The 5 most common body skin care mistakes to avoid

When warm weather arrives, many people rush to fix months of neglected body skin care — and in doing so, make problems worse. Dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss walks through the five most common body skin care mistakes she sees every spring and exactly how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Improper at-home laser hair removal

The biggest risk this time of year is using at-home laser devices incorrectly. Most at-home "laser" devices are not actually lasers — they are IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices, which emit scattered, less precise energy and can cause more burns than a true laser, even in a clinical setting.

To use at-home laser hair removal safely:

• Look for a true diode laser device rather than an IPL.
• Always do a patch test and wait 24 hours before treating larger areas.
• Never treat tanned skin.
• Start at the lowest power setting and increase slowly over time.
• Consistency beats intensity: lower and slower always wins with laser treatments.

Mistake 2: Aggressive exfoliation for bumpy skin

If you have keratosis pilaris (the small bumps on the back of your arms or thighs), scrubbing harder does not help. The buildup is inside the hair follicle, not on the skin surface, so aggressive friction only adds irritation and redness.

What actually works:

• Chemical exfoliants: Glycolic acid and lactic acid dissolve bonds between dead skin cells and help clear plugged follicles from within.
• Urea-based moisturizer: Ingredients like urea hydrate skin while also softening keratin buildup, smoothing texture over time.
• Retinoids: Both over-the-counter retinols and prescription retinoids can improve skin texture with consistent use.
• Laser: Laser hair removal can also reduce the appearance of keratosis pilaris by shutting down the hair follicle and reducing its reactivity.

Mistake 3: Ignoring back, chest, or glute acne

Body acne has specific triggers: heat, sweat, friction, tight clothing, and hair products that run down your back in the shower. Wash order matters — rinse your hair first, then use body wash to remove any conditioner or shampoo residue from your skin.

More effective than basic body wash:

• Benzoyl peroxide cleanser on acne-prone areas such as the back, chest, and glutes.
• Salicylic acid body spray (better than glycolic for oily, acne-prone skin because salicylic acid is oil-soluble).
• Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) applied from the chest down, avoiding eyes and ears.
• Change out of sweaty workout clothes immediately; do not stay in damp clothing.

Mistake 4: Not changing your towels often enough

A warm, damp towel is the ideal environment for bacteria, fungi, yeast, and mold to grow. Reusing towels for too long can trigger skin infections like tinea corporis, tinea versicolor, or fungal acne.

Practical guidelines:

• Change body towels at least twice a week.
• For the face: use a clean small face towel each day and wash them weekly.
• Never reuse a towel without allowing it to dry completely between uses.

Mistake 5: Applying sunscreen without a strategy

Everyone knows sunscreen is important, but the key is applying it intelligently — not just anywhere. Commonly missed spots: tops of the ears, edges of the nose, back of the neck, tops of the hands, tops of the feet (especially ankles), and the scalp.

For realistic protection:

• Think about which parts of your body are exposed based on what you are wearing, and apply sunscreen to those specific areas.
• If you are spending an extended period outdoors, reapplying once at midday is sufficient.
• UV visors, sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection, and rash guards are practical, effective alternatives or complements to sunscreen.
• Women tend to develop skin cancer on their legs more often than men, partly due to seasonal exposure patterns — a useful reminder to protect the lower body.

Conclusion

Body skin care is not about doing the most possible — it is about doing the right thing. Avoiding these five mistakes makes a real difference in the health and appearance of your skin throughout the year.