Stay Hydrated

The benefits of drinking water for healthy skin include maintaining proper hydration levels. If you don't drink enough water regularly, your skin may exhibit signs of dehydration, resulting in dryness, dullness, and increased risk of signs of premature aging.

When to See a Dermatologist

If you’ve been unsuccessful at your attempts to treat your chest acne, be sure to visit a dermatologist or professional who will have additional recommendations on how to remove chest acne. Leaving your chest acne untreated can result in deep scarring, so seek treatment as soon as possible. A dermatologist may prescribe a more intensive treatment to help combat painful, infected breakouts.

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Abby Vinas

Abby Vinas has long been an active member of the holistic health community, advocating in favor of its benefits to both our physical and emotional well-being. Her commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle has made her an authority on self-care practices. Abby is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and proper skincare, and is also an avid lover of avocado toast and dog-petting.