How to Get Rid of Neck Acne

Medically reviewed by Mark Ziats, MD, PhD

Last Updated: January 11, 2023 References

If acne keeps developing on your neck, rest assured that you are not alone. This is a common skin issue for many people, and the good news is that there are a variety of treatments available. For many people, the best way to get rid of neck pimples is to incorporate an occasional spot treatment alongside a good cleansing routine. In this article, we’ll walk you through the various steps you can take to help the skin on your neck heal from these annoying blemishes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cleansing Your Neck

1
Wash your neck at least twice a day. Keeping your neck clean is the best way to start getting rid of neck acne. You should take a shower to wash your neck at least once per day. If you sweat a lot, such as after a workout, then take another shower.^{[1]
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Mayo Clinic
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2
Use a gentle cleanser to clean your neck. Find a gentle cleanser that is labeled as “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free” to use on your neck. Products that are non-comedogenic will not clog your pores so they should help to clear up your neck acne.^{[2]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Check the label to be sure that a product is non-comedogenic.
- Check to make sure that the products you buy are alcohol-free as well. Alcohol may irritate your neck acne and make it worse.
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3
Apply cleanser to your neck using only your fingers. Do not use a washcloth, sponge, or other abrasive materials to apply cleanser to your neck because this can cause irritation, scarring, and worsen the existing acne. Instead, use your fingertips to gently apply the cleanser to your neck. Do not scrub aggressively.^{[3]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Rinse your neck well after you finish washing it.
- Pat your neck dry with a clean cotton towel.
4
Avoid irritants. You may not realize it, but your clothing or accessories may be contributing to your neck acne and making it worse. Avoid tight collared shirts, scarves, and turtlenecks, as these may irritate the acne. Make sure anything that touches your neck is clean. Also, avoid touching the area and never pick at or scratch your acne, as this can cause scarring.
- Try not to use oily sunscreens and don't cover the acne with foundation or makeup. If you use a hairstyling product, make sure it doesn't come in contact with your neck.^{[4]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- If you have long hair, the oil from your hair may be getting on the back of your neck. Try wearing your hair up in a ponytail while you treat your acne.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using a Sea Salt Treatment

1
Gather your ingredients. Making a sea salt treatment is easy and the ingredients are available in most grocery stores. It exfoliates your skin and can dry out acne. To make a sea salt treatment, you will need:^{[5]
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- 1 cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Green tea bag and/or 1 – 2 tablespoons aloe vera
2
Brew a cup of green tea. Green tea extract has been found to be effective as a treatment for acne, but using a cup of green tea as a base for this treatment should also help.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} You can either use one teaspoon of green tea leaves in a tea infuser or use a green tea bag.
- Place the tea bag or infuser into a mug.
- Then, boil some water and pour about 1 cup of water over the green tea.
- Let the tea steep for about three minutes and then remove the tea bag or infuser.
3
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sea salt in the tea. Measure out 1 teaspoon of sea salt and add it to the cup of tea. Stir the sea salt until it completely dissolves in the tea.^{[7]
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4
Add a tablespoon of aloe vera. Aloe vera has been found to be effective against acne and it also has moisturizing properties. You can add this instead of the tea, or try combining the green tea and aloe vera into one mixture. Add 1 tablespoon of aloe vera to the sea salt solution and stir well.
- If you want to skip the green tea and only use aloe vera, mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel with 1 tablespoon of sea salt. This will make a scrub that you can apply directly to your neck.^{[8]
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5
Apply the mixture to your neck. Make sure that the solution is not so hot that it might burn your neck. Allow it to cool down a bit first. Then, you can apply the solution by soaking a clean cotton washcloth in the solution and placing the cloth over your neck.^{[9]
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- If you only have few places that you want to treat, then you can dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into the solution and apply it as needed.
6
Leave the solution on for about five minutes. Don’t leave the sea salt solution on your skin any longer or it may dry out your skin too much. After time is up, rinse off your neck with lukewarm water and gently dry off your neck with a clean, cotton towel.^{[10]
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7
Moisturize your neck. After the sea salt treatment, apply some moisturizer to your neck. Make sure that you use a non-comedogenic moisturizer to avoid making the acne worse.
8
Repeat the sea salt treatment once per day. Do not use this treatment more than once per day or you may dry out your skin too much, even if you moisturize after. Limit yourself to one sea salt treatment per day.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using an Egg White Mask

