Acne, a skin condition caused by inflamed or infected hair follicles, usually appears on the face, chest, and back. But this irritating skin condition can also appear on the arms, neck, and other parts of the body. While arm acne is less common than other types of acne, enough people suffer from the condition to classify it as a large problem.
Arm Acne
Like acne that occurs on the neck, arm acne can be caused by bacteria or a hormonal imbalance. But how is arm acne different from acne that occurs on the face?
The main difference, according to dermatologists, is the skin on a person’s arm and how thick it is as compared to the skin on the face. Thicker skin is synonymous with larger pores.
Larger pores do not clog as easily though but when they do, this usually results in a severe form of arm acne due to the larger buildup of dirt, oil, and bacteria. Additionally, experts say the clothes you wear can also result in arm acne. This is because friction can trap dirt, chemicals, and other substances in your skin causing more acne.
Arm Acne Treatments & Prevention
Getting rid of arm acne is fairly easy if there are only very few of them. However, if you get an arm acne outbreak, it is best to consult with a dermatologist.
According to experts, an arm acne outbreak can be avoided by cleansing the affected area with mild soap and water. Suggested products include using salicylic acid as well as benzoyl peroxide.
It is also advisable to wash your arms every single day, especially during shower time. However, if you don’t want to use some products with some intimidating names (though the one we recommend is pretty great) then soaps will work just as well to wash your arm with.
Recommended: Retseliney Best Acne Face Wash & Oil Control
After washing the affected area, it is a good idea to apply at least a teaspoon of acne gel on each arm. This gel should contain benzoyl peroxide. According to experts, you shouldn’t rub the gel in but let it soak on the affected area instead for it to perform better on the skin. Wait for the topical solution to dry completely before you apply a good alpha-hydroxy lotion.
These topical treatments are effective in getting rid of mild arm acne especially if applied regularly. However, if your arm acne just doesn’t seem to go away, you may already need prescription medication for it. Hormonal imbalance can cause mild to severe arm acne so it is advisable to find out what is causing it before looking for a range of drugs that treat the condition.
It is recommended that you schedule a visit to your local dermatologist right away to find out which medication suits you best as there is no perfect medication for every symptom.
Don’t just take medication to reduce your acne. You should make the below lifestyle change as well.
Arm Acne and Your Diet
Your diet also plays a very important role in getting rid of arm acne and in preventing it from coming back. Adding probiotics to your diet is a good idea, according to dermatologists Dr. Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine in New York. She says that the science of how probiotics can help get rid of inflammation is very complex but that further studies are being done to see how good bacteria can help improve skin conditions. The research isn’t conclusive yet, but is confident it will be in the near future because probiotics produce antimicrobial properties that can help in getting rid of bacteria (notice “can”).
So Why Is Treating Arm Acne Important?
Acne And Mental Health
Having acne can be embarrassing and should not be treated as just another skin condition. According to psychologists, the disease can have social and psychological effects on the people who suffer from it. They note that this does not only occur on those who have severe acne but that psychological effects can also be felt by those with mild acne.
The skin disease affects people of all ages with 85% of individuals age 12 to 25 suffering from it.
Psychologists say that acne, whether mild or severe, often negatively affects a person’s self-esteem and can even result in social withdrawal. This, in turn, can lead to poor performance in school or at work and can be the cause of bullying and negative perception.
For some, it can have more debilitating effects and this includes depression, loss of appetite, and feelings of unworthiness. The mental issues reported by people who have acne are disconcerting. This is the very reason why you should get it treated as soon as possible.
Make acne a controlling factor in your life. Create an effective plan involving diet, internal medication, and external medications to best combat acne.
This product’s 2% Salicylic Acid makes it strong enough to combat arm acne and is made from a blend of natural ingredients. Just make sure you apply a moisturizer after as this product often dries your skin.
Art Natural Dead Sea Mud Mask For Face, Body, & Hair This extremely affordable mud mask is great for both your face and arms. It restores skin to the correct PH levels and is particularly great for arm acne since it reduces pore size!