Body acne: how to get rid of it and what causes it

Body acne is acne anywhere below the face: most often the chest, back and shoulders, and sometimes the neck, arms, buttocks and thighs. It is the same skin condition as acne on the face, and it responds to the same medicines. What changes on the body is the skin itself, the size of the area, and everything that sits on it all day: shirts, straps, sports gear, sweat and hair products. This guide covers what body acne is, how common it is, what causes it, how to tell it from look-alikes such as folliculitis, how to treat it at home, and when a dermatologist should lead your care.

Skinli gives general education, and it is not a doctor. Deep, painful lumps anywhere on the body need a dermatologist.

What body acne is

NIAMS, part of the US National Institutes of Health, describes acne as a condition that "happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged," and says outbreaks "most often" appear on the face "but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders." The NHS says acne "usually affects your face, chest and back." MedlinePlus adds that acne "may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks."

Doctors often call acne on the chest, back and shoulders truncal acne, because the trunk is the middle part of the body. The spots are the same types as on the face: blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, pus-filled bumps and, in severe acne, deep nodules and cysts.

How common it is

Acne on the body is common among people with acne, and people often leave it untreated:

• A 2026 study of 2,038 acne patients at a UK hospital found 63.6% had acne on the trunk. Most of them, 61.9%, had it on both the face and the trunk, and 1.7% had it on the trunk alone.
• A 2007 study of 696 acne patients in five US cities found acne on the chest, back or both in 50% of them, a figure the authors give as approximate. By their estimate, one in four people with acne on both the face and body did not mention the body acne, and the doctor found it during the exam.
• A 2026 survey of 211 high school students in South Korea found 47.4% had acne on the trunk. Only 17.6% of them had treated it, against 48.6% who had treated acne on the face.

These studies used different groups and methods, so their numbers differ. Together they show that body acne is common and often goes without treatment. If you have acne on your face, check your chest, back and shoulders too.

Body acne at different ages

Body acne often starts in the teenage years. NIAMS says acne is most common in teens and young adults, and that acne in the teenage years is more common in males. The 2026 Korean survey found that acne on the trunk started an estimated one year after acne on the face. The students said they were as willing to get care for acne on the body as for acne on the face, yet fewer had treated it.

It can continue or start later. NIAMS says that when acne continues into adulthood, it is more common in women, and that some people in their forties and fifties still have acne. It names pregnancy hormones and medicines that contain hormones or corticosteroids among the causes. The AAD's page on acne causes estimates that 20% to 40% of women with adult acne get it for the first time as adults, and says most women with adult acne also had it as teens. If body acne appears for the first time in adulthood, list any new medicines or supplements for your doctor.

Why body skin behaves differently

A 2026 review of acne on the trunk compares body skin with face skin, and several of its points explain why body acne needs its own approach:

Feature of trunk skin	What it means for acne
Thicker outer layer of skin	Creams get in less easily, which is why the AAD suggests leaving a benzoyl peroxide wash on for a few minutes
Fewer oil glands than the face	Rubbing and pressure play a larger role
Covered by clothing most of the day	Sweat and heat stay trapped against the skin
Large area, hard to reach	People find it harder to keep up with treatment
Spots mostly red and swollen	Deeper spots, with scars most likely on the shoulders and upper chest

The review also says dark marks after acne are more frequent and last longer on the trunk, and that 10% of people with acne on the trunk develop scars, by its estimate.

What causes it

The process inside the pore is the same as on the face. NIAMS names too much oil, a buildup of dead skin cells, and bacteria growing in the plugged pore. Several things raise the risk:

• Hormones. Androgens, male sex hormones that rise in both boys and girls at puberty, enlarge oil glands. NIAMS says pregnancy hormones and medicines that contain hormones can also cause acne.
• Family history. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says you have a greater risk of deep, painful acne if a parent or close blood relative had it.
• Medicines. NIAMS names corticosteroids and lithium. The UK's NICE guideline tells doctors to look at "self-administered anabolic steroids."
• Pressure and rubbing. NIAMS lists "pressure from sports helmets, tight clothes, or backpacks." The AAD calls this acne mechanica. See acne mechanica from backpacks and tight clothes.
• Trapped sweat. The AAD says workouts can cause heavy sweating and "a buildup of oil, dirt, and bacteria on your skin." What the research shows is covered in sweat and body acne.
• Oily products. MedlinePlus lists "greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products." See hair products and back acne.
• Stress and sleep. The AAD says stress may worsen acne you already have, and that too little sleep can worsen acne.
• Humidity. NIAMS names high humidity as an irritant that can make acne worse.

