“Where there are oil glands, there is a risk for plugged pores,” says dermatological nurse and celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar. “The only difference between facial acne and chest acne is location and triggers.” For example, the chest is exposed to different factors that don’t affect the face like clothing materials, bras, scarves, jewelry, perfume, long hair and temperature. “It’s also often neglected compared to the face,” says Aguilar. “Most people just use skincare from the jawline up, and don’t regularly cleanse, moisturize and wear SPF on their chest.” But it may look different than acne on other parts of your body. “Usually, the acne on the chest presents as papules and pustules, which are more superficial and look like raised bumps,” says Karen Fernandez, Lead Aesthetician at SkinSpirit. “It’s less common to have deeper cystic acne, which tends to happen where skin is thicker on the face or back areas.” You also can experience fungal acne on your chest. “This form of folliculitis caused by an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast on our body,” says Vanessa Coppola, FNP-BC, board-certified Nurse Practitioner and Aesthetic Specialist and owner of Bare Aesthetic Medical Spa. “Folliculitis occurs from inflammation of the hair follicle. In the case of fungal acne, the offending organism is a yeast, Fungal acne is typically unresponsive to traditional ace regimens. Fungal acne typically occurs in a warm and humid environment.”
Causes of chest acne
Your chest could be breaking out for a few reasons. These include:
Your skin is oily
“Having naturally oily skin, in general, makes you more prone to acne anywhere on the body and not just your face,” saysDr. Howard Sobel, MD, Clinical Attending Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital NYC and founder of Sobel Skin + Sobel Skin RX.
The skin on the chest is very different the skin on the face
“It is thinner with less oils, and the healing time for skin on the chest is slower,” says Fernandez. “The chest area is actually more sensitive and reactive than the skin on other areas of the body.”
You’re taking certain medications
“The consumption of certain medications such as corticosteroids, lithium, or exogenous androgenic hormones such as testosterone can cause chest acne,” says Coppola.
Your skin is exposed to heat or sun
“The inflammatory reaction of heat and sun exposure can trigger chest breakouts,” says Fernandez.
You wear tight clothes
“Clothing friction can cause chest acne, and those who are most likely to get chest acne are those who work out in tight clothing and tend to sweat a lot,” says Aguilar.
You sweat a lot
“Sweat combined with heat and friction can lead to bacteria overgrowth and clogging,” says Aguilar. “Sweat can also trap dirt and debris in your pores.”
You’re super stressed
“There are some theories that suggest that stress can play a role in acne formation and severity, and although no definitive link has been established, there is an association between stress and inflammation which may play a role in acne formation,” says Coppola.
Your hormone levels are high
“For everyone, hormones are a large factor, and higher than normal levels of hormones will have acne-causing effects,” says Fernandez.
How to treat and avoid chest acne
Here are 12 tips to follow to get rid of your chest acne.
Try a hot and cold compress
“Instead of attempting to pinch or squeeze at chest breakouts, one can perform hot and cold compresses on the affected areas,” says Aguilar. “Hot and cold compresses help to ‘shock’ the breakouts and help to increase circulation in the area; encouraging faster healing.”
Avoid foods that have a high glycemic index
“Avoiding sweets -including sugary fruits, white bread/rice, potatoes, cereal etc. will help to improve all over acne,” says Sarah Akram, celebrity Master Esthetician and owner of Sarah Akram Skincare. “When you incorporate these foods into your diet, you are increasing your chance of high blood sugar levels, which causes your body to produce excess sebum which will cause breakouts.”
Keep an acne spot treatment on hand
“Nowadays one can easily find a great spot treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide,” says Aguilar. “These fast-working products generally have powerful soothing properties and active ingredients to help minimize inflammation, and irritation, to control breakouts.”
Try a retinoid
“The use of topical retinoids or retinol, both prescription and over the counter, can help to speed up cellular turnover and exfoliation to help clear clogged pores,” says Coppola.
Wear clothing that is loose and not too close to the body
“This is in line with the sweat sitting on the skin too long because the skin needs to breathe so if tight clothing is always against your pores, acne has a chance to pop up,” says Dr. Sobel. “The skin cannot breathe properly in tight clothing and eliminates the chance of the skin becoming irritated. Tight fabrics can trap in bacteria and oils which can clog pores. Cotton is the best fabric to wear because it is the most breathable while spandex and nylon can cause irritation.”
Keep your chest clean
“Cleanliness is key to fighting the bacteria that is the root of acne. You want to keep the skin on your chest clean. Showering post-workout is ideal but if you can’t, I highly recommend carrying portable toner wipes,” says Fernandez. “Also, avoid using harsh soaps or scrubs on the chest as they can aggravate your skin over time. It is better to use scrubby gloves or a loofah once a week to keep skin exfoliated more gently.”
Shower immediately after your workout
“It’s also just as important to cleanse immediately post-workouts,” says Aguilar. “If one is unable to shower right away body wipes are a great option to keep on hand in order to gently cleanse the chest area (and or face).”
Try a mask and exfoliate
“The use of acne and purifying masks, once or twice a week, is another great way to clean and soothe breakouts on the chest area,” says Aguilar. “Additionally, exfoliating products on the chest area are just as vital to use as on the face. This will help to remove dead skin cells and congestion, and help maintain uniformity from the head to the décolleté.”
Keep conditioner off your skin
“When conditioning longer hair, it’s important to keep the hair to the side of the body and rinse completely off,” says Aguilar. “By doing this, you can avoid irritation and clogging that conditioner may sometimes cause.”
Protect your chest from the sun
“The heat of the sun will make acne worse and prevent it from healing. Be picky and diligent about SPF on your chest, and be sure to use it every day, and triple when you are actually in the sun!” says Fernandez. “To fight a breakout and avoid the next one, choose physical coverage when possible (like, high necked shirts - no V-necks when out in the sun) and a sunblock that is ‘physical’ with no chemical SPF ingredients (look for zinc and titanium dioxide). This is super important since sun exposure combined with acne is a one-way ticket to scars and the breakdown of healthy skin.”
Try an in-office treatment
“When my clients are dealing with chest acne, my go-to treatment is an in-office Alkaline Therapy,” says Aguilar. “Alkaline Therapy brings the skin’s pH down to a 3, killing bacteria and softening the skin to help with extractions. Alkaline Therapy not only improves breakouts, but also improves scarring and discoloration.”
If you’re dealing with fungal acne, you may need different treatment
“Fungal acne can sometimes be treated with an over-the-counter antidandruff shampoo (such as Selsun Blue). It should be applied to the body in the shower and left on for about 5 minutes and then rinsed off,” says Coppola. “More severe forms of fungal acne may require oral-systemic anti-fungal treatments and warrant evaluation by your primary care provider and or dermatologist.” Next up, here’s everything you need to know about fungal acne.
Sources
Natalie Aguilar, dermatological nurse and celebrity aestheticianKaren Fernandez, Lead Aesthetician at SkinSpiritVanessa Coppola, FNP-BC, board-certified Nurse Practitioner and Aesthetic Specialist and owner of Bare Aesthetic Medical SpaDr. Howard Sobel, MD, Clinical Attending Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital NYC and founder of Sobel Skin + Sobel Skin RX
