The Clear-Skin Guide to Body Breakouts (Because Bacne Happens)
We talk a big game about skin confidence, but the moment a blemish dares to show up anywhere south of the jawline, the collective panic is palpable.
Body acne—bacne, buttne, that suspicious dot on your thigh—is still somehow the taboo cousin of the facial breakout. We’ll discuss double cleansers and peptides over oat milk lattes, but a zit on your chest? Radio silence.
And yet, it’s absurdly common. The back, shoulders, chest, bum, even thighs—all fair game for the kind of congestion and inflammation usually reserved for moody teenage foreheads. Blame it on biology: these areas are dense with sebaceous glands, which means more oil, more clogged pores, and more room for bacteria to throw a little party. Add in sweat, friction, tight workout gear, or just living your life like a person who occasionally wears sunscreen, and voila—body blemishes.
But before you throw on another oversized sweatshirt and resign yourself to “just not being a strappy dress person,” let’s regroup. The solution isn’t scrubbing your skin into submission or panic-buying industrial-strength spot treatments. It’s about treating your body with the same nuance and consistency you do your face. Which brings us to...
The Bodycare That Gets It
Let’s start with the most satisfying of formats: The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Body Stick (£15). It’s essentially a spot-targeting deodorant—no, really. Swipe it over shoulders, thighs, wherever you’re prone to a bit of bumpiness, and let the glycolic do its thing. If your skin leans oily or congested (or if you’ve been experimenting with running), Murad’s Clarifying Body Spray (£46) is pure genius. It sprays upside down, sideways, ninja-style—ideal for those hard-to-reach breakout zones—and contains a satisfying mix of salicylic acid and soothing agents.
Then there are the overachievers. Naturium’s The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash (£18) feels far more expensive than it is, with a creamy-luxe texture and the kind of ingredients list that would make a dermatologist weep with joy. If you like your bodycare with a touch of Whole Foods energy, Youth to the People’s Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser (£27.99) delivers. Kale, spinach, niacinamide—it’s a green juice, but make it cleansing.
And if you’re someone who never follows the rules (you rebel), COSRX’s BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (£29.99), although meant for the face, is low-key excellent on the legs or arms. Apply post-shower, and don’t be surprised when your keratosis pilaris ghosts you. There’s also Nécessaire’s The Body Acne Solution £55, which sounds clinical but feels like a spa serum—light, effective, fragrance-free, and designed specifically for blemish-prone areas.
For a more polished finish (and slightly smug shelfie potential), Beauty Pie’s AcidEnzyme™ Exfoliating Face & Body Cleanser (£28.50) is a multitasking marvel. Think gentle enzymes, subtle acids, and a silky formula that makes your skin look like you’ve just stepped out of a Swedish sauna. Which, incidentally, is also great for body breakouts, but slightly less practical between Zoom calls.
Ultimately, tackling body acne isn’t about perfection—it’s about not letting a few spots take up mental real estate. And yes, smooth skin is satisfying, but feeling like your skin is under control? That’s real power. Whether you’re showing it off or not.
