You wash your face carefully. You choose your skincare thoughtfully. But breakouts keep appearing across your chest, shoulders or back.
One potential contributor might be sitting in your shower.
Your haircare.
Shampoo, conditioner and styling products regularly come into contact with the skin around your hairline, neck, shoulders, chest and back. For some people, residue from these products, combined with sweat, oil and friction, may contribute to congestion and breakout-prone body skin.
That doesn't mean you need to stop using conditioner or avoid hair products altogether.
It may simply mean it's time to look at your hair, scalp and body routine as one connected system.
Can Hair Products Contribute to Breakouts?
They can be one potential factor.
When you rinse shampoo and conditioner from your hair, the product naturally travels down your neck, shoulders, chest and back.
Leave-in conditioners, hair oils and styling products can also transfer onto the skin from your hair, clothing, towels and bedding.
For someone already prone to congestion, this additional product residue may not always be ideal.
That's why persistent breakouts around the hairline, neck, shoulders, chest or upper back are worth looking at from more than just a facial skincare perspective.
Why Do Breakouts Appear on the Chest and Back?
Your face isn't the only area of your body with sebaceous glands.
Your chest and back also contain many oil-producing glands, which is one reason these areas can be prone to breakouts.
A number of factors may contribute, including:
- Oil and sweat
- Friction from clothing
- Exercise
- Occlusive fabrics
- Haircare and styling product residue
- Heavy body products
- Not showering after sweating
- Hormonal influences
- Over-cleansing or aggressive exfoliation
There isn't necessarily one single culprit.
Often it's useful to look at everything regularly coming into contact with the area.
For a deeper look at body breakouts, read our guide to Back Acne: Why It Happens + How to Care for Breakout-Prone Body Skin.
The Haircare Connection You Might Be Missing
Think about what happens in the shower.
You shampoo.
You condition.
You rinse.
Where does all of that product go?
Down your neck and across your shoulders, chest and back.
Conditioner in particular is designed to coat and condition the hair. That's exactly what we want it to do.
But that doesn't necessarily mean you want residual conditioner sitting on breakout-prone skin.
This is why the order you wash your hair and body can matter.
Try Changing Your Shower Order
A very simple change is to wash your body after you've completely rinsed your shampoo and conditioner.
Instead of:
BODY → SHAMPOO → CONDITIONER → GET OUT
try:
SHAMPOO → CONDITIONER → RINSE HAIR THOROUGHLY → WASH BODY → RINSE
This gives you an opportunity to remove residual hair products from your neck, shoulders, chest and back before leaving the shower.
It sounds incredibly simple.
But if you're experiencing persistent body breakouts, it's an easy habit worth considering.
Don't Forget Your Hair Itself
It's not only what happens while you're washing your hair.
Long hair can sit directly against your:
Back. Shoulders. Neck. Chest.
If you've applied leave-in conditioners, oils, serums or styling products, those products can potentially transfer from your hair onto your skin throughout the day.
You don't necessarily need to eliminate them.
Instead, pay attention to where they're being applied and whether your hair is regularly sitting against areas prone to congestion.
You may also want to tie your hair away from your back when exercising or sweating heavily.
What About Your Shampoo + Conditioner?
If you're already looking more closely at the products you use on your face, it makes sense to consider what you're regularly putting on your scalp too.
At AMPERNA®, we take a scalp-first approach to haircare.
Why?
Because your scalp is skin too.
Our Scalp + Hair Care range brings our microbiome-conscious, barrier-first skincare philosophy into haircare.
[DERMACLEANSE] Shampoo
AMPERNA® Cleanse & Rebalance Dermal Care Shampoo [DERMACLEANSE] is our scalp-conscious shampoo designed to gently cleanse the scalp and hair.
[DERMASTRENGTH] Conditioner
AMPERNA® Strengthen & Protect Dermal Care Conditioner [DERMASTRENGTH] complements [DERMACLEANSE] as part of a simple wash-day routine.
[DERMAFIX] Vitamin Complex Serum
For more targeted scalp care, our Scalp & Hair Care Serum [DERMAFIX] takes a skincare-inspired approach directly to the scalp.
Read more about AMPERNA® DERMAFIX and our scalp-first approach to haircare.
What Should You Wash Breakout-Prone Body Skin With?
If your chest or back is prone to breakouts, the answer isn't necessarily to scrub harder.
In fact, repeatedly stripping, scrubbing and aggressively exfoliating skin can leave it feeling dry and uncomfortable.
We prefer a gentle cleanse + targeted care + hydration approach.
STEP 1: CLEANSE
Hydrating Gentle Wash with Ceramides [CERALACTIC] is designed to gently cleanse the body while fitting into AMPERNA®'s wider barrier-first philosophy.
Use it after you've completely rinsed your shampoo and conditioner.
Pay particular attention to areas where hair products may have travelled, including your:
Neck → shoulders → chest → back
Should You Exfoliate Chest + Back Breakouts?
Exfoliation can be useful for improving the appearance of texture and congestion, but more exfoliation isn't necessarily better.
If you want to introduce a targeted exfoliating step, AMPERNA® 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion [EXFOLIATE] contains 10% glycolic acid alongside our postbiotic technology and can be used on the face, hands and/or body according to the product directions.
Start gradually rather than assuming your skin needs daily exfoliation.
If you're already using several active ingredients, read Using Active Skincare Without Compromising Your Skin Barrier.
Do You Still Need to Moisturise Breakout-Prone Skin?
Yes.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with breakout-prone skin is assuming it needs to be dried out.
Oily or breakout-prone skin still needs hydration.
