Summer is here! As if the warming weather and the surge of visitors to our Hawaii home wasn’t enough of an indicator that summer has arrived, the grocery store check out lines are full of magazines touting diets that will make you look great in a bathing suit – in only 2 weeks, no less! They don’t seem to realize that it’s not always a few extra pounds causing discomfort in a bathing suit or backless dress or, for the guys, with shirts off. Body acne can be just as much of a bathing suit deterrent during the summer months as the stubborn 5 pounds we try to lose in April and May.
- Exfoliate. This is key for every inch of our skin. Dead skin cells tend to build up in areas that we don’t exfoliate. A great shower tool is a long exfoliating towel / cloth you can find at health food stores and most drug stores; loofahs and many back scrubbers harbor bacteria and should be avoided. Dry the exfoliating cloth on a towel bar every time you shower so bacteria do not have a moist place to grow. You can also throw this in the washer or soak it in hydrogen peroxide to kill any bacteria.
- Cleanse. Wash your back with an anti-bacterial or acne cleanser formulated for the face. Avoid regular soap and products that strip moisture from the skin and dry out everything they touch.
- Treat. If you have a family member who can help you, use acne spot treatments on any back breakouts at night after a shower. Make sure to let the spot treatments dry before putting clothes back on.
