We all experience body acne at some stage in life, but did you know your shower water could be a factor in making it worse?
Acne is a common – and universal - skin condition that causes pimples or blackheads at varying levels of discomfort. ‘Bacne’ is simply the term describing acne that appears on the back, shoulders, and upper arms, caused by a variety of factors including overproduction of oil, clogged pores, or hormonal changes.
‘KP’ or keratosis pilaris, also known as chicken or strawberry skin, is characterized by small, rough, red or flesh-coloured bumps, usually on the upper arms or buttocks, caused by a build-up of keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails, within the hair follicles.
While no one is exempt from experiencing bacne at some point, and KP can run in families and be persistent, there are ways to lessen these conditions, and one of the simplest is to switch to a showerhead filter.
The water that comes through our taps is generally hard, which means it’s high in minerals such as chlorine, calcium, and magnesium, and can even contain some sediment.
These minerals can exacerbate dryness and impair the skin barrier, stripping it of its natural oils and trapping keratin and dead cells.
They can also bind to the active cleaning agents found in soaps and cleansers, leaving a residue that’s naked to the eye that can result in clogged pores.
Shower filters, like the ULA, remove the majority of these harsh minerals, making the water softer and purified. This prevents any dryness and irritation, corrects the pH level of skin, and helps heal the skin barrier.
This is great news for those experiencing bacne and KP, as their natural oils regulate, and pores are less likely to become clogged. It also boosts the efficacy of your products, resulting in smoother, spot-free skin.
While switching to filtered shower water will make a noticeable difference to your bacne or KP, you can speed up the healing process by introducing some specialised cleansers to your routine.
Body washes or shower mists containing salicylic acid will help exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog pores, while vitamin C will improve texture and smooth out any bumpy skin.
Niacinamide is anti-inflammatory and improves the skin barrier function, while Tea Tree Oil is known for its antibacterial properties. For persistent bacne, particularly on the bottom, you can use an antimicrobial wash, such as Hibiclens, once or twice a week to help clear it up.
Switch out traditional loofahs or sponges, which can harbour bacteria, for an African washing net or Japanese exfoliating towel that can easily be put through the wash.
And don’t forget to moisturise! Although it can feel counter-productive to moisturise skin that already seems oily and acne-prone, dry skin traps dead skin cells and bacteria, and encourages over-production of oil to counteract that dryness.