Tips for Dealing with Shoulder Acne
When the body produces a high level of sebum, which is the natural oil needed for normal function, acne can develop on various parts of the body to include head, face, back, neck, and shoulder acne. Although acne is commonly linked to teenage years, it can affect people of any age, even babies in the form of Cradle Cap. In addition, men experience shoulder acne more than women do but both genders can develop it.
The thing to remember is that the way in which shoulder acne is treated is different from the face acne. Additionally, living with this type of acne can be a little challenging. After all, when a person sleeps on the back, the shoulders are going to be on the sheets. With tossing and turning throughout the night, the shoulder acne can be irritated, making it worsen or hard to treat.
Shoulder acne along with any other type is best prevented. However, specific to the shoulder area, once the red spots have appeared, it is time to take action. Of course, during the summertime when women wear off-the-shoulder tops and dresses and men go shirtless, having shoulder acne of any degree is both unsightly and embarrassing. The best methods for prevention and treatment include good hygiene, stress reduction, proper diet, and avoiding too much sunlight or heat.
We also wanted to provide a list of specific things that should and should not be done when treating shoulder acne. The reason is that some of the “dos” will help but some of the “don’ts” will only make the shoulder acne worse.
- Avoid wearing clothing that is too tight, which would rub on the breakout areas, causing pain and making the condition worse
- Take a bath or shower daily, using a mild soap and back brush to get to the shoulder area, which can often be overlooked
- Eat a well-balanced diet, one that is highly nutritious but low in fat and sugar to stop the buildup of excess oil that causes shoulder acne
- Chance bed linens at least twice a week in that bacteria from the acne will get onto the sheets and actually cause the acne to worsen or spread
- While tempting, shoulder acne, or any acne on the body should not be picked at or pinched. Although it seems squeezing out the pus would be the right thing to do, in truth, the bacteria inside the pimple will ooze out and cause the acne to spread.
- It is also important to adopt a healthy lifestyle overall. In addition to eating right, this means getting six to eight hours of sleep a night, drinking lots of water, and even exercising
- If the shoulder acne does not go away or it becomes much worse, instead of avoiding it, a doctor should be seen. In many instances, medication or topical creams can be prescribed that will reduce irritation and itching, allowing the shoulder acne to heal.