Instead of wearing clothes made out of polyester and rayon, choosing cotton materials will help relieve the heat stress on the skin and not trap sweat in the pores. Taking showers immediately after any form of physical exercise will also help keep the skin as clean as possible. Keeping up with a skin care regimen so the skin is moisturized helps as well. Using skin care products specifically with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide help exfoliate the skin in a gentle manner and get rid of bacteria. Both of these chemicals in a facial cleanser may create a tingling sensation on people with extremely sensitive skin. Other topical ointments can be used once consulted with a dermatologist. Prognosis
Long term effects of acne mechanica include potential scarring and skin discoloration at the area of the acne lesion if rubbing of the skin continues. It is not a lethal condition and the acne will clear up on its own once the heat and pressure stressors are avoided and if the skin is kept clean so the pores do not continue to become clogged. Epidemiology
Acne mechanica is most prevalent among athletes, soldiers in warm climates, teenagers and young adults. The athletes and soldiers can get rashes from their equipment and uniforms constantly rubbing their skin while sweating, which turn into acne mechanica lesions. Men tend to be more prone to develop acne mechanica because they produce more oil (also known as sebum) in their glands, even though their glands are actually smaller than womens.
When the skin is constantly rubbed, it initially becomes rough and then starts to develop acne-like bumps with continuing irritation like sweating or more friction. If the skin continues to be irritated for a longer period of time, a more serious acne lesion develops that grows in size and redness. They appear as small, red tender bumps called papules. There may be a combination of whiteheads and blackheads that also appear around the area affected, the difference being that whiteheads are closed and clogged pores whereas blackheads are also clogged but open pores. The symptoms may vary also depending on a persons skin type; overly oily or dry skin can cause a number of symptoms that heighten the possibility for acne mechanica to develop. Cause
Repetitive rubbing of the skin, in instances such as backpack strings rubbing on your shoulders or helmet straps rubbing on your chin are actions that can irritate the skin and cause acne mechanica. Acne mechanica is a specific type of acne that is caused by friction, heat, and/or pressure on the skin. Especially occurs when the skin is not exposed to air. It is commonly found in athletes because sweaty, constantly rubbed skin by a tight uniform, for example, can result in a rash. What may look like a rash is actually acne mechanica. Another common area for acne mechanica to show up is on the sides of your face where you hold your cell phone, especially with the added bacteria it carries on it.