Is it acne? Common look-alikes

Many bumps on the body are something other than acne, and some need different treatment:

Condition	Clues	Where to read more
Folliculitis	A sudden breakout with a red ring around each spot, often after shaving, tight clothes or a hot tub	Folliculitis or acne
Fungal acne	Itchy bumps that all look the same on the upper trunk and shoulders, no blackheads	Fungal acne
Keratosis pilaris	Rough, dry bumps like goosebumps on the upper arms and front of the thighs	Acne on arms and thighs
Hidradenitis suppurativa	Deep, painful lumps that return where skin touches skin, sometimes blackheads in pairs	Acne on arms and thighs
Acne keloidalis nuchae	Firm, itchy bumps at the back of the neck and hairline after close haircuts or helmets	Acne on the back of the neck

The difference matters. A 2025 review of fungal acne says antibiotics taken for acne "are almost always ineffective and may worsen" it. The AAD says folliculitis often clears once you stop what caused it.

How to treat body acne at home

The AAD says many people can clear mild or moderate back acne themselves: a few spots, recent acne, or a mix of blackheads, whiteheads and pimples with nothing deep or painful. The same approach suits the chest and shoulders.

The main products

Product	How to use it on the body	What the sources say
Benzoyl peroxide wash, 2.5% to 10%	Leave it on for two to five minutes, then rinse	The AAD's first product for back acne. Strongly recommended in the AAD's 2024 guideline. Bleaches fabric
Adapalene 0.1% gel	A thin layer over the whole area after the shower, once a day	The AAD says it unclogs pores and helps benzoyl peroxide work better
Salicylic acid, 0.5% to 2%	As a wash, pad or spray	The AAD says it "often works well" on acne from gear and clothing

Acne body wash explains how to choose and use a wash, including why a quick rinse may not be enough. Body acne spray covers leave-on sprays for skin you cannot reach.

How to apply it

• Treat the whole area. The AAD says putting medicine only on the spots you see "fails to prevent new breakouts."
• Reach your back. The AAD suggests a lotion applicator, a pad on a long handle, for gels on the back.
• Start with one product. Every FDA acne label warns that irritation "is more likely to occur if you use another topical acne medication at the same time."
• Start once a day. The FDA's directions say to cut back to once a day or every other day if dryness or peeling bothers you.
• Protect fabric. The FDA requires benzoyl peroxide labels to warn that it may bleach hair and dyed fabrics. Use white towels and let gels dry before you dress.

A simple daily plan

When	Step
In the shower	Spread a benzoyl peroxide wash over every area that breaks out, wait two to five minutes, rinse well
After the shower	Once your skin is used to the wash, add a thin layer of adapalene 0.1% gel on the areas that break out
If skin feels dry	An oil-free moisturizer labeled non-comedogenic
Before going out	Oil-free, broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 sunscreen on uncovered skin
After sweating	Shower and change, or wipe with a salicylic acid pad

This plan follows the AAD's back acne advice. It suits mild to moderate acne. If the wash stings or your skin peels, drop back to every other day before adding anything else.

How long it takes

The AAD says that if treatment works, "you may start to see results in six to eight weeks. Complete clearing can take three or four months." Switching products every week can irritate the skin and cause breakouts, its habits page warns.

