Acne on Back and Chest

Updated on February 19, 2009
T.H. asks from Beverly Hills, CA
16 answers

Hi Moms! I recently started a new exercise regimen. I started running. I can't believe I have stuck with it this long. Before I always joked that I wouldn't run unless I was being chased! Anyways, I have stuck with this a little over 3 weeks now. I am starting to see results which is awesome, but I am also starting to get acne on my back and chest. Is there any inexpensive ways to clear this up? I am in a few weddings this summer (hence the running) and don't want to have a breakout for that. I have normally dry skin so I am not sure why this is happening. I shower immediately after I get home and even take another shower at nite. Any suggestions? Also, will this help get rid of my baby belly and love handles or do I have to do something else for that?

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S.P.

answers from St. Louis on

Sometimes changing the type Shampoo or soaps can do that too. You may have become sensitive to them. Good Luck with the running!

More Answers

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K.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I have battled with this for most of my life. I used to not wear anything that showed my back.

This is what I do and I can now say I can show my back without embarrassment. I will have an pimple everyonce in awhile but clears up fast.

What I do:
After you wash and condition your hair, pull it up. Wash your back with a gentle face cleanser, I use Purpose using a loofah. Every other day use a gentle scrub, I use Aveeno. Just note the loofah needs to dry well between use and change it out often to avoid bacteria growth.

Get a bottle of Witch Hazel and add 1/4 tsp of Tea Tree Oil, and pour in a spray bottle. Shake well, after your showers, spray your back and chest down. Give it a second to dry and get dressed.

For spot treatments- dab the Tea Tree Oil directly on the
spot.

I also use the Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Oil on my face and it works great.

Plus no extra chemicals, all natural.

4 moms found this helpful
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J.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Good for you!! Cardio is about the best thing you can do to rid yourself of excess "flab". In a couple of weeks add a little weight training (no need to buy a set or join a gym). Buy a medicine ball and a large exercise ball and begin to use those to tone your mid section (google online for specific exercises).

For the acne part...I would get some on my chest during each of my first trimesters and my OBGYN recommended nuetrogena acne body wash. It's very gentle and has salyctic acid in it which is what he recommended to treat it. I have very sensitive skin and it worked great. Try not to shower too often. Dry skin causes acne just as bad as oily. Cut back to one a day and use a wash with salyctic acid and see if you don't see some improvement.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.R.

answers from Joplin on

I'm glad you are taking care of yourself and taking the time out for yourself everyday to run. I also have acne but I use all natural products on my body and in my home. The things you use on your skin causes sickness and our body reacts differently to what we put on it or what we inhale also. If you would like to know more about have these safer products you can go to my website. i AM A CUSTOMER with this company for over 3 years. It has change my health and my kids from asthma etc.

so take your household expense and turn them into and income.

D.

www.livefamilydreams.info

1-866-532-6846 ext 3

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T.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Try wearing a cotton T-shirt when you run to absorb the sweat, maybe this is what is irritating your skin????

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K.K.

answers from St. Louis on

A couple of things I've learned...all that pretty soap (Bath & Body Works and the like)have too much extra stuff in them and it leaves it on you and can cause breakouts. So, use regular soap.

Another very odd thing, even if you have acne, you have to moisturize. Sometimes the access oil that can cause acne is because your skin needs the moisture. So...use a moisturing soap and some lotion.

My family prefers Melaleuca - my skin tended to be oily and my husbands is soooo dry and cracked. My daughters was dry and sensitive. We all use their bar soap and their Renew lotion and have the best skin EVER!

You have to "join", but you can probably find someone in your area who will let you buy with them - to help them out as well! I order from my mom and with my sister - then it's no problem because we each buy what we need.

Truely, I can't say enough about the stuff. It's been incredible and we are on our third year of using it!

Good luck!!

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J.T.

answers from St. Louis on

I've had adult acne since I was 30. I too unfortunately have it on my chest & back. First thing to remember is that you still need to moisturize your skin. Just be sure to use something for acne or sensitive skin. Dove soap is good because it does not clog pores. They have an unscented bar that is good. Second you do need to shower after exercising or your pores will be clogged & thus create more acne. Just be sure to use a non-comedigenic lotion. (Look for moisturizer in the acne section.) Salcycilic acid is a common ingredient in acne products. It helps to slowly unclog pores, thus preventing acne. Even if you have dry skin, salicyclic acid is good. It can sloff off the layer of flakey skin & help moisturizer more easily penetrate the skin. So it is fine. IF you still are having problems, go to your doctor. There are times when over the counter remedies are not enough. If you do not want it for the wedding you are going to, you really need to talk to your doctor. My acne had to be treated by the doctor. But, BECAUSE I went to the Dr. it went away. Sometimes topical treatments do not work, so it is ok if you go to the doctor. There isn't just one type of acne so what works for one person does not necessarily work for everyone.

