It's that time of year again, the sun is shining and the beach is calling. Its summertime, the time of the year when everyone is showing a lot more skin. While most people are pretty conscientious about caring for their face, many never think twice about their chest and back, areas that truly need extra attention. This two-part series will share tips on how to keep your chest and back looking young, radiant and healthy. Read on to discover how to start protecting your back today.
Use an Antibacterial Cleanser
The truth is some people are just prone to back and shoulder breakouts. These breakouts can be exacerbated with exercise and increased sweating during the summer months. To combat these breakouts try using an antibacterial shower gel to deeply cleanse your skin. It will remove excess oil and reduce the build-up of acne causing bacteria much more effectively than your non antibacterial cleanser. While there are a few antibacterial shower gels on the market, a facial cleanser for acne prone skin can be even more effective on the shoulders and back to treat and prevent breakouts. We recommend Dermalogica's Clearing Skin Wash.
Exfoliate Twice Weekly
Just like your chest, you back needs exfoliation too. Exfoliating mitts, such as the Supracor mitts we carry, that are lathered with an antibacterial gel will gently remove dead skin cells and open clogged pores, preventing future breakouts, making your skin much smoother and healthier looking. Just try to avoid using body scrubs on your back and shoulders. It's generally not wise to use body scrubs on the back as they may contain oils that could cause more breakouts.
Choose Your Conditioner Wisely
Panthenol is a very common ingredient in conditioners and if you have acne prone skin it can increase the chance of breakouts on your shoulders and back. If your back is prone to breaking out, try clipping your hair up after you've rinsed your conditioner out and then washing your back. This will remove any leftover conditioner residue, preventing future breakouts. If this doesn't work look for a conditioner that is panthenol free.
Apply an Acne Spot Treatment Product
If you notice large, inflamed blemishes on your back they could by cysts, which are sore and painful but rarely come to the surface of your skin. You can treat them with an anti-cyst treatment product to deeply penetrate the skin to dissolve the infection. Applying an anti-cyst treatment product after showering can be very effective at eliminating these painful breakouts. If you're only noticing smaller breakouts, such as whiteheads, simply apply an acne spot treatment product to the affected area. Products such as Dermalogica's Concealing Spot Treatment and Overnight Clearing Gel that contain acne-fighting ingredients will treat these breakouts very quickly.
Taking the time to pay some extra attention to your chest and back during the steamy summer months will pay off. By following the tips in this two-part article you'll be prepared to bare all confidently in no time and your skin will thank you.