Habits that help body acne

These come from the AAD's pages on back acne, workouts and sports gear, and from the NHS:

1. Wear loose clothes made of cotton or sweat-wicking fabric when you work out, and wash them after each use.
2. Shower soon after sweating. If you cannot, change clothes and wipe the skin with a salicylic acid pad.
3. Wash gently. The AAD says antibacterial soaps, astringents, rough scrubs, loofahs, back brushes and buff puffs can make back acne worse.
4. Use oil-free products on the body, labeled "non-comedogenic," "non-acnegenic," "won't clog pores" or "oil-free."
5. Move the straps. The AAD suggests a handheld bag in place of a backpack, and carrying a shoulder bag with the strap on your arm. Pad sports gear with clean, soft padding.
6. Protect your skin from the sun. The AAD says the sun's rays "tend to darken acne and cause it to last longer," and advises oil-free, SPF 30, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen on uncovered skin.
7. Leave spots alone. The AAD says picking and popping make acne worse and raise the risk of scars.

Treatment from a dermatologist

When home care is not enough, a dermatologist has stronger options:

• Antibiotic pills plus a medicine on the skin. The AAD says this is often the first treatment for severe acne. NICE says the pill part "may be effective in treating affected areas that are difficult to reach with topical treatment (such as the back)."
• Prescription retinoids. A 2019 pair of trials tested trifarotene cream, a prescription retinoid, once a day for 12 weeks in people aged 9 and older with moderate acne on the face and trunk. It worked better than a cream without medicine on both. The authors noted that acne off the face "has not been rigorously studied," and several of them worked for Galderma, a drug company.
• Isotretinoin. The AAD's 2024 guideline strongly recommends it for severe acne, acne that scars, or acne that fails other treatment. See the Accutane guide.
• Hormone treatment for women. The AAD says women who struggle to clear acne on the chest or back may do well with the birth control pill or spironolactone.
• Treatment for single deep lumps. A dermatologist can inject a painful cyst with a corticosteroid or drain it. See cystic back acne.

Body acne by area

Each part of the body has its own triggers:

• Back. The largest area and the hardest to reach. The back acne guide has a full routine, and blackheads on the back covers clogged pores there.
• Chest. Often tied to sweaty shirts and sports gear. See chest acne.
• Shoulders. Bag straps, shoulder pads and sun. See shoulder acne.
• Back of the neck. Hair products, collars, helmets and close haircuts. See acne on the back of the neck.
• Arms and thighs. Often keratosis pilaris or folliculitis. See acne on arms and thighs.
• Buttocks. Often folliculitis. See butt acne.

Scars and dark marks

Body acne can leave both. The AAD says flat dark spots after acne usually fade with time, while a true scar remains. It says you may lower your risk of scars by treating acne when you first notice it and never picking, popping or squeezing it. The back acne scars guide covers what helps once scars have formed.

How body acne can affect you

Body acne can affect how people feel and what they do. A 2026 survey of 1,879 adults with acne in 20 countries found that people with acne on the trunk were more likely to report feeling stigmatized, judged or treated differently because of their skin, than people with acne on the face alone. Two of its authors are employees of the company Pierre Fabre. The 2026 UK study found that people with acne on both the face and trunk scored worse on quality of life than those with acne on the face alone. NICE tells doctors to consider referral for anyone whose acne, of any severity, is causing lasting distress. If body acne is making you avoid the beach, the gym or friends, say so to your doctor.

When to see a dermatologist

The AAD's checklist for seeing a dermatologist includes these points that apply to the body:

• You have deep, painful acne, such as cysts and nodules.
• "You've cleared the acne on your face, but nothing seems to clear the acne on your back or chest."
• "You have pimple-like bumps in unusual places, such as your armpit, groin, thighs, or on the backs of your upper arms."
• You started a medicine in the last 6 months and now have breakouts.
• As your acne clears, you see scars or dark spots.

See a doctor soon, too, if bumps itch and all look alike, if a lump is hot, swollen and painful, or if you see no change after six to eight weeks of steady treatment.

Skinli's free acne plan builds a routine for acne on the face from a photo. For acne on the body, the guides linked above set out the steps, and a dermatologist can lead your care when home care is not enough.