How do you balance body acne and sensitive skin concerns at the same time?

Be gentle with your skincare routine. Contrary to what many people think, the skin on the chest and the back may be even more sensitive than the skin on the face. Don’t go guns blazing to treat your acne, piling on retinol and benzoyl peroxide, which can really dry out the skin and end up causing more redness than you started with. Begin body acne treatment gradually, using products every other day, every two days, to see if you develop any irritation.

When using a leave-on acne product, try starting every other night to make sure that you do not develop any irritation. You also can use a bland moisturizer on the skin along with your acne treatment to minimize the risk of potential irritation. Look for moisturizers that don’t contain fragrances or essential oils—products marked “safe for eczema” are a good bet.