Causes, cures, treatment and prevention of body and scalp acne.

Suffering from body and/or scalp acne can be as embarrassing as it is painful. This article will discuss prevention and treatment for those that suffer from it. The advice contained within is no way meant to replace that of a certified dermatologist or doctor. Before trying anything listed here, you should discuss your options with a professional, If you think the area might be infected (swollen, pussy and/or severely painful), it is important to seek help right away.

What are the causes of scalp acne? (This condition is known as Scalp Folliculitis in medical terms.)

Scalp acne can appear from a variety of reasons. An allergic reaction, even a mild one, from any hair products you use can cause a head rash to form. Some experts feel now that all forms of acne could be related to genetics.

What are the causes of body acne?

Body acne, usually rears its ugly head on a persons back, shoulders and chest. It can be caused by an allergic reaction from soap, body wash and even the type of detergent you wash your clothes in and even the actual fabric of what you wear.

What kinds of treatments are recommended for getting rid of body and or scalp acne?

Body acne is harder to treat then facial acne, can lead to more scarring because of the depth of the lesions and if scarring does occur, they are harder to eradicate using lasers because of the back healing slower then the face would.

Some things you can try is switching to a detergent that contains no perfumes (fragrance) or dyes, using an antibacterial soap with no perfumes or dyes and seeing if different types of material seem to irritate the area worse then others. (Make sure you conduct this experiment for at least a week or two to see if it really makes a difference.) For scalp acne, try trading in your shampoo and conditioner for a milder one.

Experts also recommend the use of showering frequently with benzoyl peroxide cleanser and shampoo and applying a benzoyl peroxide gel afterwards to the affected area(s). Keep the area clean and dry as much as possible. My grandmother use to say to ‘air it out’ whenever you can also.

One natural treatment that many swear by is to apply Tee Tree Oil liberally over acne prone areas to prevent infection and future breakouts. There are even some hair care products available with Green Tea Extract in it which is also known to be a natural alternative to medicated shampoo.

I tried everything and my acne is still there, now what?