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A.B.

answers from Fayetteville on

First of all congrats on sticking with your new way of life!! (Proper nutrition and fitness aren't temporary-that's why diets never work!) With the acne, two showers a day in this winter weather may be working against you with your dry skin. If you shower too much, you won't have the natural "good" bacteria on your skin that will easily ward off the acne. I would try a delicate astringent (wet a cotton ball and sweep over your problem areas but be careful with this because most contain salicylic acid that can be drying) and also, use a moisturizer (I have super sensitive combination skin and I LOVE Neutrogena with SPF) and make sure you're drinking plenty of water.
As for the baby belly and love handles, running is going to help....your getting a cardiovascular workout which is the only way to burn fat.....and as you build more muscle, the muscle will burn calories even when you're not exercising! (Its recommended to get at least 30 minutes every day which means staying in your target heart rate zone for at least 30 minutes but up to one hour if you need it is great) You can calculate your target heart rate by searching for "target heart rate" and using an online calculator...its pretty accurate according to your age. For instance, I'm 23 so I stay between 160 and 180. Also, doing intervals (running slow for 1-3 minutes, then fast for 1-3 minutes) is the only way to do cardio in my opinion (its more challenging for your heart and other muscles) Another thing that gave me a flat stomach (something I didn't even have before child birth!) was pilates.... its fantastic!! You can buy DVD's or just look up Pilates moves online. Good luck and keep up the good work! Sorry this was so long!

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K.B.

answers from St. Louis on

T.,
Way to go and I understand the running thing and I can relate to acne, had it all my life. I like the comment about showering only once because we you over wash/exfoliate you cause the sabaucesous (sp) oil glands to produce more - i know sounds silly. I also agree that the salicylic acid is good because that is what I use with my Arbonne Acne wash which has 1% in it.This line also has a supplement with Zinc and also helps. The comment about shampoo/conditioner being pore clogging is also true.
I also wanted to ask has anyone introduced you to Arbonne? It is pure, safe and beneficial and cleared up my acne and the weight management system gave me extra help to shed the weight.
If you want additional information or just take a look let me know at ____@____.com.
Thanks and good luck to you!

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K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good Morning T., What a awesome way to exercise, BUT Like you said I ain't running unless chased. Well I have to take that back some what. I run after 2 gr son's daily...lol
Ok here was my first thought, your perspiring more with the running and your sweat glands / pores are getting plugged. Then I saw you were showering twice a day. It could be the two showers are also drying out your skin and your getting dry skin acne. I would shower once, and check into a hypo-allergenic body wash or some type of moisturizing wash. Rinse off really well. Some make you feel slick, especially if you have very soft water. I use Oil of Olay

I am 57 and now I don't get the Acne as much, but when I do it's because of sweating over much, and pores clog or its dry itchy skin that breaks out. I sucks I still get blemishes on my face at times though. Told hubby first time I didn't have a Zit would be Parrrrrrr-teeeeeeee time.

Hey If you like to dance I sent Abby the names of two DVD's to use.. I love um. I bought my own stocking stuffer this yr too. :)) Sweating to the Oldies...lol

These will help with the baby tummy and love handles.
Belly Dance Fitness for Weight loss
Featuring Rania
==
Sizzling Salsa Dancing..
Dance off the Inches, Sizzling Salsa
Stella Sandoval

God Bless and Have fun this Summer
K. Nana of 5

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Good for you! I would suggest only showering once a day, after you work out. Then when you shower, scrub your back with a back scrubber. Your body is detoxifying right now. Or should I say your skin is. The acne should only be temporary. But do cleanse your back with a good facial cleanser formulated for acne and with a scrubbing brush. Backs are hard to reach in the shower. I hope you knock 'em dead at those weddings. Good luck and God Bless.

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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi T. you reminded me of my husband, who started jogging and excercising a lot and developed a rash, not acne. But I'll tell you what he did to clear it up. But first I will tell you that he tried for over a year to clear it up, first with antibiotics, then the over the counter creams you can buy to get rid of rashes. Anyway, he started eating 1-2 Activia yogurt per day. It is supposed to replace the good bacteria that may be missing from your body, something like that. Anyway it is true what they said about it, within 2 weeks it was gone. Good luck

J.M.

answers from Kansas City on

When I had it on my back, I used the Neutragena body wash too. My skin is really dry, so I had to use a creamy moisturizing body was everywhere else and then use that where needed. It's the only thing I ever found that worked.

Congrats on the running! It's a serious fat burner, so your tummy troubles should respond to it, but if you want more toning than you get from it, you're probably stuck with crunches.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

great advice so far, I'd only add that you want to make sure you're wearing breathable clothing while running, that can help cut down on your sweat sitting on your skin and clogging those pores. Most big exercise clothing companies make material that wicks away moisture, so if you haven't already, stock up on a couple of those!

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My son has acne, so we've been using lots of different things, he also has dry skin. We like the Mary Kay Velocity cleanser, we use Acne Wash Pink grapefruit foaming scrub, he really likes it. Also we've also found that using Mary Kaye Acne Treatment Gel on individual spots. I have also had great results from using Freeman Facial Clay Mask Avocado and Oatmeal, I will put a dot on a nasty spot and wear it overnight, the spot will be gone usually the next day, my son uses it sometimes too.
Our biggest problem with him is that he uses it until he thinks things are going away then stops using products, we can't get him completely healed. I've had spot breakouts for years and after using Velocity, I've hardly had any breakouts.
I've also heard that with dry skin moisturizing (oil free) will help, the pores are trying to moisturize and getting clogged, so with your two showers and dry skin I would think that might be your problem, we can't get my son to try this, but it sounds rational. Let us know if you find anything that works.

I just Googled Tea Tree oil and came up with a website called www.Acne.org

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B.S.

answers from Joplin on

You are over drying your skin with all the showering !
Acne can be caused by overly dry skin as well as by oily skin. Overly drying your skin causes those oil glands to work over time trying to compensate.
Just moisturize after your showers. Use whatever works best for you.
Personally, I like baby oil smoothed on my still damp skin immediately after my shower, then pat dry.

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