Acne is a common skin condition that many people experience, but it’s not limited to the face. It can also develop on the back, chest, and other parts of the body, commonly referred to as body acne. This type of acne is often caused by a buildup of oil and dead skin cells and is frequently associated with increased perspiration and friction from clothing.

Ayurveda and Body Acne

In Ayurveda, body acne is referred to as “Youvana Pidaka,” typically caused by an improper diet and other internal factors that lead to the imbalance of the Pitta and Kapha doshas. These imbalanced doshas become stagnant in the body’s Srothas, or subtle channels.

Pitta vitiation often results in red, soft, and small zits that worsen in hot weather. Conversely, Kapha-type acne presents as pale, hard, larger lesions with an oily secretion, which tends to aggravate in cold weather. Aggravated doshas also affect the Raktha Dhatu (blood), leading to multiple eruptions, redness, increased local temperature, and discharge from the acne.

Let’s Decode Some Common Body Acne Causes  

Apart from poor hygiene and usage of harsh soaps, some more serious reasons for body acne are:

1. It can be brought on by some medications, like corticosteroids.
2. Puberty and pregnancy-related hormonal changes can increase the amount of oil produced by your glands, which can exacerbate body acne.
3. Certain foods can worsen acne, including refined sugars and dairy products. Examine your diet for any of these foods.
4. Your body releases androgens when it is under stress, which have an impact on the skin as well as other body parts. These hormones may activate the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles, increasing inflammation and promoting the growth of acne.
5. Hair products or oily skin may cause your skin to become even more oily and clog pores.
6. Sports accessories, shirts, backpacks, and other items that come into contact with perspiring skin can cause friction, which leads to acne on the body.

How to Get Rid of Body Acne with Ayurveda?

To treat body acne, Ayurveda uses a variety of herbs that are well-known for their strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and purifying effects.

Some of the commonly used herbs for acne treatment include:

1. Neem: Neem leaves have potent antibacterial qualities which are very beneficial in body acne treatment. 
2. Curcumin: A substance with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities found in Turmeric, it can help reduce inflammation in the skin.
3. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera gel is useful for lowering redness and encouraging skin restoration because of its cooling and restorative qualities.
4. Tulsi: Often known as holy Basil, it has antifungal and antibacterial qualities that can aid in the treatment and prevention of body acne.
5. Manjistha: This plant is known to purify the blood, aid in detoxifying, and promoting clear skin.
6. Sandalwood: Sandalwood powder can be calming and healing due to its antibacterial qualities.

These herbs can be used in the form of powders, pastes, oils, or incorporated into skincare products. We highly recommend Forest Essentials’ Lakshadi soap for acne on your body, which has natural anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial ingredients such as Lakshadi oil, Sandalwood, Lodhra, Clove, etc.

You can treat mild back acne at home by using this herbal support. If the body acne has a lot of pain, discharge, swelling, redness, and other symptoms, it may need medical attention, and you may see your dermatologist.

Skincare Measures to Prevent Body Acne

1. Cleansing: Use a gentle, natural cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin. Opt for cleansers containing natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory herbs like Neem, Haldi, or Tulsi.
2. Exfoliation: Exfoliate your skin once or twice a week using a mild scrub or a combination of natural ingredients. This helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Avoid exfoliation when you have acne on the body. This is a preventive measure. 
3. Lepanam: Using a herbal masque made with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Neem, Nagkesar, Sandalwood, Triphala, Lodhra, etc. We recommend Forest Essentials’ Neem Varnya Lepa for the treatment of body acne, including chest acne or back acne.

These simple skincare steps are great preventive measures for any kind of acne treatment, including back acne treatment or chest acne treatment.

FAQs

References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362711928_Conceptual_management_Yuvan_pidika_Paper

http://easyayurveda.com/2014/08/04/ayurvedic-treatment-for-pimple-cause-herbs-home-remedies/

https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2865/4323

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ayurvedic-treatment-of-Yuvan-pidika-w.s.r-to-acne-a-Shirode-Wane/ee7b8d6505d3302d7976606ed71d46a2d639cd65

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/body-acne

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-facts-about-body-acne