by Sharon Lai

Created on: March 12, 2009

Although breast acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can cause a significant degree of emotional distress affecting lifestyle. Breast acne is generally indicated by inflamed pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. In more serious cases, it may be presented as papules and pustules. It is quite common for women who have larger breasts to suffer from breast acne.

Possible causes of breast acne:

Breast acne are often the result of ingrown hairs on the chest. The hair on chest are often thin and light coloured; when excessive sebum is produced, it clogs pores and hair follicles on the skin of the breasts gets infected and results in bumps.

Another common cause of breast acne is hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation and pregnancy.

If you experience acne after using drugs like androgens and lithium, it is recommended to switch to alternative choices.

Excessive perspiration, accumulation of dirt and grease, exposure to polluted air, and poor hygiene habits may lead to breast acne.

Preventive methods and treatments:

1. Sports bras restrict the breasts too much that it is impossible for perspiration to evaporate. As a result, moisture, grease and other harmful skin waste accumulate and clog pores. I encourage you to choose a bra that allows your skin to breathe and wear loose comfortable clothing during hot months.

2.Your first line of defence to prevent breast acne is to take a shower as soon as you can after you perspire profusely. Use soap with anti-bacterial properties to wash under breast area. Also, exfoliate your skin on chest or breast regularly with a gentle scrub to remove clogged sebum, dirt and germs. You may want to use a facial toner to close pores on the affected area and rejuvenate your skin.

3. Dry yourself thoroughly after each shower to remove any moisture on your skin.

4. You can use affordable acne pads such as Clearasil and Stridex to absorb excessive sebum from your breasts. Choose a pad targeted for sensitive skin to prevent the skin on your breasts from drying out too much. To use, after your shower and on completely dry area, rub a pad under each breast.

5.You can also treat breast acne with aloe vera gel or tea tree oil. These natural remedies have strong antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Apply tea tree oil before bed or an hour before your shower. In addition, turmeric, tomato slices, juice of papaya and fresh garlic can be applied on affected areas to treat and prevent future breakouts.

6. If your condition persist, please seek professional medical help .Your doctor will be able to prescribe a stronger medicine to better treat breast acne.

Breast acne is uncomfortable and can lead to reduced self esteem. Prevention is better than cure; if mild incidence of breast acne is not attended to immediately, it can become severe. Therefore, always address the condition as soon as possible to prevent future serious breakouts.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Lai.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.