AMPERNA® Hydrating Gentle Lotion with Ceramides [HYDRALATIC] is a lightweight body moisturiser formulated with ingredients including ceramides, niacinamide and AMPERNA®'s pre- and postbiotic complex.
It's designed to hydrate without the heavy feel many people associate with traditional body creams.
For more on why the barrier still matters when you're prone to breakouts, read How to Support Acne-Prone Skin Without Over-Stripping It.
A Simple AMPERNA® Routine for Chest + Back Breakouts
Rather than throwing multiple products at your skin at once, simplify the routine.
WASH YOUR HAIR
[DERMACLEANSE] → [DERMASTRENGTH]
Rinse thoroughly.
CLEANSE YOUR BODY
Wash your neck, shoulders, chest and back after rinsing out your haircare.
INTRODUCE TARGETED EXFOLIATION
Introduce gradually according to the product directions and your skin's tolerance.
HYDRATE
Finish with lightweight body hydration.
HAIR → CLEANSE → TARGET → HYDRATE
It's a simple way of thinking about your shower routine as one connected system rather than separate hair and body routines.
What If You Get Breakouts on Your Face Too?
If you're prone to breakouts across your face as well as your chest and back, this is where we'd look at your skincare routine as a whole.
AMPERNA® takes a barrier-first approach to breakout-prone skin.
Rather than building a routine around constantly drying out breakouts, we start with a supportive foundation and then introduce targeted actives.
A simple foundation can include:
BALANCE → RESCUE → HYDRATE
From there, products such as EXFOLIATE can be introduced according to your individual skincare needs and tolerance.
Read How Postbiotics Help Support Acne-Prone Skin to learn more about our approach.
You may also find 5 Surprising Acne Breakout Triggers useful if you're trying to identify factors that could be contributing to recurring breakouts.
Looking for a Complete Routine?
If you'd prefer not to work out which products to combine yourself, AMPERNA® has curated skincare bundles designed to work together as a routine.
CLEAR + CALM
Our Clear & Calm Collection brings together AMPERNA® everyday essentials and targeted skincare for those wanting a more complete routine for breakout-prone skin.
[BALANCE] + [RESCUE] + [EXFOLIATE] + [REPAIR ]+ [HYDRATE]
Rather than focusing solely on one breakout or one product, it gives you a complete routine built around:
CLEANSE → SUPPORT → TARGET → HYDRATE → PROTECT
EXPLORE THE CLEAR & CALM COLLECTION →
PREFER TO START SMALLER?
Start with your foundation.
[RESCUE] + [HYDRATE] in the AMPERNA® Soothing Duo →
Then introduce targeted products gradually.
Look Beyond the Breakout
Sometimes the most useful question isn't:
“What can I put on this breakout?”
It's:
“What might regularly be coming into contact with my skin?”
Your haircare.
Your body products.
Your clothing.
Your bedding.
Your exercise routine.
Your skincare.
Your active ingredients.
Even the order you shower.
Looking at these factors together can help you build a routine that's simpler and more considered.
And that's very much the AMPERNA® approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can shampoo cause back acne?
Haircare can be one of several factors that may contribute to congestion or breakouts for some people, particularly where shampoo, conditioner or styling products regularly come into contact with the neck, shoulders, chest or back. Acne itself can have many causes, so persistent or severe acne should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Can conditioner cause chest or back breakouts?
Conditioner is designed to coat the hair, and residue can come into contact with surrounding skin while rinsing. If you're prone to body breakouts, try thoroughly rinsing your conditioner before washing your body.
Should I wash my body before or after conditioner?
If you're prone to chest or back breakouts, try washing your body after shampooing and conditioning. This can help remove hair-product residue left on your neck, shoulders, chest and back.
Should I moisturise my back if I have breakouts?
Breakout-prone skin still needs hydration. Rather than automatically avoiding moisturiser, look for a lightweight body moisturiser that suits your skin.
Can I use glycolic acid on my back?
Glycolic acid is commonly used to exfoliate skin and improve the appearance of texture. AMPERNA® 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion [EXFOLIATE] is designed for use on the face, hands and/or body according to its product directions.
What skincare routine is good for acne-prone skin?
There isn't one routine suitable for everyone. At AMPERNA®, we favour establishing a gentle foundation with cleansing, support and hydration before gradually introducing targeted active ingredients.
The AMPERNA® Approach to Breakout-Prone Skin
Breakout-prone skin doesn't necessarily need a bathroom full of aggressive products.
Sometimes the smarter approach is to look at the complete picture.
From the products touching your scalp to the cleanser you're using on your body and the skincare you're applying to your face, AMPERNA® takes a connected, barrier-first approach.
Face. Body. Scalp.
One skin ecosystem.
EXPLORE AMPERNA® SCALP + HAIR CARE →
AMPERNA® products are cosmetic products and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent acne, disease or any skin condition. Persistent, painful or severe acne should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
ACNE BIBLE
UNDERSTAND ACNE
→ 6 Types of Acne Explained
→ Do you Have Hormonal Acne?
→ Post-Pill Acne
→ Teenage Acne
WHY AM I BREAKING OUT?
→ 5 Surprising Breakout Triggers
→ Haircare + Chest/Back Breakouts
→ Back Acne
→ Can Makeup Cause Breakouts
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
→ What to Avoid
→ Skin Purging vs Breakouts
→ Should You Dry Out Pimples?
→ Active Skincare + Barrier
THE BIGGER PICTURE
→ Best Diet for Acne
→ Holistic Help for Acne
WHY AMPERNA?
→ Postbiotics for Acne-Prone Skin
→ What Is Microbiome Skincare?
→ Skin Barrier article
