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A read for acne-prone folks. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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It’s a question we get often. And while many things can cause bacne, buttne, and other body acne, the inconvenient truth is that, sometimes, the call is coming from inside the shower.
Below: An express conference featuring some common questions when it comes to how haircare and bodycare interact—and how the two can be brought into harmony.
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Q:
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Wait, so hair care can cause body acne?
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A:
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Of course. But to be fair to hair care, a lot of things can cause body acne.
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Body acne begins in a sebaceous, or oil, gland, which are found all over your body, and in the highest concentration on your face, chest, and back. Acne forms as the result of an inflammatory reaction, typically in response to bacterial infection. Exactly how it reacts often determines what kind of body acne is produced—blackhead, whitehead, papule or pustule. (You can read more about the types of different body acne
over here.)
In other words, acne forms as a result of what is happening beneath the skin’s surface. But our lifestyle and the environment around us can also influence the formation of acne, a common example being the products we use.
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Those who are acne-prone on their faces are likely to be acne-prone on their bodies too, but we can all benefit from choosing ingredients that are kind to pores.
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Just like the wrong face wash can break out acne-prone skin, so can the wrong shampoo or conditioner as it rinses off the body, and even a leave-in styling product that comes into contact with skin day to day.
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Q:
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OK, but what specifically in my hair care causes acne?
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A:
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According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, hair care products that contain oil are likely culprits for body acne. If not properly rinsed, the oil can linger and clog pores.
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Redditors single out coconut oil in particular as unfriendly to acne-prone bodies, but there are others, including almond oil, cocoa butter, and isopropyl myristate (a popular emollient that gives products more slip but has a high comedogenic level).
If you notice bacne or buttne where your hair or hair products normally come in contact with your body skin, it may be worth talking to your dermatologist for a closer look. Don’t forget to take a photo of the ingredients list on your hair care (to show them)!
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Q:
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So, how do I avoid haircare-induced body acne?
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A:
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A helpful start would be parsing the ingredients in your hair care—by cross-referencing with the pore-clogging ones you’d like to avoid (your derm can make recs here of common cloggers)—and avoiding them altogether to lessen the risk of body breakouts.
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Take it a step further: Separate your hair and body care routines. If you wash and condition your hair in the shower, make sure you thoroughly rinse out all hair products before washing your body. Consider putting your hair up if you’re going to leave conditioner in to avoid the product sitting on your skin. Once your hair routine is done, then move forth with your body routine.
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Q:
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Should we double-cleanse our bodies then, just to be safe?
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A:
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You’re probably referring to the skincare technique of using two cleansers (or using the same cleanser twice in a row) on your face: one to remove makeup or waterproof sunscreen, and once more (or using another cleanser) directly after to deeply cleanse the skin itself from grime and bacteria. Right?
This technique is great for the unique scenario of the face, though is likely unnecessary in your body routine. Since skin is not a one-size-fits-all, opt for a cleanser that actually targets your skin’s needs—this may mean a cleanser formula that caters to dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, or all the above.
Those with acneic skin tend to prefer formulas that lather, which do a great job of grabbing onto grime and rinsing it down the drain. We’re biased, but we like the
Comfort Cleanse, a pillowy water-oil hybrid formula that is as gentle as it is effective, especially for sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin.
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Thinking of your body care like your facial care isn’t a bad idea (encouraged, actually), especially when it comes to the bumpy issue of body acne.
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Adopting an acne-conscious body care routine may just mean keeping hair care and body care distinct, but it may also mean bringing your skincare below the neck, if you catch our drift.
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Q:
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Not quite catching the drift—elaborate?
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A:
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We mean taking ingredients proven to treat acne and distilling them into your body care routine.
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In addition to Comfort Cleanse for effective-yet-gentle daily body cleansing, the one-two punch routine below will help prevent, treat, and maintain body acne on an ongoing basis.
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Clearing Mist ($26) is our Medicated Breakout Tonic for body. It contains salicylic acid, niacinamide, and zinc PCA—powerhouse active ingredients for addressing acne and its accompanying concerns. This quick-drying spray for all the hard-to-reach areas of the body that has been referred to as the “holy grail for bacne,” by at least one reviewer.
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Speed Soak ($28) is our Skin Rehydrating Gel for body. It imparts skin with essential hydration (through a combination of 6% glycerin and 3% Aquaxyl) needed to keep your moisture barrier strong, without clogging pores.
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Conclusion:
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Your hair products don’t stand a chance when you treat your body skin like your face—with targeted, high-performance formulas crafted with care. It may seem like a lot to take on at first, but in our opinion, dealing with body acne is a bigger beast!
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Free shipping on orders over $65
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