1
Gather your ingredients. Some of the things you can readily find in your kitchen are thought to have antibacterial and healing properties, allowing you to quickly whip up an acne-fighting mask.^{[11]
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Research source} You will need:
- 1/2 tablespoon of dark colored honey (darker honey has more antibacterial properties)^{[12]
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- 1 egg white (do not use the yolk)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Use a whisk or fork to mix the egg white and lemon juice until it becomes frothy, then add the honey.^{[13]
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Research source} Make sure that everything is well combined.
- You may wish to add other household items, such as 1 teaspoon of witch hazel (which has anti-inflammatory properties)^{[14]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
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  Go to source} or a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint, spearmint, lavender, or calendula, but it is unclear if these will enhance or reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
3
Spread the paste over your neck. If you want to treat your whole neck, then you can use your fingers to spread the paste over your neck. If you want to treat a smaller area, then you can use a cotton swab or cotton ball to spread the paste over specific problem areas.^{[15]
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4
Allow the paste to dry on your neck and then rinse. Leave the paste alone for about 15 minutes, then rinse it away with lukewarm water. You may need to hop in the shower to do this. Use your fingers to break up the paste as you rinse it away.^{[16]
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- Pat your skin dry and then apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer to complete the treatment.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Treating Neck Acne with Medication

1
Try over-the-counter treatments. Face washes and topical treatments containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, or resorcinol acid are all effective acne-fighters and are available over-the-counter.^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} You may find products targeted specifically at treating body acne, which may be more effective than products meant to be used on your face. Just make sure you don't forget and use the body product on the delicate skin of your face or the front of your neck.
2
Ask about retinoid creams. Retinoid creams can help to unclog your pores and eliminate acne on your neck, but you will need to get a prescription from your doctor or dermatologist. ^{[18]
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3
Discuss the use of antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe a prescription-strength topical antibiotic, such as clindamycin, to apply to your neck, which kills acne-causing bacteria. It may also reduce redness. You will need to apply it twice daily and combine it with benzoyl peroxide, as this prevents the bacteria from becoming immune to the antibiotic.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
4
Talk to your doctor about oral contraceptive pills if you are a woman. Oral contraceptives can help to reduce acne in some women, but only if the acne is related to shifts in your hormones.^{[20]
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Research source} Keep in mind that oral contraceptives have side effects and they should not be used if you are planning to become pregnant.
5
Consider steroid injections for cystic acne. If your dermatologist determines that the acne on the back of your neck is a nodular or cystic lesion, your doctor may decide to inject the lesion directly with a steroid. This can quickly reduce swelling and heal the acne. It may also reduce scarring.^{[21]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Side effects of this treatment include thinning of the skin, increased sensitivity to light, and may temporarily case the fat under your skin to atrophy, giving the area a "sunken" appearance.
6
Consider isotretinoin for severe acne. Isotretinoin is a strong medicine that should only be used if other methods of controlling acne fail to work. Isotretinoin can clear up severe acne in a couple of months, but it also has some severe risks including:^{[22]
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- Ulcerative colitis
- Liver damage
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Depression
- Bone changes
- Severe birth defects
7
Look into laser treatments for acne. Laser treatments can also help to get rid of acne by reducing the size of oil glands and making them less active as well. Some forms of laser therapy also use topical medicine to make the laser more effective.^{[23]
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- Keep in mind that you will need multiple treatments in order for laser therapy to work.