Body acne is the presence of acne flare-ups on parts of the body other than or in addition to the face. Body acne can be just as exasperating as facial acne. It commonly appears on the back, chest, thighs, and buttocks. Fortunately, there are effective natural remedies for body acne like apple cider vinegar, Epsom salt, dietary modifications and changes in body care products and routines.
Natural Remedies for Body Acne
Healing Baths
Body acne can be difficult to treat topically when larger areas of skin are affected, or areas that are harder to reach, like the back. Baths with simple but special ingredients can help you to treat large areas of skin all at once. Additionally, the skin absorbs the additives in the bath, allowing healing to occur internally as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Adding 1 cup of raw organic apple cider vinegar to a bath several times a week can help with body acne. The skin should be slightly acidic and apple cider vinegar helps to accomplish this. You can also take 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar is a glass of water once or twice a day for additional healing. Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for balancing the system.
Epsom Salt
Have you heard of soaking in the ocean or hot springs to heal the body or the skin? You can have similar results taking an Epsom salt bath a couple of times a week. Your body absorbs the nutrients from the Epsom salt and the elements in Epsom salt (magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen) are helpful for skin healing.
Wear Natural Clothing
Wear clothing made from cotton, linen or the increasingly popular bamboo. Natural fibers breathe better and are easier to get clean. Synthetic fabrics are more likely to retain bacteria, contributing to skin problems.
Look for more natural products to wash your clothes, towels, and bedding as well. Chemicals in laundry detergents stay in your clothes and can be hard on the skin. Consider using soap nuts, or plain soap flakes and borax to wash your clothes. Dryer sheets and fabric softeners also fill your clothes with chemicals. Try wool dryer balls to keep your clothes static-free instead.
Use Simple Body Care Products
Have you looked at the long list of chemicals contained in most body care products on the market? Most lists contain many unpronounceable items that are oftentimes harmful to your skin.
Make homemade body scrubs to wash your skin. Use the healing baths listed above to get clean. Look for natural shampoo and conditioners to use instead of ones with sodium laureth sulfate. These products affect more than your scalp.
If you make your own laundry soap you will know the ingredients are natural and simple!
Oat and Epsom Salt Scrub
- 1 cup oats (quick or rolled, not steel cut).
- 1 cup Epsom salt
Grind up oats in a blender. Mix with Epsom salt. Store in a container. Put about a tablespoon of your scrub onto your washcloth to gently wash your body.
Do use a loofa or cotton washcloth to gently clean your skin. These items will exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells. Do not scrub your skin harshly. It needs gentle handling to heal well.
Next, read about effective natural remedies for acne. Using Vitamin C, turmeric, and dietary changes, in conjunction with of some of the above remedies can be just what is needed to rid you of body acne once and for all.
Do you have a natural remedy for body acne? Please share your story with us! Continue reading to learn which remedies worked best for our readers.