Kenneth Byrne: Q&A: Will Arm Acne Ruin Your Summer?

Originally published as Q&A: Will Arm Acne Ruin Your Summer? from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Q. Help! It’s nearly summer but I HATE showing my arms! I’m breaking out on my shoulders and I have bumps and pimples up and down the back of my arms. Is this normal? What can I do to make them go away?

A. First things first: yes, it’s completely normal to experience breakouts on your arm. Body acne is actually incredibly common (find out why it happens here) and can affect your neck, chest, back, shoulders, and yes, your arms too.

Here’s what we recommend:

Cleanse daily using our A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap. The Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) found naturally in the featured fruit extracts help to dissolve away pore-clogging buildup that contributes to those bumps and breakouts. This formula effectively cleanses and exfoliates the skin all in one.
That said, do NOT manually exfoliate! This means no harsh, granular scrubs because they can tear open pimples, leaving them open, raw, and vulnerable to infection and scarring. Stick to chemical exfoliation, please!
Add a toner into your body care regimen. Our Special Cleansing Lotion ‘O’ was formulated specifically with back, chest, and arm acne in mind. Acne-fighting and oil-absorbing ingredients in this extra-strength formulation help to deep clean and promote clearer skin. Simply dampen a cotton pad and wipe affected areas until the cotton comes up clean.
Then, spot treat as you would with breakouts on your face. For whiteheads—small, round, pus-filled bumps—use our Drying Lotion to help shrink spots overnight. Use our Buffering Lotion if you’re experiencing larger, red, under-the-skin bumps.
To help speed the clearing process, incorporate our Drying Mask into your routine two to three times a week. Try layering a few drops of the Buffering Lotion under the mask to help further enhance anti-acne benefits. Be sure to apply only to areas that are currently erupted or prone to breakouts.
You also want to moisturize. To help ensure your skin is balanced (which is key; skin that’s too dry or oily is susceptible to breakouts!), try using an oil-free moisturizer to lightly hydrate without the pore-clogging oils.
In the NYC area? Our salon offers a unique back or chest treatment for problem skin that helps to target acne and minimize congestion leading to breakouts on the body. It includes gentle cleansing, steaming, extractions, and other anti-acne treatments to help deep clean acne-erupted or acne-prone skin.