The most common body acne treatments include microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and the use of topical products. The most gentle of these treatments is the use of at-home topical products, which may be over-the-counter or prescription strength. Microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels are all body acne treatments that are performed by a licensed professional. These body acne treatments vary in severity and may require a healing period of anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Before choosing among the available body acne treatments, consult with a doctor or dermatologist.
At-home body acne treatments include scrubs, cleansers, toners, and creams that are used to cleanse the skin, dry up pimples, and stop new pimples from forming. These products usually work by removing dead skin cells and disinfecting the skin. It is common for these products to include salicylic acid, an ingredient that is widely used to treat acne. There are also body acne masks that are applied to the skin and allowed to dry for ten to 30 minutes before being rinsed away or peeled away.
In some cases, at-home body acne treatments are insufficient. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels use processes that are similar to at-home body acne treatments but yield better or more dramatic results. Microdermabrasion is a process in which the skin is deeply exfoliated. A skin care specialist uses a hand-held wand to blow fine crystals onto the skin at a high speed. Much like body scrubs, this works to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin and offer deep cleansing.
Chemical peels are used to remove a top layer of the skin, which can help to both remove dead skin cells and target pimples. There are three chemical peel levels that use different kinds of acids. Consulting with a dermatologist will help body acne sufferers to determine whether a light, medium, or deep chemical peel is right for them. A light chemical peel requires only a few hours of recovery time, whereas a deep chemical peel can take weeks from which to recover. The results range along with the recovery times.
Laser resurfacing is a process that literally burns away top layers of the skin, Like a deep chemical peel, this procedure can offer dramatic results but also requires quite a long recovery time. These two body acne treatments can also help to reduce the appearance of acne scars.