What Causes Acne on the Chest & Back?
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Introduction
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Acne is a distressing skin disease for many. Teenagers are especially prone to acne breakouts, but adults can also get blemishes. Acne cannot be cured, but it can be treated. The acne skin lesions are of many types--pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, pustules and other eruptions. Most acne appears on the face, but it can appear anywhere on the body where there are oil glands. The chest, back, and arms are also susceptible to acne. The main cause of acne is clogged pores, but other factors contribute to acne on the chest and back.
The Main Causes of Acne
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Acne begins when the hormones in the body stimulate the oil glands to produce sebum. But too much sebum clogs the pores. The skin also sloughs off dead skin cells and these cells also block the pores. Pimples then form as the hair follicles or pores become swollen with the sebum, dead skin cells and dirt from the environment. The parts of the body with the most functioning sebaceous oil glands are the face, neck, shoulders, arms and back. In some cases, bacteria on the skin also plays a role in the formation of acne lesions. The bacteria can cause inflammation and this leads to more serious types of blemishes like cysts, nodules and pustules forming deep in the hair follicles. Also not washing the skin every day or removing the dead skin cells frequently can also lead to a build up of oil and skin cells that cause acne.
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The Causes of Chest and Back Acne
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There are other reasons why acne develops on the chest and back besides clogged pores. Skin irritations caused by rough fabrics or allergic reactions to laundry detergents can result in acne on the chest and back. The weather can also make people more prone to acne. In the summer, the hot weather causes more sebum to be secreted on the skin. The oil, combined with the increase sweat, can block pores. This is especially true if a person is not wearing natural fabrics that allow the sweat to evaporate more readily. In the winter, overheated homes dry out the skin which leads to an overproduction of oil. The many layers of clothes also trap oil and dead skin cells, making the chest and back more prone to breakouts. Even the convenient backpack makes it hard for sweat to evaporate. The straps and backpack itself can rub against the body, causing friction and irritation to sensitive skin. Women can also get acne on the back and chest because the hormonal changes of menstruation, pregnancy and menopause lead to the overproduction of oil on the skin which clogs the pores.
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