Neck Acne

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when pores become clogged with dirt and bacteria, leading to inflammation and the development of blemishes. These blemishes appear in many forms, such as blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Neck acne is one area where blemishes can develop in addition to other areas of the body.

Pimples on the neck can be treated with over-the-counter products (OTC) or, in severe cases, prescription medication. Some lifestyle habits may help soothe active acne and prevent further breakouts from developing.

Stress levels, diet, hormonal changes and genetics may also play a role. In the case of more severe forms of acne such as nodular or cystic acne, the cause is more likely to be hormonal. 

Hormonal Acne Treatment

Occasional blemishes on the neck are common and no cause for concern. However, if you experience chronic acne on the neck, chin or jawline, it may be a sign of a hormonal acne and you should consult a doctor.

Although it may be tempting, avoid popping pimples on your neck. The dirt and oils on your fingers can cause additional irritation and force bacteria deeper into your skin, increasing inflammation.

Instead, thoroughly wash your neck at least once a day and immediately after exercise. Touch the area as little as possible except to apply acne treatments. Allow your skin to breath; refrain from covering up your neck or wear loose clothing.

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Acne on the neck responds well to standard acne treatments; any product designed for the face can be used on the neck.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a common acne treatment available in many types of products. It exfoliates dead skin cells and dissolves the oils in your skin to unclog pores. As an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it also helps calm inflamed acne lesions.

Another powerful spot treatment is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria without causing bacterial resistance, an issue commonly encountered with medications that treat infection. It is also available in several strengths so you can choose the best one for your acne to reduce the risk of irritating skin.

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Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and has been proven in clinical studies to reduce acne lesions. As tea tree oil is an astringent, it is an effective choice for removing excess oil from the skin.

Dilute 1–2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of a light carrier oil such as jojoba oil and swipe directly over acne-prone areas.

Witch hazel is another natural ingredient that treats acne through its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. Use it as a toner by applying to clean skin.

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A bentonite clay mask can help draw impurities from the skin, including the sebum and bacteria that cause pimples. Use a clay mask once or twice a week to dry out existing acne lesions.

You may be prescribed prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid, another antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. The treatment may be supplemented with a brief course of antibiotics such as tetracycline or clindamycin. The antibiotics work to slow down the growth of acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Retinoids are usually prescribed for moderate to severe acne. These include isotretinoin and retinoic acid – essentially stronger versions of OTC creams.

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Retinoids work in multiple ways to treat acne including breaking up active lesions, minimizing new lesions and fighting inflammation. While some are applied topically, others such as isotretinoin, are taken orally to reduce breakouts from the inside out.

For adult women with hormonal acne, combined oral contraceptives can help balance hormone levels over the course of their menstrual cycle to treat acne. An alternative hormone therapy is spironolactone, which limits levels of androgen, a hormone that triggers sebum production.

If your acne is mild and occurs primarily in the form of blackheads and whiteheads, a few lifestyle habits may help prevent it from recurring. Cystic or nodular acne is usually hormonal and cannot be prevented with lifestyle changes. However, by adopting these habits while following a dermatologist-prescribed treatment plan, you may be able to lessen the severity of the breakouts.

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If you suspect your acne is due to clothing or equipment chafing against your neck, try to reduce the amount of time you spend wearing those items.

Exfoliate areas prone to blemishes to prevent the buildup of dead skin cells. Finally, ensure that any skin care products you apply to your neck are noncomedogenic.

Acne on the neck is a common occurrence in both teenagers and adults. It can be caused by poor hygiene, clothes that cause friction or by hormonal fluctuations. Other causes include hair or skin care products.

What Is Hormonal Acne And How Do You Treat It?

Neck acne can be treated with standard acne-fighting products containing active ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Effective at-home remedies include witch hazel, tea tree oil and clay masks.

If you find you cannot treat your neck acne on your own, consult a doctor or dermatologist. They can prescribe you retinoids, antibiotics, antibacterial medication or oral contraceptives to address pimples on the neck.When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

Though an oft-neglected area of one's skincare routine, our necks see the same unfortunate issues our faces do—acne included. Anyone who gets acne on their face can get it on their neck, explainsHeidi Waldorf, MD, of Waldorf Dermatology Aesthetics. In the sebaceous gland, cells get stickier and don’t turn over correctly, and oil glands make oil that is thicker and bacteria proliferate. In other words, clogged pores lead to pimples, even on the neck.

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Hormonal acne may also manifest itself in the neck area and, while it's not at all uncommon, that doesn't make it any less irritating. In fact, breakouts on the neck can be even more of a nuisance than those on the face—and they're a lot harder to cover up with makeup, due to sweat and clothing rubbing against the area. Fortunately, it is possible to treat—and prevent—neck acne.

We spoke with Waldorf for her expert take on the various types of neck acne, causes. Keep reading to see how to treat it.

•Papules: A solid elevation of the skin, often occurring in clusters (similar to a rash) and often noticed around the hairline and on the neck.

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• Nodules: Deep, painful lumps that develop deep within the skin. Nodules sometimes require medical intervention and can't always be treated with over-the-counter products.

• Hormonal cystic acne: Breakouts of often painful cysts, which come about due to a hormonal imbalance. These can occur during pregnancy or the menstruation cycle.

• Overproduction of oil: The first thing to know about neck acne is that it's caused by the same things that cause facial acne. Though acne on the neck can affect anyone who sees breakouts on their face, Waldorf notes that dermatologists tend to see neck acnea lot in men’s beard areasand in women withhirsutism(male pattern hair) who overpluck that area and irritate the follicles.Those women create the acne, she says.

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• Comedogenic (i.e. pore-clogging) products: The overproduction of oil can be exacerbated by people neglecting to tend to their necks. People forget to treat the neck like the face, says Waldorf, and makeup, sunscreen, moisturizer, and sweat mix and move about—even if it is all noncomedogenic. Look for products formulated for sensitive skin and those free of fragrances and excess oil.

• Failure to wash off your makeup: Even if you are opting for noncomedogenic products, they can still wreak havoc on your skin if not washed off at night or after hitting the gym. So after exercising and before bed, include the neck area in your cleanup, says Waldorf. Even a pre-moistened makeup remover towelette will do the job. And for the back of the neck, make sure that hair products—leave-in conditioner or gels or pomades are removed from the skin of the neck. 

• Aggressive treatment or exfoliation: Treating breakouts is a slippery slope, and too much of a good thing is possible. Aggressive exfoliation, or trying too many products (especially those containing harsh ingredients, such as glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide) might exacerbate a breakout, making the problem even worse.

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Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that loosens bonds between dead skin cells. It helps stimulate collagen production and acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.

• Stress: While stress alone usually isn't the cause of acne, it certainly doesn't help. In fact, research has found that not only is stress strongly linked to acne, but it may also increase sebum production and delay wound healing. In other words: more stress, more problems.

Waldorf says that any acne therapy you are utilizing on your face should be extendedto the neck area. That means utilizing ingredients

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