Raise your manus if this sounds familiar: You throw on your newest sports bra/leggings set and experience jazzed to work out. But wait. You've got a prob. Once you've shimmied into your 'fit you notice a cluster of red zits on your chest. Ugh! Say hello to breast acne, friends.

Wondering what chest acne is exactly? According to Joshua Zeichner, Physician, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, breast acne is basically simply the development of pimples on your breast, and it'southward frequently a philharmonic of all the good stuff: blackheads, white heads and red, inflamed bumps.

Okay, only how is this different from your regular acne bug? Well, information technology turns out that it's non much dissimilar at all, really. "In terms of causes, chest acne is the same equally regular acne, but it'southward but located on the breast," says Miriam Vega Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. "Information technology'southward the same type of physiology—information technology's clogged pores that sometimes get inflamed."

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So you've got a solid case of acne on your hands…err, breast. No need to fear. It's very possible to get nether control. Go on reading for viii means to cure your chest acne for good, according to the experts.

1. Utilize an acne-specific body wash.

Showtime by tackling breast acne during your daily shower or bath. Instead of your usual torso wash, Dr. Vega Gonzalez recommends using a salicylic acid launder (which removes excess oils and dead skin cells) if you've got a mild case of chest bumps. That existence said, if you're on the more inflamed side (think super red, chock-full pores) consider choosing a benzoyl peroxide formula, which kills the acne-causing bacteria on your skin. Use the wash on any pimple-y area of your breast, let sit, then rinse. Like shooting fish in a barrel!

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2. Make sure to exfoliate.

Dr. Vega Gonzalez as well suggests adding some exfoliation to your routine for a trivial actress ~oomf~. She says that it literally thins the skin, allowing for the excess keratin that's clogging your pores to come out *for good*. Co-ordinate to dermatologist Shari Marchbein, Medico, exfoliation is also great for treating the hyper-pigmentation on your breast in one case your acne is gone. (AKA, those leftover red marks that wait like shadows.)

"Remember though, over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can irritate the peel and will pull a fast one on your body into thinking it needs to produce more than oil," Dr. Marchbein says. "I recommend exfoliating no more than than 1 to three times a week." Noted.

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three. Effort a topical treatment.

Is the medicated body wash not cutting information technology? Accept information technology up a notch. According to Dr. Zeichner, topicals such as over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene (which keeps skin cells from sticking together and clogging pores) can be useful in treating your pesky chest breakouts, too. Apply your formula of choice wherever y'all've got chest acne and let information technology dry before slipping on any clothing. Pro Tip: Benzoyl peroxide, while helpful, can stain your fabrics and then make sure y'all're wearing a calorie-free-colored tee once you put it to use.

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4. Turn to prescription oral medication.

"In the office, when I see patients with acne on the breast or the back, I commonly discuss the use of oral medications along with topicals," says Dr. Zeichner. "These patients benefit from the use of medications, which address the outcome from the inside out." Since the surface area of the chest is so big, Dr. Zeichner explains that sometimes it'south difficult to fully care for acne through topical formulas or washes, peculiarly if yours is a more serious chest-acne state of affairs. Make an date with your derm to go your easily on a prescription.

5. Consider a "chest facial."

Glory esthetician and skincare expert Renee Rouleau says that sometimes it'southward necessary to have a professional perform extractions if there'due south an abundance of not-infected clogged pores or bumps on your chest. Keeping the pores cleared out by removing debris stops new breakouts from forming, she explains. Extraction is commonly partnered with a chemical peel that exfoliates the skin and loosens clogged pores and so that blemishes are easily removed by the esthetician. That being said, if you can't make an date with a pro, skip the extractions altogether (don't try to pop on your own!) and opt for a only chemical peel. "I dearest to use a 20 percent salicylic acrid peel on my clients that can help lift abroad discoloration from quondam acne scarring while helping to proceed pores clear," Rouleau says. There are enough of at-abode pare options in the form of resurfacing pads and dropper solutions, only don't go overboard and use them more once a calendar week.

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6. Evaluate your mail-workout routine.

Are you someone that likes to sit around post-workout? Look, I get information technology. I tin get pretty lazy afterwards a sweat sesh likewise. But trust, you def demand to reconsider lounging in your soiled clothes. Dr. Marchbein recommends showering ASAP once you're done working out. "Sweating and then staying in sweaty clothes can both cause and worsen trunk breakouts," she says. "It's important to launder both before and after exercising, or at the very least apply gentle cleansing towelettes." Bonus: Wipes are super easy to stash in your bag if you're on-the-go. Merely swipe forth your breast, toss, and boom, you lot're washed!

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7. Check your lotions.

Naturally, you lot want your peel to be hydrated and hella polish. That being said, if you lot're prone to acne on your chest, y'all need to be a picayune more careful nigh what you're putting on your bod. "Reading the labels is and so of import," says Dr. Vega Gonzalez. You desire to make sure that whatever you're buying says "not-comedogenic" (aka it won't clog your pores) or "oil-free" (if you lot have breakouts, your skin is already over-producing oil, so no demand to add more).

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eight. Do non pop your pimples!

I know it'south super tempting, but whatever you lot do, don't pop! "As dermatologists we never recommend popping any pimples because that can pb to scars, more inflammation, and hyper-pigmentation," says Dr. Vega Gonzalez. A mix of the treatments in a higher place should be enough to stop your breast breakouts, so do yourself a favor and merely leave that whitehead lonely. You're welcome!


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This commodity is part of Women's Health 2020 Acne Week. Clickhere for more.