While acne is typically considered a face-centric frustration, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t experienced a pimple or two — or dozens — somewhere south of the neck. Fortunately, the best body acne treatments are only a few clicks or taps away. Clothing may make body breakouts easier to conceal, but they’re no less frustrating than a chin or cheek zit, especially since anywhere we have pores and hair follicles on our bodies can be susceptible to sebum-clogged bumps, which means we can experience breakouts on our butts, chests, backs, and arms.
For example, “back acne [comes from] the inconvenient and unfortunate cycle of clogged pores, inflammation, and poor skin turnover,” says Texas-based, board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, who explains that back acne can appear as small blackheads, inflammatory pustules, or sometimes deep, tender cystic lesions.