In addition to acne on the face, acne occurs on various parts of the body including the neck and back.
Neck acne is unsightly and sometimes can be painful, especially if it is nodulocystic acne, more commonly known as cystic acne. Cystic acne can occur on the neck and manifests as large swollen blemishes filled with pus. They are painful and require care from a dermatologist. Acne vulgaris is commonly found on the face and neck and is not as severe. It can be treated with over the counter remedies.
The main cause of neck acne (and facial acne for that matter) is too much sebum produced by imbalanced or fluctuating hormones. This is why so many teens and some adults (especially females) suffer from acne vulgaris. The neck is a very sensitive spot, with thinner skin than on the face. However it requires care just like the face, only with a softer touch and ingredients for acne prone sensitive skin. There are acne care products from Neutrogena and other brands made for the body on drugstore shelves.
When caring for neck acne, use a mild cleanser made for acne prone skin. Rinse well and pat dry. You may choose to apply a toner to your neck acne, such as Sea Breeze or witch hazel. From there you can apply an acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Choose a product designated for the body or made for sensitive skin. If you find the skin gets too tight or dry discontinue product use or cut down to once every other day or every few days. Refer to product instructions for full usage details.
Neck acne doesn’t have to mar your appearance. It’s no longer necessary to cover up to hide your unsightly blemishes because you can get rid of them. If you have a case of acne vulgaris you can try over the counter remedies and if they don’t work after a few months head to the dermatologist. It may take time to get rid of body acne so be prepared to wait for results. There is body makeup you can buy that may conceal the worst cases of bodily acne. However depending on the season this may be unnecessary, in cold weather wear high necked sweaters while treating your neck acne.